§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What provision is being made under the Housing Benefits Scheme to help in the payment of water and sewerage charges; and what resources the Government are making available to assist the water authorities to deal with cases of hardship.
302WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Trefgarne)Housing benefit is not available for water and sewerage charges in England and Wales. People on supplementary benefit normally have these charges met in full, either by DHSS or under special payment arrangements, in certain cases, by the local authority. In Scotland, similar provisions operate in respect of water charges, although sewerage charges are not separately identified but form part of the general rates. The Government do not provide resources to assist water authorities to deal with cases of hardship, but these authorities normally make available special payment facilities for those in need.