HL Deb 01 August 1978 vol 395 c1283WA
Lord BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With regard to the report made by the Joint Working Party composed of officials of the British Wool Confederation and the related Workers' Union—General and Municipal Workers' Union—set up to examine the effect of the Water Act 1973 which reported that British Industry is burdened with much higher treatment charges than any other country, thereby seriously jeopardising competitiveness and employment, what assistance they now propose to correct this serious disadvantage.

Baroness STEDMAN

I assume that the report to which the noble Lord refers is the one made by a joint working party composed of representatives of the Yorkshire Water Authority and the Wool Textile Delegation, on water and trade effluent charges in Yorkshire. This report was presented jointly to my Department and to the Department of Industry at the end of May, and its findings and recommendations are now being considered.