HL Deb 20 November 1984 vol 457 cc567-8WA
Lord Craigton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether water boards could be permitted, if a majority of consumers agreed, to make an itemised extra charge on their bills to help pay for projects now delayed for lack of funds and from which a section of their consumers would benefit, such as improved supply or main drainage.

The Earl of Avon

There are statutory provisions to requisition a water supply or sewer in certain circumstances. The relevant legislation is:

Domestic Water Supply —Section 37 of the Water Act 1945.
Additional Water Supplies —Section 29 of the Third Schedule to the Water Act 1945 in association with Section 36 of the Act.
Sewers —Section 16 of the Water Act 1973.

In addition Section 27 of the Water Act 1945 require water undertakers to make water available for non-domestic purposes on reasonable terms and conditions, provided that this does not impair their obligations in respect of domestic water supplies. Otherwise the provisions of Section 30 of the Water Act 1973 would not allow water authorities to finance their investment in this way.