§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of water meters in higher rateable value properties on charges for customers in lower rateable value properties. [124650]
§ Mr. MullinThis is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. He has set out his position on the balance between measured and unmeasured water charges in "Tariff structure and charges: 2000–01 report", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current estimated cost of installing water meters in all domestic properties. [124647]
§ Mr. MullinThere are no plans to meter all domestic properties, so no estimate has been made of the cost of doing so. Under the Water Industry Act 1999, companies in England and Wales must install a meter in any home when requested by the consumer, free of initial charge. The number of meters installed will depend on consumer choices. In his determination of water company price limits, the Director General of Water Services has allowed for £202 million capital and £53 million operating expenditure for the costs of installing optional meters in 2000–05.
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of domestic properties are(a) fitted with water meters and (b) pay by volume. [124646]
205W
§ Mr. MullinThe Director General of Water Services publishes an annual report on "Tariff structure and charges", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This report gives details of the percentage of domestic properties who pay for water supplies according to volume. The figure for 2000–01 is estimated to be 19.6 per cent., based on forecast data provided by water companies. The equivalent figure for 1999–2000 was 17.1 per cent.
In some instances a property may be fitted with a meter, but be charged on an unmetered basis. The Director General of Water Services collects only information relating to the number of meters that are installed and used as the basis for charging.
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the implications of water metering for low-income households where there are(a) children, (b) elderly and (c) people with disabilities and illnesses that require them to take frequent baths. [124649]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government published "Water Industry Act 1999: Consultation on Regulations" on 12 October 1999, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Fifty-three responses were received relating to the proposals for assisting low-income households who pay by meter.
Following that consultation, the Government laid the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999 on 22 December 1999, and made minor clarificatory amendments in the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, which were laid on 3 March 2000. Both came into force on 1 April 2000.
The Regulations offer assistance to low-income households with water meters, who might face hardship as a result of high water use for basic household purposes. To qualify for assistance, a member of the household must be entitled to received income related benefits or tax credits; and either
be responsible for three or more children under the age of 16;have (or have a child with) a qualifying medical condition which requires significant extra use.The response to consultation is contained in "Water Industry Act 1999: Delivering the Government's Objectives" which was published on 3 February 2000. This also included a copy of the main Regulations. A copy is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties in each of the council tax bands are fitted with a water meter. [124648]
§ Mr. MullinNo information is available on the proportion of properties in each of the council tax bands fitted with a water meter.
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what options he is considering to replace rateable values for calculating water charges. [124645]
206W
§ Mr. MullinUnder the Water Industry Act 1999, companies must produce charges schemes, which include details of the basis on which they wish to charge for water and sewerage services to homes. Schemes are subject to approval by the Director General of Water Services.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued guidance to the Director General on the approval of schemes for companies operating wholly or mainly in England. In considering whether or not to approve a new basis of unmeasured charging, key factors are the transitional effects of any change, any proposals for managing such effects and the impact of the new basis of charging on different groups, particularly vulnerable customers. Because of the potential social impacts on customers, the Director should not approve the widespread introduction of new unmeasured charging arrangements, without full consultation with the Secretary of State. The Government will continue to consider any proposals that come forward provided that they address the key factors.
The Secretary of State's guidance under the 1999 Act and other background on water charging policy is set out in "Water Industry Act 1999—Delivering the Government's Objectives" published on 3 February, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.