§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate comparative cost studies over water metering and the water rate system, so that the most advantageous system for the public can be gauged in relation to the size of the household.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWe have no plans to do so. The National Water Council in its report on "Charging Households for Water", published in April 1981, recommended to all water authorities that they should provide householders with clear advice about the costs and potential benefits of household metering. Water authorities are expected to make a positive response to this recommendation.