§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are now employed by the Severn-Trent Water Authority; and how many were previously employed by the constituent authorities that now makes up the Severn Trent Water Authority at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI understand that the number of people employed by the Severn-Trent Water Authority is 10,448.
On water supply, the total number of staff employed before reorganisation by predecessor authorities was 4,796 and the number employed by river authorities was 1,270.
It is not possible to give a figure for staff employed on sewage disposal, since staff employed were frequently also employed on other sewerage functions, which are still carried out on an agency basis by local authorities.