PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
AFFORDABLE WATER (8 June 1993)

That this House condemns the practice of compulsory installation of meters to new houses, as a way of charging for water; urges the Government with the water regulatory authority, OFWAT, to open discussions with the water companies about charging for water on a basis linked to property banded values, as is the practice in Scotland, on the grounds that this would be simpler to administer and collect, and would thereby (i) cut down the rapidly rising cost of this crucial commodity, which has, since privatisation, risen in price by 55 per cent. over the level of inflation, (ii) ensure that families with young children or elderly relatives living at home are not financially penalised for their extra water requirements and (iii) allow the industry to focus money for water saving measures on projects to eliminate leakage and to renew pipework; and further urges most strongly that price increases this year are kept down to inflation level, so that no one in this country is deprived of the use of water for financial reasons.

Sponsored by:
Helen Jackson (Labour)