§ 13. Mr. Martlewasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairmen of the English water authorities to discuss water privatisation.
§ Mr. RidleyOn 25 June this year.
§ Mr. MartlewWill the Secretary of State accept that his proposals to create a National Rivers Authority, and his arguments so to do, have been completely destroyed by the statement of the chairman of the Thames water authority and the independent report of the economics department of Leicester university? Therefore, will he abandon these ridiculous proposals which are based only on greed and dogma and scrap this privatisation?
§ Mr. RidleyNo, Sir. The meeting that I had with the water authorities chairmen, to which I referred, was described as friendly and useful. We have now entered into discussions to get the detail right. I believe that all the interests that are concerned with water will welcome the setting up of a National Rivers Authority. If one chairman is out-voted by the other nine, I think that we have endorsement from the water industry that we are on the right lines and that we are finding the right solution.
§ Mr. ColvinIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is growing concern about the pollution of our rivers by fish farmers, for whom generous grants may soon be available from the EEC? Before proceeding with the privatisation of the water authorities, will he bear in mind that something ought to be done to regulate fish farming?
§ Mr. RidleyIt would be a responsibility of the new National Rivers Authority to ensure that the rivers were free from pollution, from whatever source. I have not heard of proposals for regulating fish farmers. We should concentrate on measures to ensure that pollution does not enter our rivers and keep regulation to the minimum.