asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 was published; and how many working days there were between publication and the end of the consultation period.[HL7739]

Public consultation on the proposed Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006 ended on 24 August 2006. The draft order was laid on 9 October. This means there were 31 working days between the end of the consultation period and the laying of the legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What groups and individuals responded to the consultation process for the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of all the consultations received.[HL7740]

Forty-two groups and four individuals responded to the consultation process on the proposal for a draft Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The full text of all these responses is available on the Department for Regional Development's water reform website at www.waterreformni.gov.uk. A copy of all the responses has also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there will be a further consultation process for the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.[HL7773]

There will be no further consultation on the draft Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. This was laid before Parliament on 9 October 2006.