§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the use of council tax banding as the basis for water charges; [3844]
(2) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on water metering; [3842]
(3) what plans he has for legislation to enable water companies to continue to base their charges on the rateable value of properties; and if he will make a statement. [3843]
§ Angela EagleUnder Section 145 of the Water Industry Act 1991, water companies must not base their charges on the rateable value of property after 31 March 2000. The Deputy Prime Minister announced at the recent Water Summit that the Government is to review the system of charging for water. Among other issues this review will consider alternative bases of charging, including the future use of rateable values, the use of council tax bands and metering policy. We shall be looking at the way in which metering works at present, taking special account of the effect on low-income households. We have made clear our opposition to compulsory metering for essential household use.