To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies had a hose pipe ban in force on (a) 26 July and (b) 8 October. (154333)

On 26 July 2006, the following water companies had hosepipe bans in force in some or all of their supply areas: Thames Water, Southern Water, Mid Kent Water, South East Water, Three Valleys Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Folkestone and Dover Water and Cholderton and District Water.

All of these bans remained in force on 8 October 2006 with the exception of that for Folkestone and Dover Water. No hosepipe bans were in force on 26 July 2007 and there are none in force at present.