§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) referred to in his answer of 27 July, Official Report, columns 963–64, regarding water disconnections, if he will list the six respondents to the consultation paper on local government reform who stated that they were in favour of allowing water service providers the power to disconnect supplies.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 22 October 1993]: Further examination of the responses has shown that two were wrongly classified. Of the others only two were unreservedly in favour of disconnection of domestic customers for non-payment. Of these responses one was almost certainly ironical and the writer of the other requested confidentiality. Copies of the relevant responses which are not confidential are available through the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) referred to in his answer of 27 July,Official Report, columns 963–64, regarding meetings with foreign-owned water supply companies, if he will give details of when the two meetings took place, which Scottish Office Ministers were present and which water companies were represented; and if he will make a statement regarding the involvement of foreign-owned water companies in the new water boards.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 22 October 1993]: Scottish Office officials met representatives of the companies concerned, at the request of the companies, on 17 March 1993 and 27 April 1993 respectively. The meetings took place under terms of commercial confidentiality. No Ministers were present.
The proposed new water authorities will be wholly public bodies. The private sector will have a role, as now, in providing goods and services under contract. The negotiation of these contracts will be a matter for the new water authorities.