§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the standing charges per year on water services to domestic properties five years ago; and what they are today.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe following table shows the standing charges levied by water authorities to domestic premises receiving an unmeasured water supply. Standing charges have been gradually introduced following the recommendations of the National Water Council in its Report "Paying for Water" published in 1976. 79W
Water authority Annual standing charge Water supply Sewerage services 1977–78 1982–83 1977–78 1982–83 £ £ £ £ North-West 3.30 13.00 — — Northumbrian — 2.50 — 2.50 Yorkshire — 5.00 — — Anglian 5.00 12.00 — 10.00 Thames — 11.00 — 11.00 Southern — 7.00 — 11.20 South-West — 14.40 — 3.60 Welsh — 11.00 — — Standing charges on unmeasured domestic supplies are not at present levied by Severn Trent or Wessex water authorities.
Information in respect of water companies is as follows:
Annual standing charges Water company 1977–78 1982–83 £ £ Bournemouth and District — 12.00 Bristol — 9.00 Cambridge — 7.00 Chester 3.00 11.00 Colne Valley — 8.00 East Anglian — 8.00 Eastbourne — 11.60 East Surrey — 11.50 East Worcestershire — 8.00 Essex — 12.00 Folkestone — 11.00 Hartlepools — 8.00 Lee Valley — 11.00 Mid Kent — 18.00 to 22.00 Mid Southern — 11.00 Mid Sussex — 11.50 Newcastle and Gateshead — 4.00 North Surrey — 11.00 Portsmouth — 8.00 Rickmansworth and Uxbridge — 11.00 Sutton District — 12.00 Sunderland and South Shields — 8.60 Tendring Hundred — 11.00 West Hampshire — 6.50 West Kent — 14.00 Wrexham and East Denbighshire 4.00 12.00 York — 7.00 The South Staffordshire Waterworks Company does not levy a standing charge. The information supplied in respect of 1977–78 is taken from that year's Water Services Year Book.