§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the Yorkshire water authority repays its existing debt only when it falls due, and not earlier.
§ Mr. John PattenNo, although at present the authority is continuing to increase its indebtedness.
§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of charges by the Yorkshire water authority to its customers for the year 1986–87.
§ Mr. John PattenThe authority does not fix its charges until it makes its budget early next year but on present indications an average increase of about 9 per cent. appears likely.
§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy not to require the Yorkshire water authority to finance capital spending from charges to customers.
§ Mr. John PattenNo. Such a rule has no more general application in the public sector than it does in the private sector.