§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) of 14 February, whether the European Commissioner included in his statement on 7 February a view on the Government's proposal to reverse or prevent mergers in the water industry after privatisation which reduce the number of water companies in independent ownership.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 16 February 1989]: The statement said that the Commission had found nothing in the Government's water privatisation proposals that would raise problems in the competition field.