PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
THAMES WATER'S CHARGING POLICY (21 July 1999)

That this House believes that the method of charging for domestic use of water should be determined by the consumer unless the water company concerned can demonstrate that there is an excessive amount of water being consumed at a particular property or the consumer chooses to pay for the measured volume of water; notes that the Water Industries Act 1999, which gained Royal Assent on 30th June 1999 and commences from 1st April 2000, will give consumers this choice; condemns Thames Water for forcing its customers who have obtained planning permission since 1990 to extend their properties to pay by the amount of water consumed where there is no consequent increase in water consumption; further notes that Thames Water has stated that it is not possible to install water meters in properties containing more than one individual unit and that single people have been refused water meters on that basis; believes that this policy can only result in increased charges for properties most suited to families with children; and therefore calls on Thames Water to stop imposing water meters on its customers, and prepare instead to implement the Water Industries Act 1999 from April 2000.

Sponsored by:
Clive Efford (Labour)