§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has been notified of any plans by water companies in England and Wales to alter the basis on which water charges are calculated; and if he will make a statement;
(2) who is responsible for authorising water companies introducing flat-rate water charges, not related to water consumption or rateable values of properties supplied with water; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardIt is for each water and sewerage undertaker to determine the methods and principles on which its charges will be based, subject to a condition in its appointment, enforced by the Director General of Water Services, that in fixing charges it should not show undue preference to, or undue discrimination against, any class of customers. Several companies have notified my right hon. Friend of their intention to meter new properties and I understand some companies are considering introducing alternative unmeasured charges such as a flat rate licence fee.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has been notified of any proposals by Yorkshire Water to introduce a flat-rate water charge, not related to the rateable values of properties supplied with water; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardNo, I understand that the board of Yorkshire Water has yet to make a decision on how the company will charge in future; section 80 of the Water Act 1989 prohibits the use of rateable values as a basis of water and sewerage charges after 31 March 2000.