§ Mr. ButcherTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will encourage the water companies to agree universal flat rate charges for the water consumed by each hospital within a region for budgeting and hygiene purposes. [39010]
§ Mr. SackvilleNo. General policy is to encourage the suppliers to relate water charges to costs incurred, including the volume of consumption, without cross-subsidy. This provides an incentive to national health service and other customers to negotiate the best available terms of supply and to ensure economies in use.