HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 c288W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that the land holdings of Welsh Water plc shall be transferred into a public trust prior to the sale of shares and that the trustees be obliged to oversee such land for the benefit of the people of Wales.

Mr. Grist

The hon. Gentleman no doubt welcomed the announcement made by Welsh Water on Tuesday that a charitable trust has been set up to care for approximately 43,000 acres of its landholdings in the Elan valley. Much of the land remaining in the ownership of Welsh Water is in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty or other areas of special scientific interest which are safeguarded by the provisions of the Water Act 1989.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that Welsh Water plc shall concentrate on providing high-quality wholesome water and an efficient sewerage service to the people of Wales.

Mr. Grist

The duties of water and sewerage undertakers are set out in the Water Act 1989. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has taken steps to ensure that these will be carried out by appointing Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig to be the water and sewerage undertakers for the area of the former Welsh water authority.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names, occupations and salaries of the board members of Welsh Water.

Mr. Ian Grist

The information requested concerning appointments to the Welsh Water plc is set out in the following table:

1. Executive Directors:

  • John Elfed Jones—Group Chairman (£43,860)
  • David Abbot Jeffrey—Group Managing Director (£59,125)
  • Graham Alfred Hawker—Group Finance Director (£46,440)

2. Non-executive Directors:

  • John Mansel James—(£5,375). Appointed group managing director of Laura Ashley Holdings in 1981 and promoted to chief executive and vice-chairman in 1988. He is also a non-executive director of Control Techniques.
  • David Grant Hawkins—(£5,375). Chairman of Target Computer Group where he has been a director since 1980. Prior to this he was, for three years, finance director of Sterling Credit Holdings, a company in the Sterling Credit Group.
  • Iain Richard Evans—(£5,375). A founding partner of the LEK partnership and is currently the senior partner in their London office.
  • Timothy Knowles—(£5,375). He is a chartered accountant and was, until recently, group managing director of the HTV Group.