§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many staff have been lost in water quality control divisions in each water authority since 1979;
(2) what estimate he has made of the effect of staff cuts by water authorities on the implementation of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy Department does not have a breakdown showing the number of water authority employees concerned with particular functions. The allocation of staff to the various functions is a matter for water authorities in light of their statutory responsibilities.