§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what part of the estimated £37 million additional costs resulting from the Government's decision to introduce regional water authorities in April 1974 is attributable to staffing.
§ Mr. RossiNo national figures of additional staff costs are available, but one of the authorities has informed the Department that these will be of the order of 1½ per cent. of the total revenue expenditure of the authority.
No estimate of £37 million has been made by my Department.
§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that regional water authorities do not overprovide for staff, bearing in mind that the total additional cost of local government reorganisation has been estimated at £23 million.
§ Mr. RossiMy right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Development has urged upon the water authorities the need to exercise the utmost restraint on revenue expenditure in 1974–75 and this will inevitably constrain them in provision for staff.