§ Mr. Bendallasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that the external financing limit of the Thames water authority for the forthcoming financial year is set at such a level that the whole of the increase in revenues from the increase in financial target for the period is retained by the authority for use for the benefit of the customers of the authority.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneNo. The Government's policy for all water authorities is that they should earn a reasonable return on their assets. External financing limits are then set having regard to investment needs.