§ Mrs. Renee Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on (a) construction and (b) repair and maintenance of sewers by each region in 1979–80; and what are the estimates for 1980–81 and 1981–82.
§ Mr. Giles ShawFull information is available for these years only in respect of spending on new sewer construction. The costs of repair and maintenance of sewers are set out in the annual accounts of the water authorities, the latest being for 1979–-80, published in October last year. The available information is as follows:
(a)Expenditure on sewerage construction (£ million) Region 1979–80 1980–81 (Estimates)
1981–82 (Estimates)
North West 22.6 27.2 41.5 Northumbrian 15.3 12.3 20.6 Severn Trent 29.7 36.1 32.3 Yorkshire 16.2 20.5 17.4 Anglian 21.8 29.0 35.9 Thames 28.2 30.5 33.9 Southern 12.1 10.4 11.7 Wessex 7.8 8.8 11.6 South West 4.7 5.2 4.1 Welsh 9.0 8.5 12.0
(b) Expenditure on repair and maintenance of sewers (£ million) Region 1979–80 North West 6.1 Northumbrian 2.0 Severn Trent 4.8 Yorkshire 4.0 Anglian 2.2 Thames 13.2 Southern 4.7 Wessex 1.6 South West 1.0 Welsh 3.9
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 24 June 1980, Official Report, column 132, if he has now received any special representations from any individual water authority facing special difficulties over the repair and maintenance of their sewerage systems; and, if so, what response he has given.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI shall answer this question shortly.