Mr Bob Cryer: ..., it is available and, of course, in presenting a report to the House, we are obliged to include the memoranda from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I hope that the Minister can explain why sewerage in such cases is subject to international law. His reply will be interesting.
Mr Bob Cryer: ...the consumer are adequate. I question whether £3·7 million is adequate to finance that sort of operation. There is a curious circumstance in clause 24, which is the contingency section. If any sewerage and water undertaking gets into financial difficulties it can prevent winding-up because there is a guarantee. The guarantee is covered in clause 24. Subsection (2) states: The Secretary...
Mr Bob Cryer: I want to briefly comment on the water, sewerage and drainage aspects of the amendments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, as you will appreciate, the Bill wended its way through the House while I was not present. Therefore, I want to place on record my complete opposition to this wretched Channel tunnel venture. It has nothing whatever to do with transport. It is designed to pour huge sums of public money—
Mr Bob Cryer: I am concerned with the cost of the water, sewerage and drainage facilities that will arise as part of the huge amount of public expenditure for a tunnel that is designed only to link us closer to the Common Market and which is not of advantage to the country.
Mr Bob Cryer: .... That question is raised, and the Minister metaphorically weeps crocodile tears. However, the Minister's inspectors have said that there are serious difficulties in the supply of textbooks. Roads, sewerage facilities and housing are being cut. This year about 30,000 council houses are being built, compared with 107,000 in the last full year of the Labour Government. People in need are...
Mr Bob Cryer: ...during the following year, which is always a possibility. Local government reorganisation is certainly a factor. The particular bone of contention is unquestionably the increase in water and sewerage charges. Frankly, the explanation for these increases has not yet been adequately made. That is particularly so in an area such as Bradford, for example, which has a higher charge compared...
Mr Bob Cryer: ..., local authorities are levying higher charges in a manner which appears to be more and more remote from the ordinary citizen. The hon. Member for Skipton (Mr. Drayson) mentioned water and sewerage charges. It is a bone of contention that water and sewerage charges are not now subject to rate rebate. The Conservative administration produced the water charges order which laid a sewerage...