§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses he received to his consultation on the future of water services in Scotland, in the form of(a) letters, (b) names on petitions and (c) individually signed postcards; and how many submissions were in favour of (i) continued control of water services by local authorities with no privatization, (ii) control by a body other than a local authority and (iii) for privatisation options; and, in the last case, how many were for each method of private involvement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 4 March 1993 ]: In response to the consultation paper we have received more than 4,800 letters; 11 large petitions and a number of smaller petitions which together have over 85,000 signatures; and more than 56,500 pre-printed postcards some of which were received before the consultation paper was issued. The petitions and postcards oppose privatisation of the water and sewerage services. Other responses are being studied and a full analysis is not yet available.