Water framework Directive raises sensitive issues about water prices

Regulations transposing the EU water framework Directive into law in England and Wales were laid before Parliament on 11 December - though doubts persist about whether the transposition is complete. The Government now believes that the gap between current river quality and the standards set by the Directive is significantly smaller than its previous estimates. Preparations for the first phase of work under the Directive have already thrown up some thorny issues about water pricing.