§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the external finance limits that will apply to the Scottish Water and Sewerage Authorities in 1999–2000 and in the following two years; and if he will make a statement. [57729]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe External Finance Limits (EFLs) for the 3 water authorities have been set at £206.904 million for 1990–2000. The allocation to each water authority will be: North Authority £51.000 million, East Authority £70.500 million, and West Authority £85.404 million.
Indicative EFLs for 2000–01 and 2001–02 have been set at £206.954 million and £208.018 million respectively. The indicative allocations for 2000–01 and 2001–02 will be: North Authority £40.000 million and £40.000 million, East Authority £76.000 million and £76.000 million, and West Authority £90.954 million and £92.018 million.
This settlement represents a significant real increase in the resources available to the industry, offering each authority greater sums for investment over the 3 year period than they planned for in their current corporate plans. It demonstrates the Government's commitment to securing the modernisation of the Scottish water industry.