§ 40. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to prevent a recurrence of the water shortage next summer.
§ Mr. MarksIt is not within the competence of Government to control the weather; but the programme of measures described in the National Water Council's recent report, and referred to in my right hon. Friend's statement of 16th November, should enable the water industry to mitigate the effects of any further prolonged period of dry weather. Adequate supplies should be available to maintain industrial production and employment and most domestic requirements next year—given continued voluntary economy in the use of water.
§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list for each water 222W authority area in England and Wales, respectively, the average unit cost per unmeasured property of financially capital expenditure incurred by the authority before 1st April 1976 in providing water for unmeasured supply.
§ Mr. MarksUnit costs will vary from year to year. My Department is calculating the likely impact of the scheme set out in the Water Charges Equalisation Bill for 1977–78 and will make the results known shortly.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average unit cost of water for each regional water authority for the years 1976–77 and 1975–76.
§ Mr. MarksI assume that the hon. Member has in mind unit costs in the form specified in the Water Charges Equalisation Bill. Subject to that Bill becoming law, I intend that equalisation should take effect from 1977–78. My Department is calculating the likely impact of the scheme for that year and I will make the results known shortly. Figures in the same form are not available for earlier years.