§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his forthcoming meetings with water authorities, he will impress upon them the need to reverse those trends in staff recruitment which have led to increases in staff of between 11.4 per cent. and 21.8 per cent. between 1975 and 1979 in the cases of the Northumbrian, Severn, Trent, South-West and Welsh water authorities.
§ Mr. FoxMy right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services is giving particular attention to manpower levels and trends in his current series of meetings with the chairmen of English water authorities.