Herbert: Minister’s warm words won't stop the 'rain tax'
15 July 2009
Following news that the Government wants to issue guidance on how Scouts and other voluntary groups will be affected by rising surface water charges, Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert said:
“It is time to take action and axe the unfair 'rain tax'. Hand-wringing and warm words from the Minister will not solve this problem. While churches, scouts and amateur sports clubs have been hit hard by swingeing increases in water charges, the Government continues to dither and refuses to accept responsibility, instead calling on water companies to sort out the problem themselves.
“Water companies’ hands are tied so long as the legislation remains unchanged. That's why we are calling for a change in the law to allow water companies to reduce the charges for voluntary groups and treat them fairly.”
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 today and Nick Herbert has tabled a new motion in Parliament (EDM1874) calling on the Government to use the forthcoming Flood and Water Management Bill to change the law and ensure that water companies, through Ofwat, 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 Wayne Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association, setting out his proposal.