HC Deb 28 March 2003 vol 402 cc478-9W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure customers are not subject to blanket charges set by water companies to dispose of surface water. [104090]

Mr. Morley

Every water company must set out their charges in a charges scheme, approved by the Director General of Water Services (Ofwat) before they may be implemented. Charges for the disposal of surface water have, in the past, been shared by all sewerage customers. The then Secretary of State issued guidance to Ofwat in 2000 under the Water Industry Act 1999, supporting the provision of rebates for customers whose surface water does not flow into public sewers. Ofwat report that all companies now offer rebates.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that consumers are provided with an explanation and breakdown of their waste water charges. [104091]

Mr. Morley

The Director General of Water Services (Ofwat) as the independent regulator, regulates companies' charges. The then Secretary of State gave guidance to Ofwat under the Water Industry Act 1999, that bills should explain to customers each element of the charge and set out the separate costs for each of these. Ofwat has undertaken monitoring exercises to ensure that all companies do so.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure Anglian Water repays its customers who overpaid the company when a water rate reduction was in place. [104092]

Mr. Morley

Neither Ofwat nor the Government can require water companies to offer retrospective rebates of surface water drainage charges for past years, provided such charges were made in accordance with legal requirements in force at the time.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next plans to meet representatives from Anglian Water to discuss(a) fair charging and (b) consumer concerns about a water rate reduction. [104105]

Mr. Morley

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State meets water company representatives from time to time. At present, she has no plans to meet representatives from Anglian Water. Water companies charges are regulated by the Office of Water Services (Ofwat), which must, in turn, have regard to Government guidance. The guidance expects water charges to be fair and affordable, transparent and customer focused.