§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make proposals following the completion of the current examination by the Welsh National Water Development Authority and Welsh local authorities of the machinery for levying sewerage rates, to reimburse those ratepayers who in the meantime will have paid such rates while receiving no sort of sewerage service.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe Water Authorities (Collection of Charges) Order 1974 obliged district councils to collect the lump sum required by the water authority for sewerage services by converting it into a rate poundage and levying it on their ratepayers in a similar manner to the general rate.
I regret that no change and no retrospective adjustment will be practicable for this year, but I hope in the future to be able to limit charges for sewerage to those people who are being provided with the service. The water authorities in collaboration with local authorities are currently engaged in identifying properties without main drainage so that they will be able to do this.