§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to reply to the letter of 4 December 1986 from the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington regarding privatised water companies and what information he has on whether privatised water companies will be treated as competent authorities by the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. John PattenI am still considering the matters which the hon. Member raised in his letter of 4 December 1986, and I will write to him as soon as possible.