asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many public and private water undertakings, respectively, there are in Wales; and how many amalgamations have taken place since 1st January, 1957.

There are now 112 public and 7 private statutory water undertakings in Wales. Seven amalgamations have taken place since 1st January, 1957. These have reduced the number of water undertakings by 27. A considerable further reduction will take place if all of the other regrouping proposals at present under discussion come to fruition.