HC Deb 20 November 1972 vol 846 cc298-9W
65. Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reply to the letter from the Clerk of the Kettering Rural District Council dated 9th November asking whether the question of the reorganisation of water and sewerage services can be postponed until after the reorganisation of local government has been completed in 1974.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 15th November. The council's attention is being drawn to this reply.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of local authorities which have consulted his Department in regard to the transfer of their water undertakings to private companies; and what advice he has offered to those authorities.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Seven local authorities have informally consulted us since the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of water services were announced. They were given advice in accordance with a letter which was sent by the Department to the Water Companies Association on 22nd March of this year. This said thatprima facie the Secretary of State would entertain applications to authorise such amalgamations provided they were technically sound and provided that they could be agreed upon within sufficient time for their overall effect to be reviewed against the background of the reorganisation Bill when published. On 14th November the Department wrote again to the Water Companies Association saying that now the Bill had been announced in the Queen's Speech, no further applications could be entertained in cases where the necessary formalities had not been completed by 14th November.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of local authorities which have already arranged to transfer their water undertakings to private companies and the number which are currently negotiating such transfers.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

One such transfer has been authorised since the Government's proposals for reorganisation were announced. I understand that seven other transfers have either been agreed between the parties but not formally submitted for authorisation, or are still under negotiation.

Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Bill reorganising the water and sewerage services of the country, as referred to in the Gracious Speech.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Shortly.