HC Deb 02 December 1988 vol 142 cc424-5W
Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of the State for the Environment what progress is being made by the water authorities in preparation for the establishment of the National Rivers Authority.

Mr. Howard

I have today placed in the Library of the House summary schemes of organisation prepared by each water authority in conjunction with the National Rivers Authority Advisory Committee under my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Crickhowell.

These show the proposed organisation of the National Rivers Authority unit in each water authority region, and together with a summary document indicate that about 6,500 staff are likely to transfer to the National Rivers Authority, of whom about 50 per cent. will work on flood defence/land drainage work, and about a third on environmental and water resource functions.

Provisional estimates suggest that existing water authority assets to a value of £460 million are expected to transfer to the National Rivers Authority. Inevitably, these figures are provisional at this stage, and the final figures will depend on decisions on various matters still under consideration.

I should like to pay tribute to the water authorities, and to the National Rivers Authority Advisory Committee, for the work done so far on the restructuring of the industry.

These documents show that the water authorities are well on target for the operation of separate National Rivers Authority units from 1 April 1989. They represent a major step forward towards the establishment of a National Rivers Authority and the preparation for the privatisation of the utility functions.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of the State for the Environment (1) if he will state, in respect of each water authority, the area of land which has been designated as(a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) national parks and (c) areas of outstanding natural

(2) if he will state, in respect of each statutory water company, the area of land which has been designated as (a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) national parks and (c) areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Mr. Howard

[holding answer 1 December 1988]: This information is not available.