HC Deb 15 July 1987 vol 119 cc478-80W
Sir Barney Hayhoe

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out in tabular form the sum recommended by the relevant review body for the salary of a Member of Parliament in October 1964, January 1972, June 1975, June 1979 and June 1983, respectively, together with (a) the amount and (b) the percentage by which the value of the salary currently payable falls short in real terms of each of those previously recommended sums.

Mr. Wakeham

The information requested is as follows:

are supplied by private water undertakings, as to what size of communities these supply and as to how many of these undertakings are registered as charities.

Mr. Grist

Two statutory water companies in Wales, the Wrexham and East Denbighshire water company and the Chester water company supply water to 148,000 and 112,500 persons in their areas respectively. Information in respect of the number of other communities in Wales supplied by a private water undertaking or the size of those communities is not held centrally but is available from individal local authorities in Wales, who have a duty under section 11(2) of the Water Act 1973 to ascertain the sufficiency and wholesomeness of water supplies within their area. The question of the number of such undertakings registered as charities should be addressed to the Charity Commission.

Mr. Livsey

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance Her Majesty's Government give to water authorities regarding the criteria to be used in determining the eligibility of rural communities in Wales (a) to receive water supplies and (b) to obtain an expansion in their supply; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

The Welsh water authority has a general duty under the Water Act 1973 to supply water within its area. Grants are available to the authority under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts 1944 to 1971 for the provision of services to rural localities not previously served, or for the strengthening of services for the benefit of existing commitments, or for the improvement of a source which has an unacceptable quality or unreliable yield.

Mr. Livsey

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide assistance to the Cwmdu water undertaking, Powys, in its current programme of essential renewal works to meet EEC requirements on drinking water supply; and what is his policy towards assisting for the purpose other similar water undertakings which charitable status.

Mr. Grist

There are no funds available from my Department to assist the owner of any private water undertaking requiring remedial works to meet the standards of the EC drinking water directive. It is, of course, open to any owner of property served by a private water supply to apply to the relevant water authority for

2.10 Analysis offish kill incidents: Welsh Water Authority area1
Number of incidents
Cause 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Discharge of crude sewage from WWA works 2 4 4 5 28 2 5 3
Discharge from storm sewage overflows 8 8 9
Discharge of sewage effluent from WWA works 1 2 1 2 3 1
Discharge from WWA water treatment works 2 1 1 3 1 2 3
Farming 9 4 2 18 18 23 43 25 15
Industry or trade waste 9 6 4 8 8 10 6 9 4
Low oxygen 4 4 1 2 4 15 10 6
Suspected poaching 8 13 7 5 7 4 11 8
Other 4 1 38 5 9 8 12 4
Unknown 3 6 11 15 17 29 33 14
Total 42 41 39 63 67 89 131 88 78
1 Fish kill is an incident when more than 100 fish are killed.
2 Includes incidents resulting from discharge from sewage overflows and WWA works.
3 Includes four incidents due to construction or demolition near a river.

Source: Welsh Water Authority: Water Quality Committee Annual Reports.

a mains water supply. A mains supply to a number of properties in rural area might qualify for grant and under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts 1944 to 1971.