An MP has warned some residents of park homes in the Westcountry are not getting a £50 Government subsidy to cut their water bills because "unscrupulous" owners are not passing on the hand-out.
Anne Marie Morris, Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, has urged ministers to make failing to pass on the money given to South West Water customers a criminal charge.
There are about 84,000 "park homes" – low-cost residential properties, usually sited on private estates – on 2,000 sites across England.
The Westcountry has a large number of private estates with bungalow-style residential homes, referred to as park or mobile homes, commonly sited in rural and coastal areas.
Speaking during the second reading of the Water Bill in the House of Commons, Mrs Morris said there was no obligation for commercial intermediaries – which include not just park home owners, but housing associations and Ministry of Defence premises – to pass on the rebate if they apply to South West Water.
She said: "The consequence, as I have discovered in my constituency, is that a number of local residents are not benefiting.
"Park homes represent 2.5% of the housing stock in my district council area of Teignbridge, so this is not a small problem; it is a significant problem."
She urged ministers to simplify the application process and allow local councils to apply on a resident's behalf.
She added that "some unscrupulous commercial intermediaries will take the money and not pass it on to the individual resident", and that the costs of a small claims court action would far outstrip the £50 help.
The MP added: "If not passing on the subsidy were to result in criminal rather than civil liability, that would be a measure with teeth and I suspect that those who are not minded to pass on the subsidy at present would do so."
In response, Water Minister Dan Rogerson, also Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said he was meeting the Newton Abbot MP this week to discuss the matter.
He added: "I will be pleased if we can make progress on it, but there are issues with the way in which they take their water from an intermediary, as she pointed out."
At £499, South West Water's average annual charge is the highest in the country thanks to botched 1980s privatisation. Bill payers in London on average pay £150 less.
It was the reason why the Government has given a £50-a-year subsidy to all households in the region. But many families in Devon and Cornwall pay more than £1,000 a year.
Anne Marie Morris, Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, has urged ministers to make failing to pass on the money given to South West Water customers a criminal charge.
There are about 84,000 "park homes" – low-cost residential properties, usually sited on private estates – on 2,000 sites across England.
The Westcountry has a large number of private estates with bungalow-style residential homes, referred to as park or mobile homes, commonly sited in rural and coastal areas.
Speaking during the second reading of the Water Bill in the House of Commons, Mrs Morris said there was no obligation for commercial intermediaries – which include not just park home owners, but housing associations and Ministry of Defence premises – to pass on the rebate if they apply to South West Water.
She said: "The consequence, as I have discovered in my constituency, is that a number of local residents are not benefiting.
"Park homes represent 2.5% of the housing stock in my district council area of Teignbridge, so this is not a small problem; it is a significant problem."
She urged ministers to simplify the application process and allow local councils to apply on a resident's behalf.
She added that "some unscrupulous commercial intermediaries will take the money and not pass it on to the individual resident", and that the costs of a small claims court action would far outstrip the £50 help.
The MP added: "If not passing on the subsidy were to result in criminal rather than civil liability, that would be a measure with teeth and I suspect that those who are not minded to pass on the subsidy at present would do so."
In response, Water Minister Dan Rogerson, also Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said he was meeting the Newton Abbot MP this week to discuss the matter.
He added: "I will be pleased if we can make progress on it, but there are issues with the way in which they take their water from an intermediary, as she pointed out."
At £499, South West Water's average annual charge is the highest in the country thanks to botched 1980s privatisation. Bill payers in London on average pay £150 less.
It was the reason why the Government has given a £50-a-year subsidy to all households in the region. But many families in Devon and Cornwall pay more than £1,000 a year.
