§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, prior to deciding about the privatisation of the water industry, he gathered information regarding(a) the cost of repairing the sewage system within a period not longer than five years, (b) the cost of urgently cleaning drinking water of pollutants and poisons and (c) the amount of people who now have free access to water and land for the purposes of sporting and recreation activities.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 9 December 1988]: Information on the estimated costs of improving water and sewerage services is obtained from water authorities each year, while information relating specifically to
Main housing subsidy and rate fund contributions 1981–82 to 1988–89 Local authorities in England 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Main housing subsidy Total (million) 881.5 436.9 346.8 353.5 487.6 464.9 443.8 508.4 Per dwelling: All LAs 180 92 74 77 108 105 102 123 LAs in subsidy 184 209 249 263 343 367 381 466 Negative RFCs Total (million) -17.1 -22.1 -22.0 -44.2 -58.3 -101.3 -81.4 -75.2 Per dwelling: All LAs -3 -5 -6 -10 -13 -23 -19 -18 LAs in subsidy -3 -4 -4 -8 -13 -11 -11 -9 Positive RFCs Total (million) 419.6 432.7 495.2 431.3 438.4 378.0 495.1 484.5 Per dwelling: All LAs 85 91 106 94 97 85 114 117 LAs in subsidy 87 184 309 206 260 243 306 318 Note: Not all local authorities in receipt of Exchequer subsidy are also making contributions from the general rate fund.
530Wprivatisation is obtained as necessary. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who might make use of water and land for sporting and recreation purposes where there is free access.