§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to introduce a water rate rebate on lines similar to the ordinary rate rebate to help those pensioners who live in highly-rated houses and cannot afford their water rates.
Mr. Dennis HowellThe rate rebate scheme is designed to help people who have difficulty paying the rates levied by local authorities. Water services charges are charges in the same sense as those302W levied by other public utilities, and are thus quite separate. I have no plans to alter this.