Will the Secretary of State confirm that, in the event of a special administration regime, any compensation would be based on appropriate value as set out in the case of Lithgow v. the UK, not on regulated capital value, as suggested by the shadow Secretary of State. For Thames Water,...

Will the Secretary of State confirm that, in the event of a special administration regime, any compensation would be based on appropriate value as set out in the case of Lithgow v. the UK, not on regulated capital value, as suggested by the shadow Secretary of State. For Thames Water,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Office for Environmental Protection’s report entitled Investigation Report addressed to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to their compliance with the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Office for Environmental Protection’s report entitled Investigation Report addressed to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to their compliance with the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water...

Ofwat has said that it believes that the right level of debt should be 60%, yet it has taken no action against those companies whose level of debt has risen to as much as 80%. Can the Minister assure us that under the Bill, Ofwat will not only have the...

Ofwat has said that it believes that the right level of debt should be 60%, yet it has taken no action against those companies whose level of debt has risen to as much as 80%. Can the Minister assure us that under the Bill, Ofwat will not only have the...

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water bills in the south-west.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water bills in the south-west.

The hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) has done his constituents a real service by enabling us to debate this issue. I am well aware of the depth of concern in the region. I pay particular tribute to the untiring efforts of my hon. Friend the Member...

The hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) has done his constituents a real service by enabling us to debate this issue. I am well aware of the depth of concern in the region. I pay particular tribute to the untiring efforts of my hon. Friend the Member...

The hon. Gentleman left me very short of time, and I want to respond to some of the specific points that he raised, so I shall press on. Another reason why the Government are sceptical about the idea of the customers of one water company subsidising those of another is...

The hon. Gentleman left me very short of time, and I want to respond to some of the specific points that he raised, so I shall press on. Another reason why the Government are sceptical about the idea of the customers of one water company subsidising those of another is...

I am most grateful, Sir Nicholas. The hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell, who took 20 minutes to make his remarks, is not listening to my response; he sees more importance in turning and chatting to his friends. The pilot study in the south-west will be—

I am most grateful, Sir Nicholas. The hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell, who took 20 minutes to make his remarks, is not listening to my response; he sees more importance in turning and chatting to his friends. The pilot study in the south-west will be—

The pilot study in the south-west is attacking the affordability issue on two fronts: helping households to make savings on their water bills, and increasing their income through benefits checks. The average household toilet uses about 30 per cent. of a property’s water supply, and the relatively cheap installation of...

The pilot study in the south-west is attacking the affordability issue on two fronts: helping households to make savings on their water bills, and increasing their income through benefits checks. The average household toilet uses about 30 per cent. of a property’s water supply, and the relatively cheap installation of...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on unpaid bills by water consumers.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on unpaid bills by water consumers.

It is always a great pleasure to have you presiding over our debates, Mr. Cook; the phrase ““firm but fair”” comes to mind. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) for rightly raising this important issue. He asked the Government to acknowledge that there was a...

It is always a great pleasure to have you presiding over our debates, Mr. Cook; the phrase ““firm but fair”” comes to mind. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) for rightly raising this important issue. He asked the Government to acknowledge that there was a...