Part 1

Water industry
CHAPTER 3

Regulation of the water industry

General duties of the Water Services Regulation Authority

Strategic priorities and objectives
24
1
For section 2A of the Water Industry Act 1991 there is substituted—

Strategic priorities and objectives: England
2A
1
The Secretary of State may from time to time publish a statement setting out strategic priorities and objectives for the Authority in carrying out relevant functions relating wholly or mainly to England.
2
The Authority must carry out those functions in accordance with any statement published under this section.
3
In formulating a statement under this section, the Secretary of State—
a
must have regard to the duties imposed on the Authority under section 2,
b
must have regard to social and environmental matters, and
c
may have regard to such other matters as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
4
Before publishing a statement under this section, the Secretary of State must consult—
a
the Authority,
b
the Council,
c
relevant undertakers,
d
licensed water suppliers,
e
the Environment Agency,
f
the Welsh Ministers,
g
the NRBW, and
h
anyone else the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
5
Before publishing a statement under this section the Secretary of State must—
a
lay a draft of the statement before Parliament, and
b
then wait until the end of the 40-day period.
6
The Secretary of State may not publish the statement under this section if, within the 40-day period, either House of Parliament resolves not to approve it.
7
“The 40-day period” means the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament (or, if it is not laid before each House on the same day, the later of the days on which it is laid).
8
When calculating the 40-day period, ignore any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than 4 days.
9
In this section “relevant functions relating wholly or mainly to England” means the functions mentioned in section 2(1)(b) so far as they relate to appointment areas wholly or mainly in England.
10
In subsection (9) “appointment area” means an area for which an appointment is held under Chapter 1 of Part 2.

Strategic priorities and objectives: Wales
2B
1
The Welsh Ministers may from time to time publish a statement setting out strategic priorities and objectives for the Authority in carrying out relevant functions relating wholly or mainly to Wales.
2
The Authority must carry out those functions in accordance with any statement published under this section.
3
In formulating a statement under this section the Welsh Ministers—
a
must have regard to the duties imposed on the Authority under section 2,
b
must have regard to social and environmental matters, and
c
may have regard to such other matters as the Welsh Ministers think fit.
4
Before publishing a statement under this section, the Welsh Ministers must consult—
a
the Authority,
b
the Council,
c
relevant undertakers,
d
licensed water suppliers,
e
the NRBW,
f
the Secretary of State,
g
the Environment Agency, and
h
anyone else the Welsh Ministers think appropriate.
5
Before publishing a statement under this section the Welsh Ministers must—
a
lay a draft of the statement before the Assembly, and
b
then wait until the end of the 40-day period.
6
The Welsh Ministers may not publish the statement under this section if, within the 40-day period, the Assembly resolves not to approve it.
7
“The 40-day period” means the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before the Assembly.
8
When calculating the 40-day period, ignore any period during which the Assembly is dissolved or is in recess for more than 4 days.
9
In this section “relevant functions relating wholly or mainly to Wales” means the functions mentioned in section 2(1)(b) so far as they relate to appointment areas wholly or mainly in Wales.
10
In subsection (9) “appointment area” means an area for which an appointment is held under Chapter 1 of Part 2.
2
In section 2(6A), (6B) and (7) of that Act (general duties with respect to water industry), for “section 2A” there is substituted “sections 2A and 2B”.
3
In section 192A of that Act (forward work programme), after subsection (3) there is inserted—
3A
The forward work programme for any year must also include an explanation of how the projects described in it reflect any strategic priorities or objectives published under section 2A or 2B.