Vol. 499 No. 2
10 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the consultations, if any, he held with local authorities before finalising the 1999 capital allocation for the water and sewerage services programme, subhead D.I of his Department's Estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2156/99]
In determining the overall size and content of my Department's annual water and sewerage services investment programme, account is taken of existing commitments and the schemes submitted for funding by local authorities. At £275 million, the 1999 programme which I announced last Monday is at a record level – 50 per cent up on expenditure in 1998 and double what was spent in 1996.
Except for the rural water programme, my Department does not make annual capital allocations to local authorities under the water and sewerage services investment programme. This programme is determined by reference to individual projects submitted by local authorities prioritised on the basis of statutory obligations, EU directives, health and safety, environmental impacts, and support of economic development. The formal documentation which local authorities are required to submit in support of each project is supplemented by an ongoing process of discussions and correspondence between my Department and local authorities.
The serviced land initiative for which capital is provided under the 1999 programme was determined last year on the basis of submissions from local authorities in response to a specific request for proposals from me.
In the case of the rural water programme, capital allocations are made to individual local authorities on the basis of the multi-annual work programmes submitted by county councils which are updated annually to reflect changing local priorities. The recommendations of the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee are also taken into account in determining capital allocations, including block grants, to individual local authorities for devolved schemes.
