asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of the Water Charges Equalisation Bill on the average water rate for people living in the Thames Water Authority area.

Provisional estimates suggest that the effects of equalisation in Thames in 1977–78 would be an increase of about 6 per cent. in the average domestic bill. The average domestic bill in Thames would remain the lowest in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has introduced a Bill to equalise water charges over the country while the charges for other public utilities will not be equalised.

The consultative document on the review of the water industry explained the reasons for Government's view that the present variations in water supply bills were unacceptably wide and that the range should be narrowed. Charges by other public utilities fall within a much narrower range.