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Flood and Water Management Bill

My Lords, there was I thinking that this was a constructive, short debate when the noble Lord introduced the chilling possibility that we might not reach the appropriate time to discuss social tariffs. Perish the thought. I know that the noble Lord will co-operate with us all in such a way as to make sure that that is not the case. I shall ask the noble Lord, Lord Addington, to withdraw his amendment, although I recognise that it is well intended and, as the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, indicated, it sign-posts later debates. The amendment is unnecessary. Subsection (1) of Clauses 43 and 44 respectively make it clear that the purpose of the clauses is to reduce charges in specific cases. The noble Lord asked what a social tariff is. I am tempted to say that it is something that you will recognise when you see it, but that is probably not a good enough description. A social tariff is designed to enable some customers to pay a lower charge than the generality of customers for the service which they receive. We shall have significant discussion on this issue when we get to Clauses 43 and 44, and the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, obviously wishes that we do so as quickly as possible. The amendment would not achieve anything or add anything new to the Bill. In fact, there is a danger of a certain legal ambiguity because, while Clause 44 uses the term "social tariffs", Clause 43 does not use it at all, referring instead to "concessionary charges for community groups", which is part of the definition. The noble Lord has indicated that we shall have fruitful debates on these issues in due course. For the moment, I hope that he will withdraw this amendment, because it is not necessary and does not add illumination to the Bill.