§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the avenues open to a member of the public to resolve a dispute with a water company about the notional rateable value of their home. [116491]
§ Mr. MullinNotional rateable values are used by water companies to set water charges for some premises. Rateable values ceased to be used for local taxation in 1990.
Customer complaints are investigated by the regional Customer Service Committees (CSC) of the Office of Water Services on behalf of the Director General. If the CSC does not resolve a complaint to the customer's satisfaction, the customer can ask for the complaint to be considered by the Director.
The exercise of the Director's statutory functions is subject to the scrutiny of the courts and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.