§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated amount of the funds that will be transferred from the Thames Water Authority under the equalisation scheme envisaged in the Water Equalisation Bill to benefit the Welsh, Anglian and South-West Water Authorities for the year 1977; and what will be the expected increase in water charges to unmetered consumers.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Department's estimates of equalisation transfers to and from individual water authorities in 1977–78 are as follows:
Levies to be paid by authorities £'000 North West 941 Severn-Trent 1,219 Yorkshire 1,131 Thames 3,972 Southern 1,073 Wessex 104
Payments to be received by authorities Northumbrian 224 Anglian 3,018 South West 1,662 WNWDA 3,536 As far as the effect of the scheme on charges next year is concerned, I calculate that the scheme would cost the 560W average consumer in the area of the Thames Water Authority about 2p per week.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the financial effect on the domestic consumer in the Greater London area resulting from the Water Charges Equalisation Bill; what consideration is being given to the introduction of rebates for water charges; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe impact of transfers of money under the Bill on particular parts of a water authority's area will depend on the internal charging policies of the authorities concerned. As to the effect on domestic consumers in the Thames Water Authority area as a whole, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today. On the subject of rebates of water charges, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price).—[Vol. 922, c. 301–2.]