§ 10. Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current method of charging for water.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe current method is a matter for the water companies in consultation with the Director General of Water Services.
§ Mr. WigleyDoes the Minister accept that the charge for Welsh households this year is £260 compared with £160 in the Thames valley? That figure hits pensioners and other people on low incomes exceedingly hard. Next year, there will be yet another increase in real terms. Does the Minister not realise that the system cannot continue, with charges spiralling ever upward? Will he start to make a change by encouraging Welsh Water and other water companies to provide the automatic 25 per cent. reduction for single occupancy that is given in respect of council tax? Will he give an assurance that under no circumstances will metering be compulsorily imposed on Welsh households, because that would mean even higher charges?
§ Mr. JonesIncreased charges should be put into perspective. Over the next 10 years, the increase will be limited to 0.5 per cent. in real terms, and Welsh Water will invest £1 billion in Wales over five years—£500,000 every day of every year during that time. That will pay for cleaner beaches and improvements to the environment generally—changes that those of us who are concerned about the environment much welcome.