HL Deb 05 August 1980 vol 412 cc1475-6WA
Lord CHITNIS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional costs would fall on the water authorities concerned to make available surplus water in the Anglian Water Authority's Rutland Water to the Severn-Trent Water Authority, what is the corresponding discounted unit cost per 1,000 gallons and how does that unit cost compare with the unit costs of the projected Carsington Reservoir of the Severn-Trent Water Authority.

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

The information set out below was given in evidence, in January 1977, at the public inquiry into the Carsington Reservoir proposals and, along with all other evidence, was taken into account by the then Secretary of State for the Environment in reaching his decision to approve the Carsington Reservoir Scheme in May 1978.

The figures are based on prices ruling in 1976. The figure at (b) takes account of the charges proposed by Anglian Water Authority for a bulk supply of water, and of the fact that supplies would be limited both in quantity and duration so that Carsington Reservoir would have to be built a few years later.

  1. (a) Capital cost to the Severn-Trent Water Authority of pumping station and pipeline to convey supplies from Rutland Water into the demand area—£6 million.
  2. (b) Discounted unit cost (discount rate 5 per cent.) of temporary supplies from Rutland Water, followed by Carsington Reservoir Scheme—33 pence per 1,000 gallons.
  3. (c) Discounted unit cost (discount rate 5 per cent.) of Carsington Reservoir Scheme—26 pence per 1,000 gallons.

It would be necessary to refer back to the water authorities concerned for fully up-to-date information. The Secretary of State for the Environment has no further locus in this matter.