asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated increase in the cost of water supplied to dairy farmers in the United Kingdom since the equalisation of charges by the regional water authorities from 1st April last.

Water charges have been fully equalised by only two of the 10 water authorities in England and Wales. We have no information about the effect of equalisation on dairy farmers in the areas concerned. The average increase in the cost of metered water supplies between 1974–75 and 1975–76 is about 40 per cent.