§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current rate of return which he expects the Welsh water authority to secure on the value of its assets under section 29 of the Water Act 1973; and how this compares with the rates since the coming into force of the Water Act 1973.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe first return on assets order under section 29 of the Water Act 1973 related to 1981–82 (SI 1981, No. 826 (The Water Authorities (Return on Assets) Order 1981)). Two further orders have been made in respect of the Welsh water authority—SIs 1982 No. 1087 and 1983 No. 782.
The specified percentage rates of return were: 367W
Percentage 1981–82 0.30 1982–83 0.95 1983–84 1.20
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now publish in full the report made to him by Arthur Andersen & Co., reviewing the finances of the Welsh water authority.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo, for the reasons set out in my right hon. Friend's letter of 19 May 1982 which he sent to the then Chairman of the Committee on Welsh Affairs, a copy of which was published in the minutes of evidence to that Committee on the subject of Water in Wales, appendix 30, page 478.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to take away from water authorities the discretion they have under the Water Act 1973 with regard to the pricing of transfer of bulk supplies of water;
(2) if he has any plans to give statutory effect to the no profit no loss convention regarding bulk transfers of water between water authorities;
(3) what steps he has taken in 1983 to review the financial powers and duties of the Welsh water authority; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what changes have been made to the format of the annual autumn submission made by the Welsh water authority to the Welsh Office this autumn, relating to current cost data.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Government's position on these matters will be made known in the context of the response to the Committee on Welsh Affairs report, "Water in Wales".
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions and at what dates since the implementation of the Water Act 1973, directions have been given under section 30(6) of that Act concerning the criteria to be applied by the water authority, and the system of calculation used by them, in fixing its charges for the supply of water.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsMy right hon. Friend has on no occasion made an order under section 30(6) of the Water Act 1973.