§ 2.32 p.m.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made with the regrouping of water undertakings in England and Wales.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD HASTINGS)My Lords, in 1945 there were 1,027 separate water undertakings in England and 159 in Wales, making 1,186 altogether. By September, 1956, when the then Minister of Housing and Local Government issued a circular asking for more speedy and widespread use of the amalgamation powers, the figures were 884 and 146 respectively, a total of 1,030. Since then, as a result of 198 Orders or local Acts promoted by agreement among the parties, with the Minister's encouragement, and 28 compulsory orders initiated by the Minister himself, the number of separate undertakings has been reduced to a total of 396–306 in England and 90 in Wales.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very interesting information which he has given us, may I ask whether he thinks it is possible to increase at all the rate of progress that is now being made with this regrouping?
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, in each financial year since 1960 about 100 undertakings have disappeared. This is a steady pace achieved without disturbance of the water supply industry, and without unnecessary increase of the administrative machine. We feel that this is about the right speed of progress. The regrouping operation, which has been in progress, as I said, since 1956 on an accelerated basis, is likely to be completed, we believe, with effect from April, 1966—less than two years from now. However, noble Lords will of course realise that new factors constantly affect water supply, and therefore the organisation must be kept under constant review.