asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to extend rate rebates to cover water and sewerage rates.

Water rates are charges levied directly on consumers of domestic water supplies. As a result of the Water Act 1973, after an interim period sewerage charges will also be levied directly on users of sewerage services provided by the water authorities. The purpose of the rate rebate scheme is to afford relief to ratepayers in respect of general rates, which are a local tax. I have no proposals to extend the scope of the scheme to cover charges.