§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the additional charge to the Thames Water Authority ratepayers which might result from the Water Charges Equalisation Bill, if it becomes law unamended, expressed as (a) a rate in the pound and (b) cash per domestic ratepayer.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIt is too early in the budgetary cycles of water authorities for me to attempt reliable predictions About the effects of equalisation in terms of precise poundages. I estimate, however, that equalisation would in 1977–78 cost the average domestic consumer in the area of the Thames Water Authority less than 2p per week.