§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the increased costs to water rate payers of direct billing.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIt was estimated in December 1976 that full direct billing would lead to net annual savings for water authorities of the order of £11 million for those authorities then proposing to introduce direct billing. These savings would be reflected in water charges, although to some extent they could be at the expense of local authorities who currently collect the charges. I have emphasised to water authorities the need, when contemplating the extension of direct billing, to pay close attention to the need to avoid any significant increase in overall public expenditure.