HC Deb 30 July 1998 vol 317 c422W
Mr. Burgon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what analysis his Department has undertaken of the incidence effects of changing the basis of charging for domestic water and sewerage services. [54136]

Mr. Meacher

My Department will today publish research carried out by the consultancy firm Maxwell Stamp to examine the incidence effects of changing the basis for charging for domestic water and sewerage services in England and Wales. The alternatives to the current rateable value based bills examined as part of this research are council tax based charges, flat rate charges and a number of measured tariffs.

This research was taken into account when writing the "Water Charging in England and Wales—A New Approach" Consultation Paper, and will also inform our decisions in light of responses to that Consultation Paper.