This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Parliament debate on water supply
04/09/2002
Scotland's public water supply is good and will continue
to improve as a result of the Executive's commitment to the
massive investment needed to meet higher quality standards,
Parliament was told today.
In his opening speech in a debate on the public water
supply and public health Environment Minister Ross Finnie
said:
"The quality of Scotland's public water supplies is
good. It has substantially improved in recent years, and
will continue to improve in the future. However, there is
absolutely no room for complacency. That is why we have
agreed a huge investment programme for the water industry
that is designed to meet tougher standards. Of the nearly
£2billion Scottish Water is set to spend in the next four
years around half will be spent on improving the drinking
water treatment and distribution network.
"We already have in place a stringent and robust water
quality regime that ensures the industry operates in a way
that provides the best possible protection for public
health. Nevertheless, I want to make it absolutely clear
that the Executive is determined to learn whatever lessons
arise from the recent incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh
and act upon them promptly and effectively, a process
driven by the paramount importance of public health."
Closing the debate, Deputy Minister for Health and
Community Care FRank McAveety said:
"The public can have confidence in Scotland's drinking
water but I am determined that we will not be complacent.
We will continue to seek improvements in our water
infrastructure and in the way public bodies work together
to resolve problems as they occur.
"It is important to appreciate that the risk of harm
from drinking public water is very, very low and to
recognise the quality of controls we have in Scotland to
ensure that this remains the case. Public health remains
paramount. It will not be compromised."
The debate came on the day that Health Minister Malcolm
Chisholm presented to Cabinet the final report of the Ad
Hoc Group on Health and Public Water Supply.
He said:
"When the Ad Hoc Group on Health and the Public Water
Supply first met I made clear that our scrutiny of these
matters would be guided by public health considerations
together with a commitment to transparency so that the
public is always fully informed at the right time. The
report published today confirms those key principles, and
sets out necessary actions."
The Ad Hoc Group's report made the following
recommendations, all of which were agreed by Cabinet:
- Development of guidance on public health action
following detection of raised levels of cryptosporidium
in public drinking water supplies
- Review of implementation of cryptosporidium
direction
- Review of the accuracy of information held about
water distribution networks
- Development of an all-Scotland Water Hazard
Incident Plan
- Revision of guidance on roles and responsibilities
of Incident and Outbreak Control Teams
- Follow up of recommendations made by Outbreak and
Incident Control Teams
- Development of protocols on good practice in risk
assessment and communication in public health
- General review of Scottish Executive arrangements
for responding to public health incidents