§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the five areas which have experienced the highest percentage increases in water rate since reorganisation of water services and for each show a breakdown of the increased costs, including the loss of rate support grant and capital expenditure out of revenue.
§ Mr. MarksThe following table shows for each water authority the percentage increase in the average water rate for the current year compared with the average rate charges by their predecessor water undertakings in 1973–74.
I regret that detailed information is not available to show the breakdown of the increased cost, but no water authority finances capital expenditure out of revenue. Even before reorganisation the water rate did not directly attract rate 13W support grant but a number of local authorities, particularly in Wales, were accustomed to subsidise the water rate out of the general rate and thus indirectly to apply rate support grant to the reduction of water rates.
Water Authority Per cent. North-West … … … 147 Northumbrian … … … 143 Severn-Trent … … … 158 Yorkshire … … … 148 Anglian … … … 134 Thames … … … 104 Southern … … … 154 Wessex … … … 153 South-West … … … 178 Welsh NWDA … … … 273