§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from the president of the Manchester chamber of commerce and industry about the scale of likely water price increases in the north-west; what reply he is sending; if he will publish the president's letter in the Official Report, together with his reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe president's letter of 28 January expresses concern that the charges will rise faster that inflation under "new" financial arrangements, that they amount to covert taxation and that they affect the competitive position of industry. The arrangements have not changed: financial targets and external financing limits have been set for previous years. The increase in the North-West water authority's financial target to a modest
Station Plymouth Hurn Manston Rhoose Aborporth Hemsby Binbrook Blackpool Carlisle Tynemouth Abbotsinch Leuchars Dyce Total reporting frozen ground Height ASL 88 33 144 213 435 43 353 33 85 95 16 33 215 Date 2 January O X X O O X X O O X O O X 7 3 January O O X O O O O O O X O O X 10 4 January O X X O O X O O O X O O X 8 5 January O O O O O O O O X X O X X 9 6 January O O O O O O O X O X O X X 9 7 January O O O O O O O O O O O O X 12 8 January O O O O O O O O O O O O X 12 9 January O O O X X O O O X X O O X 8 10 January X O O O O O O O O X O O X 10 11 January O O O O O O O O O X O O X 11 12 January O O O O O O O O O O O O O 13 13 January O O O O O O O O O O O O X 12 14 January O O O O O O O O O O O O O 13 15 January O O O O O O O O O X O O O 12 Ban imposed 16 January O O O O O O O O O X X X O 10 17 January O O O O O O O O O X O X X 10 18 January O O O O O O X O O X O X X 10 19 January O O O O O O O O O X O X X 10 20 January O O O O O O O O O O O O O 13 21 January X O O O O O O O O O O O O 12 22 January X X X O X X O X O X X X X 3 23 January X X O O X O O X O O O O O 9 X = Frost Free O = Frozen