UNITED UTILITIES AND SURFACE WATER CHARGING

That this House welcomes the decision taken by United Utilities to introduce a moratorium on the implementation of its new system of charging for surface water and highway drainage for 2009-10 for three categories of customer, faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs and Guide and Scout Association properties; recognises the huge financial burden this has already placed on places of worship and voluntary organisations since its introduction in April 2008, threatening the future viability of these organisations; notes the huge amount of public opposition to the new charging system; further notes that the new system of charging comes as a recommendation from OFWAT and is not compulsory; and calls on United Utilities to abolish this new form of charging permanently.