§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what preparations he will make to establish new water and sewerage authorities as provided in the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill.
§ Mr. LangWork to establish the new water and sewerage authorities will proceed as quickly as possible after Royal Assent is obtained to the legislation.
120WRestructuring of the industry is a major undertaking and it is essential that the chief executives of the new authorities should be in post at the earliest possible date following Royal Assent. Any delay is likely to incur inefficiencies and costs in implementing the restructuring. Selection of candidates will need to be thorough. It will also be time consuming. I therefore intend now to invite tenders for the appointment of executive search consultants to help identify candidates for chief executive posts.
Substantial assets will need to be transferred from the existing local authorities to the new bodies. The asset transfer arrangements will be complex. A priority task will be to issue guidance to assist the regional and islands councils and the Central Scottish Water Development Board in their preparation of asset transfer schemes. To expedite this I also intend to invite tenders for the appointment of technical consultants to advise on the preparation of guidance on asset transfer schemes.
Expenditure on these consultancies is a new service for which parliamentary approval will be sought in a winter supplementary estimate for the housing and environmental services, Scotland vote, class XIV, vote 7. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £200,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.