§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contributions have been or are being made by his Department towards(a) the water authority responsibilities of the Council of the Isles of Scilly and (b) the operation of South West Water. [34792]
§ Angela EagleThe Water Industry Act 1991 provides for the Secretary of State to pay grant to water and sewerage undertakers, in certain limited circumstances, in respect of the provision of their services. In 1997–98 grants totalling £196,963 have been made to South West Water to help safeguard their water supplies and sewerage services and to help defray the expenses of providing first time water and sewerage services in rural areas. The Department does not make contributions to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, but does make available Supplementary Credit Approvals enabling them to finance capital expenditure on their water and sewerage functions. The Department has issued an Approval of £41,500 in the current financial year.