To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the system for charging for water services in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have already announced that they intend to introduce new charging arrangements and customer billing systems for water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, thereby achieving a more direct commercial relationship between the Water Executive and those to whom it provides services. Work is going on at present to identify appropriate arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives he intends to introduce to encourage private finance into water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

As the Minister of State for Northern Ireland said in his statement to the House on 20 April, Official Report, column 296, we are looking currently at the scope to introduce private finance into the provision of water and sewerage services. At this stage it is too early to say how this involvement will be secured.