Clause 51 - Financial penalties
Water Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr Elliot Morley (Minister of State (Environment and Agri-Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Scunthorpe, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman is nothing if not even-handed. We are veering from being nasty to companies to being nasty to consumers. If there is an outstanding balance on a penalty that is being repaid to the company in sums, it is not unreasonable that there should be a charge of interest. The proposed change to clause 51 would remove an incentive for the company to pay a penalty on time, which is very important.