§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with the chairmen of the water boards problems created for pensioners and other low-income groups by the use of fixed charges for water supply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawA two-part tariff in which those costs which do not vary with use are recovered to a large extent by a fixed charge reflects the principle of economic pricing and has the support of the National Water Council.
Last year, the Council asked its working party on charging policies to re-examine the water industry's long-term cost structure and to advise on the appropriate structure of charges for household water supply and sewerage and the relationship between standing charges for measured and unmeasured users. As this work is still in progress we have no present plans to discuss the level of fixed charges for water supply with water authority chairmen.
Meanwhile, assistance with bills for low-income groups continues to be available through the social security system.