HC Deb 17 March 1993 vol 221 cc268-9W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the forthcoming changes in water abstraction charges.

Mr. Maclean

I have recently approved the National Rivers Authority's new national abstraction charging scheme for 1993–94.

The adoption of the new scheme does not affect the amount to be raised within each region. The national average increase in bills is some 1.7 per cent., but the increase varies between regions according to the need for spending on water resource management and movements in balances.