Labour calls for full disclosure after emergency drought order issued

Mary Creagh MP, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, responded to the Government's decision to grant a drought order to South East Water on 21 December. It is only the second order since 1995.

She said: "The news that South East Water got their reservoir measurements wrong and put 65 000 Sussex homes at risk of standpipes or cuts to their water supply in the New Year is barely believable.

"The Government published its drought prospectus less than 3 weeks ago, and stated the company was "monitoring" the situation. There has only been one drought order issued in the UK since 1995 so this is shows how serious things are.

"People need urgent reassurance that the Environment Secretary has got a grip on the situation and that there are no more nasty surprises lurking."

South East Water has acknowledged that mis-measurement of the water available in the reservoir delayed their applying for a drought order and the company has indicated that without rainfall the reservoir would empty in 5-6 weeks, putting 65,000 properties at risk of standpipes or rota cuts to supply.