§ 66. Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received concerning the environmental consequences of privatising the water industry.
§ Mr. John PattenThree responses from environmental bodies were received to the discussion paper which was issued last year about water privatisation. A number of responses to the White Paper "Privatisation of the Water Authorities in England and Wales" (Cmnd. 9734) have raised environmental subjects. A consultation paper on environmental protection following privatisation will be issued shortly.