§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the National Consumer Council's recommendation that at least one-third of the members of water authorities be consumer representatives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis Howell:My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and I are currently considering the National Consumer Council's recommendations.
At the moment a majority of water authority members are nominated by local government and are usually elected members of local authorities in the region. The remaining members are appointed by Ministers to represent other important interests; as circumstances permit, one member is being appointed to each water authority to represent consumer interests specifically. So the consumer, in one way and another, is already well represented on water authorities.