§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per household for water rates in the current year(a) nationally and (b) in Nottingham.
§ Mr. MoynihanI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 3 November 1988 at column729. Information on average household bills for sub-divisions of water authority areas is not held centrally.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether water rates currently paid by council tenants through the agency of local authorities will be waived for the duration of the domestic water metering trials.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 11 November 1988]Yes. Council tenants in these areas will pay their measured water charges direct to the water undertaker, and not with their rent via their local authority.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to ensure that the water rate element of the rent paid by private tenants to their landlords is eliminated for those private tenants participating in the domestic water metering trials.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 11 November 1988]Private tenants living in separately rated hereditaments in the trial areas, who currently pay their water charges with their rent, will pay their measured water charges direct to the water undertaker, unless the landlord enters into an agreement with the water undertaker to be responsible for these charges. The new arrangements will be carefully explained to every tenant and landlord concerned, so that everyone is aware of the change and how it will work.