asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the operation of the new water authorities; and if he proposes in due course to change some of their activities.

The authorities have performed as well as could be expected given the structural defects inherent in the 1973 Act. The Green Paper which we issued in March concentrated upon the industry's central organisation and the lack of a national strategy. I hope to make a statement about these matters in the near future.