Minister Promises Action on Mogden

3.24.00pm GMT Mon 22nd Nov 2004

On the last day of the Parliamentary Session, Vincent Cable MP received an assurance from the Environment Minister that the Government will now set standards for odour pollution which the water companies will have to meet. Vincent Cable had asked the Minister how the odour abatement notices of the local court could be made effective in the absence of clear technical standards and assurances that new investment could be financed.

Vincent Cable said "After years of campaigning we are at last getting somewhere in making Thames Water face up to its obligations. But there is a danger that the court notices will not lead anywhere - and just involved a token fine - unless the Government follows up with tough but clear defined standards which have to be met and an understanding with the water regulator, Ofwat, as to how the investment will be paid for. The Minister at least understands what is required."

Note to Editors

Please find following the extract from Hansard with Dr Cable's question:

13. Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): If she will make a statement on the regulation of sewerage operation by water utilities. [198965]

The Minister for the Environment and Agri-environment (Mr. Elliot Morley): Sewerage undertakers are under a statutory duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991—enforceable by the Secretary of State or the director general of water services—to provide, improve and extend public sewers and to maintain those sewers to ensure the effectual drainage of their area.

Dr. Cable: Some progress is being made on odour pollution from sewage works following court action and an odour abatement notice being made in south-west London in respect of Thames Water and the Mogden plant. Will the Minister acknowledge that, for the court action to be effective, the Government will have to specify the standards that must be met and the water regulator will have to approve the necessary capital investment? Will he take action on those points?

Mr. Morley: I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that action is being taken on that and he will be aware that my noble Friend Lord Whitty paid a visit to his local sewage works to consider some of the odour problems.

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Enforcement action was taken in November. We are in the process of producing a code of practice that lays out those standards, which the hon. Gentleman has asked for. That will be a useful framework for the sewage industry to work within as regards the standards that we want to be applied to odour control.