§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will provide additional finance for water authorities mandated to employ additional control and enforcement officers in order to carry out requirements laid down for the Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) Order 1983; and how many additional staff, and at what cost, he expects to be required.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. The Government do not finance the current costs of water authorities. The authorities in England and Wales already have staff to carry out functions related to those provided for in the order; but they have estimated that 100 or more staff could be needed by the time part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 is fully implemented. The Government will be concerned to ensure that any increase in staff on this account is kept to a minimum.