§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the water authorities in 1970–71, 1974–75 and 1979–80; and what number he anticipates being employed by the water authorities in 1980–81.
§ Mr. FoxThe water authorities did not exist until 1 April 1974. No reliable information is available about the number of employees who performed the water authorities' function before that date. On 1 April 1975, there were 58,406 full-time equivalent employees in 479W the water authorities. On 1 April 1979, there were 62,969. I have no information about future trends in numbers employed by water authorities.