Jan. 28, 2003 -- The Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland has appointed a panel of seven expert advisers to assist in regulating the Scottish water industry.
The Advisory Panel will be chaired by Neil Menzies, a businessman with considerable experience of the needs of large users of water and sewerage services and former Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council.
It is expected to meet with the Commissioner and his senior staff about five times a year.
Industry Commissioner Alan Sutherland commented:
"The members of the panel will play an invaluable role in helping me frame my advice to Scottish Ministers and in ensuring that customers receive improved value for the charges they pay.
"I am sure they will be vigorous in challenging my policy assumptions as well as providing help and guidance."
Membership of the panel is initially for a period of three years but could be extended. Members will receive £5,000 per annum plus expenses.
Members of the panel are as follows:
Neil Menzies: Chairman - Corporate Adviser; Scottish Adviser to Chemical Industries Association; latterly Scottish Affairs Adviser for ICI; Former Deputy Chairman, Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council; Member, Gas & Electricity Consumers Council (energywatch); Member, Balancing, Settlement and Codes Panel for the electricity market; Member of Executive of Scottish Council for Development and Industry; Director, Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.
Sir Ian Byatt: Senior Associate at Frontier Economics and Member, Chief Secretary's (Treasury) Productivity Panel. Former Director General of the Office of Water Services (Ofwat). His previous post was Deputy Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury. He is an economist and an expert on the economics of public expenditure and the regulation of public utilities.
Stan Chaplin: Independent Consultant. Former Finance Director, United Utilities plc, United Utilities he was previously Head of Regulation for North West Water and Project Manager Privatisation North West Water.
Professor David Simpson: Former Economic Adviser to Standard Life, 1988-2001. His previous post was Professor of Economics at the University of Strathclyde 1975-1988. Professor Simpson is the author of a number of publications on regulatory policy.
Lindsay Wallace: Legal Director of SMG plc (which owns a wide range of media interests); she was previously Corporate Counsel for Scottish Power plc and before that was a Corporate Lawyer in private practice in Scotland and London.
Tim Wilcock: Chief Operations Officer, McGrigor Donald, a law firm associated with KPMG; formerly an Executive Director with Quintiles Limited, Edinburgh. An economist and qualified accountant with 25 years experience working for major players in the oil, chemical and pharmaceutical industries including BP, ICI and Astra Zeneca.
Dr Helen Zealley OBE, MD, FRCPE, FFPHM: formerly Chief Administrative Medical Officer and Director of Public Health, Lothian Health Board 1988-2000 and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Edinburgh University; former member, Council, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh; former member, Board, Faculty of Public Health Medicine; former member, Court, Edinburgh University; Vice President Early Education, London; Vice President MedAct, London; Board Member, Friends of the Earth (Scotland) and Waverley Care.
The Water Industry Commissioner is the economic and customer service regulator of Scottish Water. His primary role is to promote the interests of customers of Scottish Water. His duties include advising Scottish Ministers on the amount of revenue that Scottish Water needs to fund its investment program and provide efficient services to customers; approving Scottish Water's annual charging scheme, monitoring the company's performance and investigating complaints from customers.
