§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra work is being undertaken by senior officers of statutory water undertakings in respect of proposed changes in water reorganisation; if such work is outside their duties; and if he will name any 397W undertakings making additional payments to officers together with the amounts concerned.
§ Mr. Graham PageSenior officers are members of the local working parties under the steering committees of elected members of statutory water undertakings which have been set up to recommend the steps which should be taken to ensure the smooth transfer of the water supply function from the existing water undertakings to the proposed new water authorities. It is for the existing undertakings themselves to decide whether such work is outside their officers' normal duties. The joint negotiating committees on pay and conditions of service for the water supply industry concluded an agreement last summer that where there is a substantial increase in the work of their staff due to reorganisation, such officers should be entitled to receive a lump sum or a temporary allowance, expressed as a percentage of their pay, in respect of such extra work. I have no information as to which undertakings are making such additional payments or about the amounts concerned.