§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the regional water authorities are to be allowed to continue to change to direct billing;
(2) what calculations have been made of the extra cost to the ratepayers of rate collection in those areas where the water authorities are proposing to switch to direct billing;
(3) if he is monitoring the recruitment of staff by the regional water authorities in relation to direct billing.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have recently strongly re-emphasised my earlier advice to water authorities that they should not extend direct billing without paying close attention to the overriding need to avoid a significant increase in public expenditure as a whole. I had been informed by those water authorities which had decided to extend their own billing that they did so on the basis of detailed examination of both costs and the benefits to their consumers. It is, however, for the authorities to justify their own decisions, in relation to both costs and the recruitment of staff.