HC Deb 09 June 1992 vol 209 cc151-2W
Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on increasing the use of water meters.

Mr. Maclean

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 2 June 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field)Official Report, column 383.

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information the Office of Water Services has on how many water meters are installed in each water authority area.

Mr. Maclean

About 0.5 million domestic properties and 1.1 million commercial and industrial properties in England and Wales receive water on a metered supply. Details of the number of metered properties in each water company area are contained in OFWAT publication entitled "The UK Water Industry—Charges for water services 1992–93", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information OFWAT has on what changes in the consumption of water have been brought about where water meters have been installed.

Mr. Maclean

Information from the national water metering trials funded by DOE and the water industry indicates that in the large scale Isle of Wight trial the amount of water put into supply has fallen by 11.1 per cent., of which it is estimated that 5.9 per cent. was the result of reductions in leakage. In the small scale trials demand has reduced on average by 13.1 per cent. although the effect in individual trials ranged from - 29.6 per cent. to +2.3 per cent. In these trials, it is estimated that reductions in leakage accounted for 5.1 per cent. of the average reduction.

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment OFWAT has made of whether average water bills have increased or decreased in areas where water meters have been introduced.

Mr. Maclean

Information from the national water metering trial areas indicates that about 65 per cent. of customers paid the same as or less than they would have paid on a rateable value basis. About 20 per cent. of customers paid over 20 per cent. more.