HC Deb 16 January 1986 vol 89 cc679-80W
Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which commented on the document titled "Water Privatisation A Discussion Paper", indicating which supported privatisation and which opposed it.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1986, c. 573]: Responses have been received from the following:

  • The Water Authorities Association
  • Anglian Water Authority
  • North West Water Authority
  • Northumbrian Water Authority
  • Severn Trent Water Authority
  • South West Water Authority
  • Southern Water Authority
  • Thames Water Authority
  • Welsh Water Authority
  • Wessex Water Authority

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 to date
Agriculture 6 10 2 0 1 5 —
Defence 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
Education 39 0 46 28 0 0 0
Employment 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Energy 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Environment 8 131 20 0 4 0 0
Foreign Affairs 31 13 50 0 24 12 0
Home Affairs 15 12 15 8 0 3 0
Scottish Affairs 8 0 7 2 93 72 0
Social Services 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
Trade and Industry 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Transport 0 6 10 0 55 49 0
Treasury and Civil Service 2 22 18 *6 6 37 3
Welsh Affairs 0 1 0 29 0 7 3
* This figure does not include 69 divisions on a report which was not in the event made to the House.

The number of reports which have been approved unanimously by each Committee are as follows:

  • Yorkshire Water Authority
  • The Water Companies Association
  • British Water Industries Group
  • National Joint Industrial Committee for the Water Industry (Trade Union Side)
  • Institute of Water Engineers and Scientists
  • British Effluent and Water Association
  • Association of Chief Technical Officers
  • Association of Consulting Engineers
  • Association of District Councils
  • Association of Metropolitan District Engineers
  • Basildon Council
  • Camden District Council
  • Confederation of British Industry
  • Countryside Commission
  • Deloitte Haskins and Sells
  • Food Manufacturers Federation
  • Institute of Directors
  • John Laing Construction Ltd/Société Lyonnaise des Eaux
  • London Boroughs Association
  • London Borough of Merton
  • Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley
  • National Anglers Council
  • National Consumer Council
  • National Farmers Union
  • Salmon and Trout Association
  • South Derbyshire District Council
  • Southern Water Retirement Association
  • Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
  • United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association Ltd.
  • Environmental Group
In addition, responses have been received from four private individuals. Of the total of 43 responses, seven supported the principle of privatisation and eleven opposed it. The remaining 25 commented on practical issues, without expressing a view on the merits of privatisation itself.