Current Petitions

PE456, from Mr Paul Hyles, calls on the Parliament to urgently initiate an inquiry into West of Scotland Water's commitment to continue to provide a high-quality service to its rural customers and to ask the Minister for Environment and Rural Development to implement a moratorium on the current reorganisation of posts within West of Scotland Water while the inquiry is being conducted.We have received responses to the petition from the minister, from West of Scotland Water and from the water industry commissioner in Scotland. The details of the responses are all included in the report. Although the petitioner's concerns can be understood, it appears that the closure of the Dumfries laboratory is an operational matter, which was the responsibility of West of Scotland Water and is now the responsibility of Scottish Water.Parallels can clearly be drawn between the petition and other petitions that have called on the Parliament to intervene in the executive decisions of health boards or local authorities, when it has been clear that it would be inappropriate for the Parliament to intervene. From the information provided in the responses, it appears that there is little to justify an inquiry into the commitment of the water authority to the delivery of quality water services to its rural customers, as requested by the petitioners. It also appears, from the information provided by the water commissioner, that there is nothing to indicate a need to review the more general issue of the centralisation of jobs in relation to the delivery of water and sewerage services.It is suggested that we agree to copy the responses that have been received to the petitioners and to take no further action other than to advise them to continue to pursue the matter locally with the management of Scottish Water. It is suggested that we agree to pass copies of the responses to the clerk of the Transport and the Environment Committee for information. Are there any comments?

That is a problem with the remit.

The commissioner will be answerable to the minister. We can challenge the minister on any issue that we have concerns about. That goes back to the issue of the accountability of quangos and elected bodies.

Are you suggesting that we should write back to the commissioner to ask whether it is part of his remit to consider the social and economic implications of delivering value for money?

We could certainly write to him to ask for a copy.

We will certainly make the remit available to members of the committee. Otherwise, is the suggested action agreed?Members indicated agreement.