HC Deb 17 January 1986 vol 89 cc730-1W
Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list for each water authority the external financing limit set for 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88;

(2) if he will list for each water authority the target rate of return set for 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1986, c. 572]: Water authorities will be set external finance limits and target rates of return in respect of 1987–88 later this year as part of the normal public expenditure round. The equivalent figures requested for English water authorities for 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87 are set out below.

For 1986–87, grants for land drainage and flood protection, totalling some £14 million have yet to be notified to individual authorities.

The Welsh water authority is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

External finance limits

£million, cash

Target rate of return

per cent

1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87
Severn-Trent 40.0 *55.2 2.5 1.25 1.47 1.60
Southern 23.0 11.0 0 0.91 1.43 1.55
South West 11.0 *4.9 4.0 1.25 1.43 1.73
Thames -34.0 -60.0 -85.0 0.50 1.41 1.61
Wessex 16.0 21.0 25.0 0.61 1.40 1.50
Yorkshire 34.0 31.0 32.0 1.00 1.37 1.60
*Revised from the figures notified to Authorities in January 1985.