§ 1. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities have had to increase their water rate as a result of the contributions levied by the regional water authorities.
The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Dr. J. Dickson Mahon)Of those whose decisions have so far been reported, 121 rating authorities are levying higher domestic water rates this year than last, and 57 the same or lower rates.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithDoes the Minister of State realise that, as a result of regionalisation, some local authorities, particularly in my area, had to increase their water rate by as much as 400 per cent.? Is he aware that there is strong feeling among these burghs that some of his assurances during the passage of the Bill about satisfactory transitional arrangements have not been honoured?
§ Dr. MabonIf that is so, it is because the authorities have consented to transitional arrangements, since these agreements were made freely among themselves and confirmed by the Secretary of State. If the hon. Member wants to make a fair comparison once we have all the returns, he should examine the preceding years. Of the 121 authorities 1498 which have increased their water rate against last year, 40 deliberately reduced their rate the year before. That is a very significant point.
§ Mr. MacArthurWill the hon. Gentleman not recognise that what has happened in many burghs fully justifies our warnings to the Government during the passage of the Water (Scotland) Bill? Does he not now regret that he did not accept an Amendment of ours which would have introduced reasonable transitional arrangements and saved this trouble?
Dr. MahonOn the contrary. The hon. Member must recognise that the so-called reasonable arrangements which he and his hon. Friends proposed would have made the situation worse, not better.
§ Mr. GrimondIn view of the injustice which appears to be done to some burghs like Stromness and Orkney, are the Government open to amending the terms of these amalgamations?