SKY-HIGH water bills slapped on churches and sports clubs are “wrong”, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said – raising hopes of a U-turn.
Mr Benn attacked water companies, including Warrington-based United Utilities, for imposing “very, very large increases in bills in a very short period of time”.
He also said the Government “was keeping the issue under close review”, following protests from Liverpool Cathedral and others at what has been dubbed a “rain tax”.
But Mr Benn stopped short of backing a backbench Bill, to be debated next month, that would exempt “places of worship, non-profit making sports clubs, scout groups and guide associations” from the higher charges.
Mike Hall, the Labour MP for Weaver Vale, will bring forward the legislation on May 12 – but it has no chance of becoming law without government support.
The “rain tax” – which charges churches and sports clubs according to the size of the land they occupy, rather than rateable value – triggered a 45,000-signature petition that was handed in at No.10 this month.
The Diocese of Liverpool led the protests after annual charges soared from just £5,000 to £70,000 at big cathedrals. Larger churches are paying £8,000, instead of £140.
Meanwhile, the Scouts Association has estimated the total drain “from the pockets of children into the pockets of water companies” to be around £1.5m annually.
