HC Deb 30 January 1989 vol 146 cc21-3W
Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the locations of water quality sampling undertaken by South West Water for every day from 6 July 1988 until the latest available date.

Mr. Ridley

It is the responsibility of the South West water authority to take samples throughout its region in connection with its drinking water supply function: I am advised that it takes samples:

  1. 1. At raw water sources;
  2. 2. At treatment works at different stages of the treatment process;
  3. 3. Treated water at the exit from treatment works;
  4. 4. At service reservoirs;
  5. 5. Water in the distribution system at hydrants and customers' taps.

Between 6 July 1988 and 25 January 1989, a total of 25,544 samples were taken and analysed.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has held with the Water Authorities Association about stake-building by water authorities in statutory water companies; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what proportion of the Southern water authority's announced need for an increase in charges is accounted for by the necessity to fund the purchase of stock in statutory water companies;

(3) if he has reviewed the agreement between the Southern water authority and AIPF Ltd.; and if he has assessed whether they are in the public interest;

(4) how much has been committed by the Southern water authority to the purchase of stakes in statutory water companies;

(5) what steps he is taking to assess whether the Southern water authority's acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid-Essex water companies are in the public interest;

(6) what discussions he has had with the Southern water authority about its acquisition of stakes in the Eastbourne, West Kent and Mid Sussex water companies; and if he will make a statement;

(7) what steps he has taken to (a) regulate and (b) influence the use of public money by water authorities to acquire (i) majority and (ii) minority stakes in statutory water companies;

(8) if he has discussed with the Southern water authority the rate of return on its recent investment in the Folkestone water company; and if he will make a statement;

(9) if he has discussed with the Southern water authority the purpose for which it recently acquired a minority stake in the Folkestone water company; if he has taken steps to assess whether the acquistion was in the public interest; and if he will make a statement;

(10) what criteria water authorities are required to observe in the application of public moneys to the purchase of (a) majority and (b) minority stakes in statutory water companies;

(11) what discussions he has held with the Southern water authority about its accountability for stake building in statutory water companies; and if he will make a statement;

(12) what place the acquistion of minority stakes in statutory water companies have occupied in the discussions on performance aim, financial targets, and external financial limits for the Southern water authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets water authority chairmen, including the chairman of Southern water authority, to discuss all aspects of water policy. The general question of share purchase in statutory water companies has arisen on a number of occasions. It has been made clear to chairmen that there are three constraints: their statutory powers; their external financing limits; and mergers policy, including the special provisions for water mergers announced by my right hon. Friend on 11 January. It has also been made clear that we shall not increase external financing limits to accommodate purchases of water company shares. Against this background, it is for each water authority to decide whether, and under what arrangements, to purchase water company shares; and to justify its actions.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Southern water authority about its external financing limits.

Mr. Howard

None.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what direction he has given to the Southern water authority to reduce pollution to Chichester harbour.

Mr. Howard

My right hon. Friend has issued no direction to the Southern water authority in respect of pollution in Chichester harbour. Effluent discharges by the authority are controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and the inspectorate has powers to vary and tighten discharge consent conditions where appropriate.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investments in statutory water companies have been made by, or on behalf of, any pension fund to which water authorities contribute public money; if he is satisfied that any such investments produce a satisfactory rate of return for that pension fund; what instructions he has given to investment managers of such pension funds in connection with the purchase of water company stocks; and if he will place a copy of such instruction in the Library.

Mr. Howard

Investments by or on behalf of pension funds are the responsibility of the managers of those funds. Consequently, it is for them to determine, with reference to the appropriate regulations, whether a particular investment forms an appropriate part of their portfolio. The Secretary of State has no information, beyond what is publicly available, about such investments of this kind which may have been made.

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