31.   ATTEMPTS to persuade councils to organise an all-Scotland referendum on water privatisation will be made today at talks involving Labour group leaders.

32.   LABOUR group leaders in Scotland have agreed in principle to hold a local authority referendum on the future of water and sewerage services.

33.   The proposal, put forward by Lothian, has the strong support of other big Labour council groups like Strathclyde and Tayside.

34.   The plans have been put forward by the ruling Labour group on Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority, which runs the ferries.

35.   Well can I have the Labour group then please?

36.   Do I understand you are handing over your responsibilities to the Labour group, washing your hands of them.

37.   What we have tonight is a labour group that says they no longer believe in that philosophy.

38.   We have obtained much support locally from other trade unionists and residents, we are attempting to meet the leaders of the Labour group.

39.   Yes, Phyllis Starkey, the leader of the Labour group, is grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

40.   But he said such a task was tough and required the co-operation from the government, businesses, employers and labour groups.