---

Flood and Water Management Bill

My Lords, I find myself in the pleasant position of being able to agree with a great deal of what the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Exeter said and shall address roughly the same area. I got involved in this because a couple of years ago people started receiving bills for services that had not been included before. Special groups were finding out that they might have to put a huge proportion of their income into paying new bills. The groups that were affected were those that the Government publicly backed and said were good things. The amateur sports clubs were key deliverers of some important government policies. I felt it was potentially particularly unfair—I realise this is the law of unintended consequences—that amateur sports clubs, designed to deliver much of the huge increase in mass participation that is to be built around the Olympic legacy, suddenly found themselves with much bigger charges for a public utility. I feel the Minister is more sensitive and friendly to this argument than many in this House. Something went wrong, and I welcome the fact that people have listened and put something in place to change it. It is a good step forward. I looked through some of the briefing that came my way. It was a revelation to all of us who have been in Parliament for a period of time to see just how efficient the Scouts were at gathering together the lobby behind them. The phrase "Beware those wearing woggles" must have been heard in Whitehall, because they really knew how to bring the troops together. This new step forward did not take into account what was going on. It affected people in ways that were not intended and did not have the smack of joined-up government—which must be striven for, but will never be achieved—in which certain aspects of government are brought together. Clause 43 is a welcome remedial step. However, the groups involved have clarification points that will have to be met in the discussion on the Bill. One that seems to be referred to again and again is the definition of "fair and affordable". The draft guidance gives hints about other things, but when will we find out what is "fair and affordable"? We also have the old may/shall chestnut. I do not know how many hours Members of this House have given to discussing the merits of may/shall. I shudder to think how much of my life has been spent on it, but we think that groups that are new to this field need a good answer because we are not talking to ourselves, but to those outside. Can we make sure of what is going on here? Another question that occurs again and again is: if there is a disagreement between a water company and Ofwat or Ofwat and a user about what is fair and affordable, how will that decision be reviewed? It has been pointed out to me in briefing that Clause 44—another very welcome clause—seems to have more teeth. Could we not try to get the more solid foundation of Clause 44 reflected in Clause 43? I shall not say much more, other than that Clause 43 is a welcome and honest attempt to deal with an unseen problem. I hope that the Government will give us an undertaking that they will make sure that Clause 43 is as understandable and easy to use as possible because this is a new area affecting administrators and those who run community groups. They do it for free and probably do not like filling in forms. They are probably involved in these groups to do other things. This is particularly true of sports clubs. People are there because they want to be a coach or to help their children get involved. They are not there to wade through legislation. Can the Government give us a firm undertaking that they will make sure that the legislation is as easy to understand as possible? If they do not, even with the best will in the world, they will still cause damage through fear and lack of understanding.