§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has considered the abolition of a fixed minimum for water rate and its replacement by a charge by quantity; and what conclusions he has reached;
(2) if he will consider plans to encourage water saving by financial inducement in view of the present lack of such inducement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe future basis of charging for water supplies is the subject of a study set up by my Department last year. I shall consider whether any changes in present charging methods are necessary when the study is completed but, as I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 9th May, I shall not be easily persuaded that it is right to oblige a householder to pay by meter for a supply for ordinary domestic purposes.