To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the transfer of private sewers and drains in England and Wales to the ownership of the statutory water and sewerage companies. (248242)

Privately owned sewers and lateral drains in England will be transferred to water and sewerage companies from 2011. The Welsh Assembly Government have outlined how the transfer will be implemented in Wales in its Policy Position Statement on Water which it launched for consultation on 14 January.