§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether council tax bands will be used as the basis of assessment for water charges after the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoIt is for each water company to decide the basis on which it charges customers subject to the Director General of Water Services' powers in section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to control discriminatory pricing. After 31 March 2000 companies may not use rateable value. During the passage of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, we gave a commitment to confine use of information on the council tax banding of individual properties to use for council tax purposes.
§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the water regulator about the charging for water by property bands standardised bills similar to the system used for the council tax.
§ Mr. YeoThe basis of charging for water is a matter for the water companies. It is among the topics discussed at meetings between the Department and the Director General of Water Services.