Part 1 Water Industry Commissioner and F1the representation of consumers

F21Water Industry Commission for Scotland

(1)

There is established a body to be known as the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (referred to in this Act as “the Commission”).

(2)

The Commission has the general function of promoting the interests of persons (taken as a whole) whose premises—

(a)

are connected to the public water supply system or the public sewerage system (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 3)) or both, or

(b)

might reasonably become connected to either or both of those systems,

relating to the provision to them of water and sewerage services.

(3)

The Scottish Ministers may, after consulting the Commission, give the Commission directions of a general or specific character as to the financial management or administration of the Commission; and the Commission must comply with any such directions.

(4)

Schedule A1 makes further provision about the Commission.

F32 Water Customer Consultation Panels

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F42AF5Citizens Advice Scotland representations

(1)

This section applies where F6Citizens Advice Scotland has exercised a function under section 8(1) of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17) (representative functions) in relation to the activities of Scottish Water.

(2)

The persons listed in subsection (4) must have regard to any advice, information, proposal or representation made to them by F7Citizens Advice Scotland under section 8(1) of that Act.

(3)

Any persons listed in subsection (4) to whom a proposal is made under section 8(1)(b) of that Act must, within 6 months of receipt, publish a summary of their responses to the proposal.

(4)

The persons are—

(a)

the Scottish Ministers,

(b)

Scottish Water,

(c)

the Water Industry Commission,

(d)

the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland,

(e)

the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

3 Functions of the Commissioner

F8(1)

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F8(2)

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F8(3)

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F8(4)

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F8(5)

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(6)

The F9Commission is to advise the Scottish Ministers on any matter which appears to the F9Commission or to them to relate to—

(a)

the standard of service provided by Scottish Water to F10persons whose premises are connected to the public water supply system or the public sewerage system (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 3)) or both , or

(b)

the manner in which F11Scottish Water conducts its relations with those persons or persons whose premises have been, or might reasonably become, connected to either or both of those systems ,

in the exercise of its core functions.

(7)

The F9Commission has power to do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is incidental or conducive to, the exercise of the F9Commission's functions.

4 Power of the Commissioner to require information

(1)

Scottish Water must, on being requested to do so by the F12Commission, provide the F12Commission with such information held by it as the F12Commission may reasonably seek in the exercise of the F12Commission's functions.

F13(2)

Subsection (1) does not authorise the Commission to require the disclosure of anything which a person would be entitled to refuse to disclose on grounds of confidentiality in proceedings in the Court of Session.

(3)

Where Scottish Water considers that it is entitled to withhold information from the Commission—

(a)

because it is not reasonably sought, or

(b)

by virtue of subsection (2),

it must intimate that fact to the Commission in writing.

F14(4)

Scottish Water must comply with any direction given to it by the Commission under section 25(5) of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (enforcement by regulator of notice to provide F15Citizens Advice Scotland F16or Consumer Scotland with information).

5 Annual reports by, and information from, the Commissioner

(1)

The F17Commission must—

(a)

as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, submit to the Scottish Ministers, and publish, a report on the exercise of the F17Commission's functions during that year, and

(b)

provide the Scottish Ministers with such information regarding the exercise of those functions as they may require.

(2)

A report under subsection (1)(a) must include a summary of—

(a)

action taken by the F17Commission during the year to which the report relates in response F18to—

(i)

any F19advice, information or representation made to it by F20Citizens Advice Scotland under section 8(1)(a) or (c) of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (representative functions) , and

(ii)

any F21proposals made to it under section 8(1)(b) of that Act , and

(b)

where the F17Commission has decided during that year not to take any action in response to any such F22advice, information, proposal or representation F23... F24..., the reasons for that decision.

(3)

A report under subsection (1)(a) must set out any directions under section 1 which have been given to the F17Commission during the period to which the report relates.

F25(4)

The Scottish Ministers must lay before the Parliament a copy of each report submitted to them under subsection (1)(a).

6 Funding of the F26CommissionF27and F28Consumer Scotland

(1)

The Scottish Ministers may make grants to the F26Commission in respect of the F26Commission's expenses.

(2)

Scottish Water must make to the F26Commission, in respect of the F26Commission's expenses, payments of such amounts, and at such times, as the Scottish Ministers may direct.

F29(2A)

Scottish Water must make to F30Consumer Scotland, in respect of F31Consumer Scotland’s expenses (as respects its activities relating to Scottish Water), payments of such amounts, and at such times, as the Scottish Ministers may direct.

(2B)

Before making a direction under subsection (2A), the Scottish Ministers must consult F32Consumer Scotland.

F336AConvener of Customer Panels to investigate complaints

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F346BAnnual reports and information regarding Customer Panels

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F356CCo-operation between the Commission and Customer Panels

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