§ 47. Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the difficulties in which many statutory water companies now find themselves owing to their inability to increase their revenue sufficiently to meet their seriously increased and still increasing expenditure, to the fact that they are now charging up to their statutory limits, and that, consequently, their dividends are in many cases being reduced to vanishing point, thus making it exceedingly difficult to raise capital for the necessary extensions which have now been suspended for so many years, and to the importance of maintaining the water supplies of the country in an efficient condition, he can now say when the general legislation to enable water companies to vary their charges to meet the altered conditions, promised as early as practicable by the Minister of Health on the 16th June last, will be introduced; and what progress has been made with the necessary Bill to give effect to the Government's proposals?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Dr. Addison)A Bill is in preparation, and will be introduced as soon as other demands on the time of Parliament permit.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONAs there are many companies contemplating private legislation at the present time, will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement shortly about it?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy hon. Friend is as well aware as I am of the pressure on Parliamentary time, and therefore I cannot give a promise.