§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of rate support from central funds will be provided in 1979–80 in England as a whole, in England excluding the area of the Greater London Council, and in the area of that council; and what the support will cost per head of population in all three cases in 1979–80 and in the present year.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettIt is not possible to give estimates disaggregated by area of the total rate support grant for 1979–80 because the allocation of resources element will depend on the rate levy of individual authorities. The expected amount and per capita payment of needs element for 1979–80 and the amount and per capita payment of total rate support grant for 1978–79 in the relevant areas are as follows:
Waterways Board has led to a shortage of water available for distribution in the Bristol area and the company had to reduce supplies to some major industrial consumers for a few days. I understand, however, that, following negotiations, increased supplies have become available and normal supplies were restored to industrial consumers by yesterday morning.
I am being kept informed of actions taken by the Wessex water authority and by the Bristol Waterworks Company to meet the situation.