§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what external financing limit and what target rate of return will be applied to the Welsh Water Authority in 1981–82.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe external financing limit for the Welsh Water Authority will be £29 million in 1981–82. Water authorities are being set financial targets in the form of a rate of current cost operating profit on the current value of their net assets. The WWA will be required to earn 0.3 per cent. in 1981–82 as the first step towards achieving a target of 1.25 per cent. by 1985–86.
I know that the WWA is examining its budget for next year with the utmost care, to ensure that increases in charges are kept to the lowest level.