§ 13. Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications for job creation of the proposed privatisation of water in Wales.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe future development of the water industry will be a matter for the new water companies. The Government believe, however, that there will be opportunities to create new jobs through enterprise in such areas as tourism, leisure and a range of water appliances.
§ Mr. WardellAs the Under-Secretary said in the House on 7 February 1985 that the water authorities were not state-owned but publicly owned, does he think that there would be better opportunities to create jobs if the shares in the new privatised companies were distributed as public wealth to the majority of householders who drink, bathe, fish and flush?
§ Mr. RobinsonThat is an interesting proposal from the Opposition Benches. It is, I suppose, a new variation of give-away through state control. The Government believe that the way forward is to give the people of Wales an opportunity to own shares in the water industry. Currently, under the Water Act 1973 the Welsh water authority — indeed, all water authorities — is in the ownership of the Government.