HC Deb 29 July 1974 vol 878 cc36-7W
Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when he has succeeded in having identified those properties which are not connected to the public sewers, he will take steps to refund these ratepayers any sewerage charges they may have paid under the terms of the Water Authorities (Collection of Charges) Order 1974.

Mr. Denis Howell

I would refer the hon. Member to my Written Answer of 2nd May to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) and the hon. Members for Bodmin (Mr. Tyler) and Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).—[Vol. 872, c. 548–9.]

Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when he has succeeded in having identified those properties which are not connected to the mains water supply, he will take steps to refund these ratepayers any water charges they may have paid under the terms of the Water Authorities (Collection of Charges) Order 1974.

Mr. Denis Howell

The background to this problem was explained in my written reply to the Question on this subject to the hon. Member on 17th June.

Number of persons summoned Number of offences Number of successful cases* Number of persons
1969 91 143 97 64
1970 71 99 60 47
1971 58 88 51 40
1972 77 118 59 44
1973 (January-September) 58 146 97 45
* For general purposes Home Office definition of "found guilty" covers "fined", "imprisonment", "Absolute discharge" and "conditional discharge".