Vol. 475 No. 4
25 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated cost in 1997 and in a full year of his decision to abolish water charges in urban areas; and the estimated cost in 1997 and in a full year of his decision to abolish water charges for local authority group water schemes. [5031/97]
70 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated cost in 1997 and in a full year of his decision to abolish water charges in urban areas; the estimated cost in 1997 and in a full year of his decision to abolish water charges for local authority group water schemes. [5030/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 70 together.
Based on local authority estimates, the 1996 income from domestic water charges, including charges in respect of group schemes served from public sources, was approximately £50 million. The cost in 1997 of abolishing these charges should not greatly exceed this.
