§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has for assessing the rateable values of newly built properties for water rate purposes; what is his estimate of the number of staff employed in England for this purpose and their cost; and whether the water plcs, central Government or local authorities meet these costs.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThere is no need for such arrangements. For all newly built domestic properties, water companies are charging on bases other than rateable value. If a water company has decided to use rateable value for the time being as the basis for charging in the case of newly built non-domestic properties, rateable values for those properties will in any case have been assessed for the purpose of the uniform business rate.