To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the likely change to customer bills following the transfer of private sewers and drains to water company ownership; and if he will make a statement. (308078)

The impact assessment that accompanied my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ announcement on 15 December 2008 estimated the increase in sewerage customers’ bills to be between £4 and £12 per year, which is around 7.5p to 23p a week.

The impact assessment is available on DEFRA’s website.