HC Deb 01 March 1989 vol 148 c214W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will keep a record of the households that have their mains water cut off after privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

As a condition of their appointment companies will be required to report to the director general each year on unplanned supply interruptions, giving reasons where these have exceeded targets set by them. The director general may also undertake such monitoring of planned interruptions as he considers appropriate—for instance so that he can review the operation of appointees' codes of practice on disconnections for non-payment of water charges.

The Government have welcomed the proposed revisions to the model disconnection code of practice announced by the water industry on 9 February, which should help to ensure that disconnections are kept to the absolute minimum of those customers who can pay but refuse to do so.