§ Mr. Crawfordasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the decision to give rates relief to householders in England and Wales with septic tanks.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIn England and Wales, sewerage and sewage disposal are financed by charges which are separate from the general rates. Following the House of Lords' decision in the Daymond case—that the Water Act 1973 allows such charges to be levied only on properties with mains drainage—the Government have introduced the Water Charges Bill to provide for refunds of charges levied on unconnected properties in 1974–75 and 1975–76. Refunds will be financed by higher charges to connected properties. The only cost to the Exchequer will be the notional one resulting from the decision not to claw back from the water authorities the special domestic rates relief paid in 1974–75 on account of increased sewerage charges to unconnected properties, which will be deducted from refunds. This is estimated at £5.8 million.