Orders of the Day — Utilities Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:23 pm on 31 January 2000.

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Photo of Alan Simpson Alan Simpson Labour, Nottingham South 6:23, 31 January 2000

I am grateful for the honesty with which the hon. Gentleman makes the case for competition and for his point about the importance of covering full and marginal costs in the charging process. I understand his point that it is the Government's role to make compensatory payments. Given the additional costs that central Government would inevitably occur on a huge scale, how would he suggest paying for that if he were a member of a Government who were saddled with such bills?