§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of significant sewer collapses in 1985–86 for each water authority; whether this represents an increase or a decrease over the previous year for each authority; and if he will indicate the difference between the two figures for each authority as a percentage for the total figure for each authority for the previous year.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe numbers I can give the hon. Member relate to sewer failures from all causes, not only from collapses. These numbers can change considerably from year to year for any one authority, and may in part he due to changes in the extent and quality of reporting.
The number of significant sewer failures for each regional water authority in 1985–86, and the percentage change from 1984–85 are:
Number per cent. Anglian 286 +4 Northumbrian 232 +43 North West 1,136 +14 Severn Trent 423 -12 Southern 515 +101 South West 220 -4 Thames 649 +18 Wessex 285 -19 Yorkshire 1,340 -1