To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1626W, on water supply, for what reason the original timetable for water companies to prepare their statement of response to the consultation was not met. (252078)

The overriding requirement of section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 is that a water company must provide a coherent plan that demonstrates how it will ensure a supply and demand balance for water.

In their statements of response, water companies must respond to the representations they received and say how these have been reflected in their plans and any changes that have been made to the plan in light of the representations.

The original timetable was extended to allow water companies additional time, which they needed in order to provide the evidence required to demonstrate the impacts any changes made to the plan will have on their subsequent appraisal, and selection, of the preferred water supply and demand options necessary to maintain their statutory water supply duties over the next 25 years.