HL Deb 11 May 1988 vol 496 cc1205-6WA
Lord Bellwin

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether water authorities are now able to start making preparations for the establishment of the National Rivers Authority.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

Following the granting of Royal Assent to the Public Utility Transfers and Water Charges Act we have today invited the English water authorities to prepare schemes of organisation in accordance with guidelines we have sent to them. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Welsh Office has issued a similar invitation to the chairman of Welsh Water. Copies of the guidelines have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses.