§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what reply he will make to the comments of the Anglian Water Authority submitted to his Department in response to the consultative document "Review of the Water Industry" in England and Wales, in particular to the authority's view that the board structure of the private water companies provides an efficient method of management and that there is no case for abolition; (2) in view of the comments of the Anglian Water Authority, whether the Government will reconsider their decision to bring the water companies into public ownership as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have noted the comments made by the Anglian Water Authority, and will of course take them into account along with all the other comments received when reaching final decisions on the Review. But I am bound to say that the Government's general intentions on this matter remain as spelled out in the Document.