§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the practice by Thames Water and Welsh Water of disconnecting domestic customers. [62249]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government regard it as unacceptable that anyone should be deprived of water supplies to their home because of an inability to pay. The Water Industry Bill, introduced on 25 November, includes provisions which, if agreed by Parliament, would make it an offence to disconnect water supplies to dwellings, schools or hospitals for non-payment of charges.
At present, water companies have powers to disconnect water supplies to homes for non-payment, under the Water Industry Act 1991. Water undertakers are also required to operate a code of practice on debt and disconnection and to have regard to guidance issued by the Director General of Water Services. The Government welcome the reductions in the numbers of customers disconnected in recent years. Nine water companies in England and Wales made no household disconnections for failure to pay water service bills in the first half of 1998–99.
§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Director General of OFWAT for not taking enforcement action against Welsh Water in respect of budget payment units and trickle-flow meters and delays in removing the remaining meters. [62248]
§ Mr. MeacherI understand that the Director General of Water Services has told Welsh Water that he requires an undertaking from the company that it will remove any disconnection element from the budget payment units270W currently installed, including any trickle flow valves, by May 1999. Failing receipt of such an undertaking he will take enforcement action.