EU toilet flushing water use advice: Bone and Bennett

EU guidance on the amount of water to be used in a toilet flush was the "most absurd waste of money" said Conservative MP Peter Bone.

He said Brussels had been flying people around Europe investigating the issue since 2011, and had wasted a "ton of money on it". And he said it was another reason why the EU was costing people in Britain too much money.

But Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said it was a voluntary label that manufacturers could use, and said water conservation was an important issue.

She blamed "absurd typical British tabloid reporting of a story", and added : "I can promise everyone the EU is not going to go marching into your bathroom".

The research, which cost £76,000, suggested five litres per flush as a European standard, while modern British cisterns typically use six litres.

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