HC Deb 05 November 1992 vol 213 cc374-5W
Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment the Office of Water Services has made of the health and safety danger posed by pre-payment water meters in domestic properties in the event of an accident in the home or of heating systems running dry.

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 4 November 1992]: I understand that OFWAT will be closely monitoring inter alia the health and safety aspects of a trial of pre-payment meters by Severn Trent Water Limited. OFWAT has asked the company to produce a leaflet for the customers concerned, giving advice about the precautionary action customers should take if they interrupt their supply by not inserting a pre-paid card to buy further units. However, I understand that all electronic pre-payment water meters enable water to be taken on credit in the event of an emergency.