§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he now intends to carry out further experiments in water metering; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 21 May, at columns 357–58.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the anticipated cost to domestic users of installing a water meter in each home.
§ Mr. John PattenThe economic consultants to the Watts committee estimated the additional costs of meter provision, installation and billing at about £4.75 per household per year on average with benefits of around the same magnitude in terms of reduced expenditure by water authorities in meeting demand. The consultants however drew attention to the deficiencies of the data on which their estimates were based. A co-ordinated programme of trials will be carried out, as recommended by the committee, to find out in what types of area and circumstances universal domestic metering might be most worth while.