§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of merchant bankers, stockbrokers, public relations officers and accountants engaged by each water authority on the privatisation of the authority and the amount paid to each to date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThis is a matter for the individual water authorities.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of the merchant bankers, stockbrokers, accountants and corporate lawyers he will engage to meet preliminary expenses in the sale of shares in water authorities; and how much he expects to pay each one.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government have appointed J. Henry Schroder Wagg and Co. as its merchant bankers and Touche Ross and Co. as their general accountancy advisers in connection with water authority privatisation. Stockbroking and legal advisers have not yet been appointed. It is too early to say what the costs of these advisers, which are based on a time input, will be.