§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he has laid down for regional water authorities by which they will fix the lump sums to be levied on district councils as a sewerage charge; and what right of appeal exists to district councils against such assessment.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsNo criteria have been laid down by which the amounts which rating authorities are to collect for water authorities are to be assessed. A Steering Group on the Economic and Financial Objectives of the Water Authorities, in its first report, has made recommendations which relate to this charge among others and which I have drawn to the attention of water authorities and local authorities. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. Rating authorities will collect sewerage charges on behalf of water authorities and 159W will have no right of appeal against the amounts of the charges, any more than they have a right of appeal concerning the water rates which many of them already collect for water undertakers.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has ruled that the proposed sewerage charge should not be subject to rate rebate.
§ Mr. Graham PageAs a result of the Water Act, sewerage will be financed by charges instead of out of the general rates, and charges do not fall within the ambit of the rate rebate scheme.