§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many invoices for the provision of water services have not been paid for over one year; what their total value is; what the same figures were in each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement. [30116]
§ Margaret BeckettThe Office of Water Services have centrally gathered data on debt from water and sewerage companies only in respect of the years since 1998–99, and only for households. The number of households in England and Wales who had debt outstanding for over a year and the total value of that debt was as follows:
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Number of households with debt outstanding for more than one year 1,308,176 1,409,497 1,581,620 Household debts outstanding for more than one year 1289 1326 1362 1 £ million Note:
2000–01 prices: excluding debt outstanding for more than 48 months
466W
§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what studies her Department has completed on the impact of cross-subsidy in the water industry; and what future studies are planned; [31510]
(2) what assessment she has made of the impact of the ending of the cross-subsidy on the delivery of water services for rural customers; [31508]
(3) what measures she plans to take to protect (a) rural customers and (b) those on low incomes from the impact of the ending of cross-subsidy in the water industry. [31504]
§ Mr. MeacherFollowing my announcement to the House on 30 March 2001,Official Report, column 831W, the Department has been examining in further detail the scope for extending competition in the water industry. This work includes careful consideration of the implications for all customers, including those in rural areas and on low incomes, and the possible effects on existing cross subsidies. DEFRA will be publishing a consultation paper, setting out the issues and proposals later this year.