§ 6. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that there exists generally in Wales a water supply of adequate standard to meet domestic and industrial requirements.
§ Mr. Alec JonesYes, Sir.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the Minister aware that there is a great body of concern in Wales over the recent announcement by the Welsh Water Authority of a 15 per cent. increase in its charges, when the Government are advocating a 5 per cent. limit on wage increases? In view of this apparent taxation without representation, what do the Government propose to do to secure better control over this type of price increase?
§ Mr. Alec JonesI am not sure what that has to do with the standard of water supply, but I take the hon. Gentleman's point. The responsibility for water charges rests with the water authority. As the hon. Gentleman has probably seen, it has suggested that its percentage increase spread over two years would come within the guidelines. One factor is that last year there was a substantial reduction in water charges in Wales as a direct consequences of the Water Charges Equalisation Act, which we introduced.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIs my hon. Friend aware that one of the problems 768 that afflict small businesses and the owners of shops is the very high charges in relation to the negligible amount of water that they use? Will he confirm that it is within the power of the Welsh Water Authority to install meters? Would he regard that as a sensible step forward in relation to industrial and commercial premises?
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt is certainly within the authority's competence to install meters, but I am not yet convinced that to install a meter for every consumer in Wales would be in the best interest of all consumers. Undoubtedly, some commercial and industrial users which do not have meters now would benefit from their installation.