§ Mrs. Fennerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the progress on matters being pursued with the Southern water authority following the substantial increase in its rate for water services referred to in his letter to the hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham.
§ Mr. FoxAs I said in my letter to my hon. Friend, my right hon. Friend has impressed on all water authority chairmen the importance the Government attach to improvements in efficiency and the economical use of staff. In that connection, the Southern water authority wrote to my right hon. Friend after his meeting with the chairman and chief executive to say that it is considering how to improve its manpower efficiency and undertaking to reduce the number of its employees. Other management and organisational matters are still being considered either within the authority or in the Department.