§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected cost of the reference by South West Water to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, following the limits imposed by Ofwat on water charging in the south-west.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe costs of the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of the determinations in respect of South West Water Services Ltd. will be borne by that company, in accordance with the terms of its appointment, but these costs cannot be taken into account in setting price limits. The MMC cannot at this stage estimate with any accuracy what those costs will be.