§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what emergency arrangements are made in pre-payment water meters to enable water to be taken on credit in the event of fire or accident.
§ Mr. MacleanI understand that pre-payment water meters are installed on an internal wall in the property. About four days before credit on a meter runs out, the meter emits a noise followed by a continuous flashing warning light. When all the credit has been used, the meter will still allow the customer to receive water until the following morning. The meter also has a facility to enable the customer to obtain a further seven days water in an emergency.
§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, columns 234–35, how many of the disconnections of domestic water supply mentioned in his answer were reconnected within 24 hours.
§ Mr. MacleanInformation on reconnections is not collected by my Department or by the Office of Water Services, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. I understand that the water industry associations believe the majority of those disconnected—and contact-able—are reconnected within 24 hours.
§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what emergency arrangements are made to ensure access to water in domestic or commercial properties where the supply has been disconnected.
§ Mr. MacleanWhere a water company disconnects or reduces for more than 24 hours the supply of water provided to any premises—dwellings, commercial or otherwise—for domestic, ie drinking, cleaning, washing, cooking, heating and sanitary, purposes to carry out necessary works, it must ensure that an emergency supply has been made available within a reasonable distance of the premises. In respect of disconnection for non-payment I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 1992,Official Report, column 795.