§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what directions he has given to the 10 water authorities in England and Wales in respect of sales of (a) operational and (b) non-operational land; and what instructions he has given to water authorities on land sales procedures to be adopted so as to safeguard the future of land of scientific interest or amenity value.
§ Mr. John PattenOperational land is not sold. It is an objective of the water industry, agreed in 1982, that they should dispose of land which is surplus to their operational requirements. Water authorities were last reminded of this objective in April 1985 in a letter setting out Government policy. At that time my Department and the Welsh Office also commended to authorities the adoption of guidelines for notification to interested bodies, particularly in relation to national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will produce a table, by water authority, of the specified rate of return on value of net assets for each year from 1979 to the latest date for which information is available.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will produce a table, by water authority, showing the annual percentage increase in water rates charged to consumers for each year from 1979 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 23 October at column930.