Paying For Water

EDM number 177 in 1993-94, proposed by Helen Jackson on 06/12/1993.

That this House believes that the Government should introduce, through the Water Regulator, a payment system for water to domestic premises based on a property banding arrangement similar to the council tax banding system, with a rebate for single person households; further believes there would be widespread support for such a system as it would be seen to be vey much fairer than metering as it includes within it the ability to pay principle and would not fall heaviest on large families or other households with special needs for regular access to water for bathing and washing clothes; notes that it would also offer substantial administrative savings to water companies through standardised billing as well as significant capital savings on the installation costs of metering; and further believes that in view of the escalating bills for this essential commodity that have risen by 26 per cent. above inflation since privatisation, this matter requires the most urgent consideration.

This motion has been signed by a total of 71 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.