§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities in Wales are in favour of direct billing of water charges and which are against; and if this information is not available whether he will ask them to submit their views to him.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThirteen of 47 district councils within the Welsh National 885W Water Development Authority area have made written representations to WNWDA or to my right hon. and learned Friend against direct billing while one district council has said it is in favour and another has asked to be relieved of its obligations to collect charges on behalf of the authorities. All local authorities were informed by WNWDA in July 1975 of their intention to extend direct billing and have thus had time and opportunity to express their views.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will intervene to reverse the decision of the Welsh National Water Development Authority to start direct billing of its consumers.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI cannot at present add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on this point on 1st November.—[Vol. 918, c. 950.]
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the agency fees at present paid to each local authority in Wales for the collection of water rates.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe fee paid by the Welsh National Water Development Authority to district councils for the collection of water services charges is a matter for negotiation between the Water Authority and the individual local authorities. I understand that the total for this year is £1.16 million.
§ Mr. Roderickasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed full-time or part-time by each local authority in Wales on the collection of water rates; and how many redundancies will be created by the adoption of direct billing by the Welsh National Water Development Authority.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.