Herbert: Time to axe the unfair ‘Rain Tax’
14 July 2009
Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert MP has today called for unfair surface water charges for the voluntary sector to be dropped.
The new charges for surface water drainage introduced by some water companies, dubbed the ‘rain tax’, have resulted in many churches, scout groups and amateur sports clubs being required to pay hundreds of pounds more in higher bills, in some cases amounting to a third of their income.
The Scout Association is organising a lobby of Parliament over the issue tomorrow (Wednesday 15 July).
Speaking at the Water 09 Conference in London today, Nick Herbert said:
“While churches, scouts and amateur sports clubs have been hit hard by these unfair water charges, Ministers have sat on their hands and refused to accept responsibility. It is time to axe the unfair 'rain tax'. So we are calling for a change in the law to allow water companies to reduce the charges for voluntary groups and treat them fairly.”
Nick Herbert will today table a motion in Parliament calling on the Government to use the forthcoming Flood and Water Management Bill to ensure that water companies are given the freedom they need to protect places of worship, scouts and guides groups, and community amateur sports clubs from unacceptably high charges. He has also written to the Chief Executive of Ofwat, the General Synod of the Church of England and Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout, setting out his proposal.