This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Appointments to new Water Industry Commission
24/06/2005
Appointments to the body that has been established to
provide independent economic regulation of the water
industry were announced today.
A team of senior and highly experienced regulators,
engineers, economists and water industry executives form
the membership of the Water Industry Commission for
Scotland.
Their first task will be to conclude the strategic
review of charges for 2006 to 2010, ensuring that Scottish
Water delivers improved services at the lowest reasonable
cost to customers.
Sir Ian Byatt, former Director General of the Office of
Water Services for England and Wales, will chair the
Commission. Professor John Banyard, Dr Michael Brooker,
Charles Coulthard and Professor David Simpson will serve as
members.
Deputy Environment Minister, Lewis Macdonald said:
"Sir Ian Byatt will lead a strong team whose members
between them possess the range of skills and expertise
required to ensure that Scottish Water is subject to
rigorous independent regulation.
"We are fortunate in being able to bring together a team
with such diverse experience of regulatory activity,
economics and the water industry.
"I am confident this team will work effectively on
behalf of customers to build on the regulatory framework
that the Water Industry Commissioner and his staff have put
in place since 1999."
The appointments were made under the Office of the
Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of
Practice following open competition.
Between appointment and December 31, Sir Ian Byatt will
commit three days per week to his post and the Commission
members one and a half days per week. This will ensure the
delivery of the strategic review of charges on time. From
January 2006, they will commit two days and one day
respectively.
Sir Ian will receive £49,820 for the year between July
1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. Thereafter he will receive
£40,070 per annum. Commission members will receive £18,025
from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006. Thereafter, they will
then receive £14,580 per annum.
Sir Ian Byatt was Director General of the
Office of Water Services between 1989 and 2000 in which
capacity he was responsible for the independent economic
regulation of the water companies in England and Wales.
From 1978 to 1989 he served in HM Treasury as Deputy Chief
Economic Adviser. Since 2000 he has advised the World Bank
and governments around the world on matters relating to the
water industry. Sir Ian, who has been an adviser to the
Water Industry Commissioner since 2002, was knighted in
2000.
Professor John Banyard is a Chartered
Engineer who recently retired as an Executive Director of
Severn Trent PLC following a career in the water industry
dealing particularly with the design and management of
capital programmes and the day to day operation of the
company's infrastructure. Professor Banyard was awarded an
OBE for services to the water industry this year. He became
an adviser to the Water Industry Commissioner this
year.
Dr Michael Brooker is a scientist who
recently retired as Chief Executive of Welsh Water
following a career in the water industry in Wales. During
his career he was Chief Scientist and subsequently
Divisional Operations Director of Welsh Water before
becoming the firm's Managing Director in 1996.
Charles Coulthard retired recently as
Managing Director of Gas and Electricity Regulation in
Scotland. He served as Deputy Director of the Office for
the Regulation of Electricity and Gas in Northern Ireland
between 1992 and 1999. He is Chair of the Gas and
Electricity Consumers Council in Scotland.
Professor David Simpson was Economic
Adviser to Standard Life from 1988 to 2001. He was the
founding Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at
the University of Strathclyde and is a Trustee of The David
Hume Institute. Professor Simpson has been an advisor to
the Water Industry Commissioner since 2002.
All appointments were made on merit. None of the
appointees declared any political activity during the past
five years.
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland was created
by the Water Services etc, (Scotland) Act 2005. It replaces
the office of the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland,
which advised Ministers on Scottish Water's charges. Under
the Act, the Commission will operate independently of
Ministers to identify the lowest reasonable overall cost at
which Scottish Water can deliver Ministers' objectives for
the business; and determine Scottish Water's charges on
that basis. Scottish Water will be able to challenge the
Commission's charges determination at the Competition
Commission.