§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current return on capital employed in the privatised water industries. [59786]
§ Mr. MealeIn 1997–98, the Director General of Water Services has reported that the overall return before tax on the regulatory capital value of the water undertakers, both the privatised water and sewerage companies and the private sector water supply companies, was 10.1 per cent. Explanation of the basis of this figure and information on the returns of each individual company are published by the Director General of Water Services in his annual 667W "Report on the financial performance and capital investment of the water companies in England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the average profits of privatised water companies over the past 10 years. [59577]
§ Mr. MealeThe table shows the aggregate profits before tax of the water undertakers, both the privatised water and sewerage companies and the private sector water supply companies, in each of the years since privatisation. Information on the profits of each individual company is published by the Director General of Water Services in his annual "Report on the financial performance and capital investment of the water companies in England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.
Current cost (1997–98 prices) profits before tax Year £ million 1990–91 1,308 1991–92 1,407 1992–93 1,503 1993–94 1,581 1994–95 1,845 1995–96 1,917 1996–97 2,016 1997–98 2,059