WATER CHARGES IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND

Early day motion 352, tabled 23 February 1999 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 8 members.

That this House notes with concern the failure of the North of Scotland Water Authority to anticipate and make adequate preparations for the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994; observes that the anticipated cost of meeting the regulations will be some ú1.5 billion in new sewerage facilities across Scotland, and that this will be passed straight on to water customers; regrets that NoSWA has taken four years fully to inform the fish processing industry and other firms to which water charges will be increased by this legislation, in some cases by over 2000 per cent.; understands the drive within the industry to cut back their water consumption rates by up to 50 per cent. to avoid the new charges; deplores the failure of NoSWA to commission an assessment of projected waste water requirements in North-East Scotland and that, because of this, there is a strong danger that communities which support water-intensive industries such as fish processing could find themselves served by water treatment plants which far exceed their needs; calls for a meeting to bring together the relevant government departments and agencies so that hugh price rises could be headed-off whilst protecting jobs in the fish-processing sector; and demands that NoSWA suspend its plans for a new charging structure based on the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994 and postpone signing contracts for new sewerage facilities until after a comprehensive review of the North-East's projected future waste water requirements has been concluded.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 6, Scottish National Party 2.