Water

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on water including rivers. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
07.01.2013Household flood insurance
There could be large flood insurance cost increases in coming years. New arrangements to ensure that affordable flood insurance remains widely available are currently being debated. The Government said that that it would make an announcement in spring 2012, but it is still in consultation with the insurance industry.
08.11.2012Sewer flooding
16.03.2012Waste Water National Policy Statement
This note provides background information on the Waste Water National Policy Statement, which streamlines planning policy for nationally significant waste water treatment projects such as the Thames Tunnel.
05.03.2012Fluoridation
This notes sets out the positions of various groups regarding the effects of fluoridation of drinking water. It also sets out the Government's position. Information on legislation relating to fluoridation can be found in standard note SN/SC/3135.
27.02.2012The Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill 2010-12
The Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill contains two measures. One will give the Government the discretion to reduce water bills in certain regions. The other will give the Government the discretion to provide financial assistance for major water and sewage infrastructure projects. Initially the Government plans to use these powers to reduce water bills in the South West of England and to support the Thames Tunnel project.

Research Papers

DateDescription
28.01.2010Flood and Water Management Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Flood and Water Management Bill. It complements Research Paper 09/91 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
10.12.2009Flood and Water Management Bill. Bill 9 2009-10.
There has been growing pressure to introduce legislation to address the threat of flooding and water scarcity-both are predicted to increase with climate change. The Government published a draft Flood and Water Management Bill in April 2009, and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the document. The Committee welcomed a number of the proposals, but it was concerned that a lack of parliamentary time would undermine the introduction of a comprehensive Bill. The Government introduced a slimmed-down version of the Bill on 19 November 2009. Key features include measures to: require the Environment Agency to create a National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, which a number of organisations will have to follow; require lead local flood authorities to create Local Flood Risk Management Strategies; enable the Environment Agency and local authorities more easily to carry out flood risk management works; introduce a more risk-based approach to reservoir management; change the arrangements that would apply should a water company go into administration; enable water companies more easily to control non-essential uses of water, such as the use of hosepipes; enable water companies to offer concessions to community groups for surface water drainage charges; require the use of sustainable drainage systems in certain new developments; and, introduce a mandatory build standard for sewers.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
30.03.2011Future flood and water management legislation.
Government response. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report [Commons]
30.03.2011The draft National Policy Statement on waste water.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
15.12.2010Future flood and water management legislation.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
14.10.2009Ofwat price review 2009.
Government response. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
12.10.2009Draft Flood and Water Management Bill.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
20.12.2011SCHOOL TOILET AND WATER FACILITIES
That this House is alarmed at plans to abolish the specific provisions on toilets in the School Premises Regulations; notes that school toilet facilities are inconsistent and often ...
01.11.2011THAMES TUNNEL
That this House is concerned that the recent report by Lord Selborne, instigated by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, long-standing opponents of the Thames Tunnel, fails ...
18.07.2011WATER MAIN BURSTS IN HUYTON
That this House notes with disgust the latest burst water main at Liverpool Road, Huyton; further notes that this is the fifth such burst in recent years and for the third time has ...
15.06.2011STAY COOLER CAMPAIGN
That this House supports the British Water Cooler Association's Stay Cooler campaign, a nationwide initiative to promote the importance of a healthy and hydrated workforce; recognises ...
18.05.2011DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT ON WASTE WATER
That this House notes the publication by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the draft National Policy Statement on waste water; recognises the need to construct ...

POST Papers

DateDescription
17.09.2012Water Resource Resilience
The availability of water resources is fundamental for society and economic activities. This POSTnote describes the reasons for uncertainties in water resource availability for future supply and demand and possible responses to managing these risks in the medium term.
15.09.2011Water in production and products
This POSTnote examines how virtual water use is calculated and its application within the global economy.
01.04.2011Water adaptation in Africa, April 2011
This POSTnote discusses adapting water resource management to climate change in Africa.
01.10.2010Resilience of UK infrastructure
This POSTnote outlines efforts to improve the resilience of infrastructure to the risks of natural hazards and any effects of future climate change.
01.12.2008River basin management plans, December 2008
This POSTnote outlines some of the challenges in implementing River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in the UK to meet Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library