§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing how many people were disconnected from their water supplies for each year between 1978–79 and the latest date available.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 23 October 1989]: The number of household supplies disconnected for nonpayment of charges by the nine English water authorities since 1984–85 is shown in the following table. Information on the number of disconnections by water authorities made prior to 1984–85 and those to household supplies by statutory water companies is not held centrally.
Total for England 1984–85 2,052 1985–86 4,212 1986–87 6,450 1987–88 7,120 1988–89 8,091 I believe that in the great majority of cases reconnections are made within 48 hours.