HC Deb 04 June 1980 vol 985 cc1407-8
11. Mr. Peter Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest quarterly staff figures for the regional water authorities; and how they compare with the previous year.

The Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services (Mr. Tom King)

On provisional information, at 31 March 1980 English water authorities employed an estimated 56,540 permanent employees calculated on a full-time equivalent basis. This is 400 fewer than on 31 March 1979.

Mr. Lloyd

In the light of those figures, is my right hon. Friend now satisfied that the existing structure of the water authorities and the present arrangements for appointing their members ensure thorough and effective supervision of the way that they are run?

Mr. King

As I advised the House on an earlier occasion, I have been having meetings with the chairman and chief executives of all the water authorities. I am very concerned about some of the aspects of the ways in which the present water authority structure operates, and I am giving serious consideration to the implications of my discussions.

Mr. Marlow

In view of the gross un fairness of water rates, will my right hon. Friend consider waiving domestic water rates altogether and imposing rates purely on commercial and industrial metered use—

Mr. Speaker

Order. This question is about staffing. It is not about water rates.

Mr. Marlow

Perhaps I may be allowed to continue, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker

We are dealing with Question No. 11.

Mr. Marlow

—by transferring the cost of domestic water rates on to 1 per cent. VAT—an equivalent amount of money—thereby cutting the number of expensive staff required to send out these hundreds of thousands of bills by which people are being abused to such a great extent at the moment?

Mr. King

My hon. Friend has raised this matter with me before. It would involve the need to raise resources from elsewhere. But I understand the concern which is motivating hon. Members about the level of water rate increases this year. We are looking at the situation very seriously.

Mr. Eastham

Although the Minister may be obsessed with the number of staff working for local water authorities, is his Department aware of the very serious problems in the North-West of England water authority's area due to underground dereliction, where it is recognised that a programme of £2,000 million is required to restore the necessary provisions for the people, which will need staff to bring about these changes?

Mr. King

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I am well aware of the condition of the sewers in the North-West because I have been in them. I am well aware of the very serious problems that we face in that respect. But I am not obsessed about manpower numbers, although I am obsessed about the need to ensure that in the water industry we get value for money for the consumer.