Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water and sewerage charges in the South West Water area.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water and sewerage charges in the South West Water area.

It is worth putting on the record the amount that would be asked of each customer. It is in the Walker review. It is £1.50 per customer per year.

It is worth putting on the record the amount that would be asked of each customer. It is in the Walker review. It is £1.50 per customer per year.

The hon. Lady is absolutely right on that point. If Ofwat is not supportive, we at least have political unity around the idea that something more than a social tariff and something specific to the south-west needs to be done, and I need only consult the Hansard report from a...

The hon. Lady is absolutely right on that point. If Ofwat is not supportive, we at least have political unity around the idea that something more than a social tariff and something specific to the south-west needs to be done, and I need only consult the Hansard report from a...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. In my constituency of Torbay, the unitary authority area now has a gross value added level lower than Cornwall's was when it qualified for objective 1 assistance, and there are other such pockets in the south-west.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. In my constituency of Torbay, the unitary authority area now has a gross value added level lower than Cornwall's was when it qualified for objective 1 assistance, and there are other such pockets in the south-west.

Indeed. I would rather like Regina Finn to spend perhaps a year in the south-west on average wages. If that were to happen, I think that we would see a change in Ofwat's policy. I also question the use of the retail prices index in setting price rises. Although Ofwat...

Indeed. I would rather like Regina Finn to spend perhaps a year in the south-west on average wages. If that were to happen, I think that we would see a change in Ofwat's policy. I also question the use of the retail prices index in setting price rises. Although Ofwat...

I only half-share the right hon. Gentleman's view, because Ofwat is the body that should protect the consumer and it has allowed South West Water to raise charges by the amounts that I described.

I only half-share the right hon. Gentleman's view, because Ofwat is the body that should protect the consumer and it has allowed South West Water to raise charges by the amounts that I described.

My hon. Friend makes a very important point, and I made that same point in a Radio Cornwall interview not an hour ago. It is amazing that that station can be picked up so far away. My main point is that the development of a solution is fundamentally undemocratic and...

My hon. Friend makes a very important point, and I made that same point in a Radio Cornwall interview not an hour ago. It is amazing that that station can be picked up so far away. My main point is that the development of a solution is fundamentally undemocratic and...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Amess. I have not had the experience before, but it is certainly a pleasure. Today, I am raising a matter that is of great concern to the people of Devon and Cornwall and has been for as long as I...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Amess. I have not had the experience before, but it is certainly a pleasure. Today, I am raising a matter that is of great concern to the people of Devon and Cornwall and has been for as long as I...

(3) what recent assessment she has made of the performance of Ofwat against its objectives.

(3) what recent assessment she has made of the performance of Ofwat against its objectives.

(2) if she will assess the merits of merging Ofwat with (a) Ofgem and (b) the Consumer Council for Water;

(2) if she will assess the merits of merging Ofwat with (a) Ofgem and (b) the Consumer Council for Water;

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what mechanism her Department has to assess the impartiality of Ofwat; and what the outcome was of the most recent assessment made by Ministers;

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what mechanism her Department has to assess the impartiality of Ofwat; and what the outcome was of the most recent assessment made by Ministers;

That is certainly one conclusion that we could rightly draw. On the matter of an annual or lump sum subsidy, while a one-off payment would go some way to redress the balance—as Walker points out, there are strong arguments in favour of a one-off adjustment—it would not completely rectify the...

That is certainly one conclusion that we could rightly draw. On the matter of an annual or lump sum subsidy, while a one-off payment would go some way to redress the balance—as Walker points out, there are strong arguments in favour of a one-off adjustment—it would not completely rectify the...

We need an answer, and we need it soon. Of course, privatisation should not have happened to this industry. Water is not something that lends itself easily to competition on the free market. Indeed, all we have is a system of regional monopolies, unlike the other utilities, which have seen...

We need an answer, and we need it soon. Of course, privatisation should not have happened to this industry. Water is not something that lends itself easily to competition on the free market. Indeed, all we have is a system of regional monopolies, unlike the other utilities, which have seen...

Indeed those costs would have had to have been met, but they would have been equalised out across the whole of the United Kingdom. They would not have just fallen on those in the far south-west. In my constituency, customers have not only suffered from high water bills, but a...

Indeed those costs would have had to have been met, but they would have been equalised out across the whole of the United Kingdom. They would not have just fallen on those in the far south-west. In my constituency, customers have not only suffered from high water bills, but a...

Other hon. Members asked in advance, but I shall give way.

Other hon. Members asked in advance, but I shall give way.

May I focus on a part of the matter that is often overlooked? Visitors already pay a contribution through their accommodation tariff—all hotel accommodation is water-metered. Is it second home owners that we are getting at? I think that the tourism industry, which is still the biggest industry and the...

May I focus on a part of the matter that is often overlooked? Visitors already pay a contribution through their accommodation tariff—all hotel accommodation is water-metered. Is it second home owners that we are getting at? I think that the tourism industry, which is still the biggest industry and the...

Wherever, this is still an opportunity to raise a vital issue that affects my constituents in Torbay and many other people across the far south-west, and it has done so for more than 20 years. The high water bills facing South West Water customers have been in place since privatisation...

Wherever, this is still an opportunity to raise a vital issue that affects my constituents in Torbay and many other people across the far south-west, and it has done so for more than 20 years. The high water bills facing South West Water customers have been in place since privatisation...

I just thought it was more comfortable.

I just thought it was more comfortable.

The hon. Gentleman makes a point that has been made at meeting after meeting by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy), her colleague, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Alison Seabeck), and Liberal Democrats. May I finish, because it is an important point. For example, we all contribute...

The hon. Gentleman makes a point that has been made at meeting after meeting by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy), her colleague, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Alison Seabeck), and Liberal Democrats. May I finish, because it is an important point. For example, we all contribute...

The usual courtesy is for the Member who initiates the debate to be informed if a Member wishes to intervene, but on this occasion I will give way.

The usual courtesy is for the Member who initiates the debate to be informed if a Member wishes to intervene, but on this occasion I will give way.