UNITED Utilities plans to spend £3 million a day this year on improving the environment, water quality and electricity services in the North West, including Cumbria. The utility company, which made pre-tax profits of £330 million last year, revealed that its total improvement package between 2000 and 2005, when completed, would amount to more than that planned for the region's rail, gas, road, air travel and communications industries combined. Chief executive John Roberts said: "Behind our figures of sustained, steady growth are real quality-of-life improve-ments for our customers and an economic contribution which will have created more than 7,000 jobs for the region's construction industry."

May 29, 2003 16:00