§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the practice of the North West Water Authority, Ribble Division, of issuing final notices in a manner which contravenes Section 30 of the Water Act 1973, which is likely to cause a public nuisance by threatening to cut off water supplies and/or adding the cost of disconnection of the said water supply and which threatens court proceedings.
§ Mr. MarksWater authorities are empowered by Section 38 of the Water Act 1945 to cut off supplies for non-payment of charges, and to take proceedings for recovery. I do not consider it unreasonable for a water authority to warn any consumer, in the final notice, of the possibility of cutting off and recovery through the courts, but if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.