§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance Her Majesty's Government gave to improve water quality for each of the last five years before water privatisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanA considerable proportion of investment by the former water authorities had the effect of improving water quality. Some details of that expenditure were given in the DOE chapters of the annual public expenditure White Paper. Investment expenditure was met from water charges and borrowing: the limits for the latter were set out in the White Papers.