HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 c24W
Mr. Graham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether information is available of the number of water consumers who have had their water supply cut off arising from the non-payment of water charges; whether he will publish the relevant figures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Water authorities and water companies are empowered by section 38 of the Water Act, 1945 to cut off supplies for non-payment, and to take proceedings for recovery. All water undertakers work to a draft code of practice issued by the National Water Council in 1978. The code is designed to prevent the disconnection of water supply in cases of real financial or personal hardship and I have placed a copy in the Library.

At present no centralised records of disconnections are kept in the Department but I intend to review this position. However, the National Water Council says that in the financial year 1980–81, the water authorities disconnected 6, 294 unmeasured consumers in England and Wales who were in default. I do not have comparable figures in respect of water companies.