§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps are being taken to monitor the impact of the introduction of pre-payment water meters. [5380]
§ Angela EagleThe Director General of Water Services informs me that OFWAT is actively monitoring the use of pre-payment water units.
The legality of the installation of these units is to be the subject of a forthcoming judicial review and their use will be considered as part of the Government's review of the system of water charges, which we announced at the Water Summit on 19 May. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 25 June 1997, Official Report, column 514, on the commencement of the review.