§ Mr.Robert B. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to announce the performance aims for the Thames water authority.
§ Mr.WaldegraveI am pleased to announce that the Government have now agreed a performance aim with the Thames water authority. The agreement is that its total operating costs should not exceed £241 million (in 1982–83 prices) in 1985–86. This figure represents a real reduction in operating costs of 7.3 per cent. over 1982–83 and reflects the authority's current plans to make substantial improvements in efficiency by reductions in manpower.