HC Deb 14 December 1995 vol 268 c814W
Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the outstanding capital debt on water and sewerage services for each regional and islands council in the most recent year; and what arrangements he has made for this debt to be transferred to the three new water and sewerage authorities on 1 April 1996. [5288]

Mr. Kynoch

The latest year for which figures are available is 1994–95. The information as at 31 March 1995 as contained in capital outstanding returns from local authorities is set out in the following table:

£000s
Borders regional council 31,581
Central regional council 75,798
Dumfries and Galloway regional council 55,292
Fife regional council 103,743
Grampian regional council 210,308
Highland regional council 73,837
Lothian regional council 268,769
Orkney Isles islands council 8,939
Shetland Isles islands council 1,594
Strathclyde regional council 565,047
Tayside regional council 131,000
Western Isles islands council 15,835
Total 1,541,743

Mr. Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the external consultants, employed to date to assist with the transfer of water and sewerage services to the new water authorities in Scotland, and what fees they have received. [5528]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

[holding answer 12 December 1995]: The Babtie group has been commissioned to assist with the transfer of water and sewerage assets to the new water authorities. Payments have totalled £407,724.77 to date, under two contracts.

Relevant debt outstanding at 31 March 1996 will be transferred to the new water authorities by virtue of section 91 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. The mechanism of transfer is currently under consideration.

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