§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of the water service; and what amount of regional rate would be required to support the service if the cost was met out of rates alone.
§ Mr. Good hartThe direct cost of running the water service, including sewerage, in 1978–79 was approximately £57 million.
As the present regional rate is not based on actual expenditure, there is no separately definable water and sewerage rate. If, however, the figures were translated into a poundage rate, based on the present level of valuation in Northern Ireland, it would be approximately 32p in the £.