§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated average water and sewerage payment for 1975–76 made by (a) domestic ratepayers and (b) consumers of measured water supplies in each Welsh authority area in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Denis Howell(a) The estimated average payments in 1975–76 by domestic ratepayers in England and Wales for water and general services, including
901Wsewerage, supplied by water authorities are as follows:
Water Authority Water Supply General Services Sum £ £ £ North West … … … 13.60 11.68 25.28 Northumbrian … … … 13.99 9.73 23.72 Severn-Trent … … … 12.48 13.80 26.28 Yorkshire … … … … 12.68 11.96 24.64 Anglian … … … … 12.79 17.61 30.40 Thames … … … … 10.97 11.06 22.03 Southern … … … … 14.63 20.79 35.42 Wessex … … … … 13.50 17.81 31.31 South West … … … 16.60 18.70 35.30 WNWDA … … … … 19.20 16.20 35.40 (b) I cannot offer any estimate for the average payment made by consumers of measured water, but the estimated average rates of charge per thousand gallons are as follows:
Water Authority Rate of Charge North West 42.5 Northumbrian 37.85 Severn-Trent 44.1 Yorkshire 40.9 Anglian 39.5 Thames 35.0 Southern 43.2 Wessex 39.6 South West 48.7 WNWDA 50.0 I have no information relating to average payments or rates of charge in other parts of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what general guidance over refunds he will give to local authorities in the South-West of England now that the test case over sewerage charges has been decided.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ely (Mr. Freud) on 18th December.—[Vol. 902, c.740–1.]