Taking a rain check

Article Abstract:

Water meters are unpopular with consumers but would solve water companies' shortageproblems. Ofwat, the consumer protection body for water, favours meters as they give a fair bill. The Institution of Water and Environmental Management is not keen on metering as it has been shown that customers resume their usual consumption after an initial reduction. Installation costs are high so overall the water companies would not gain financially unless prices were raised. A high standing charge would still be necessary as it is the administration and delivery service that is expensive, not the water itself.

United Kingdom, Economic aspects, Water utilities, Measurement, Environmental aspects, Water-supply, Water supply, Water-meters, Water meters, Water use

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Unelected, unaccountable and still unchallenged

Article Abstract:

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated that action must be taken against unelected public bodies, or quangos, which have a very high level of spending power. However, it seems likely that this action will not have a decisive impact. There is still little information available about how many quangos exist, and the extent of their power, and the general public is not informed about how they spend their money. The government has promised to make quangos more accountable, but this does not go far enough.

Finance, Column, Quangos

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Eurostar struggles to make its mark

Article Abstract:

European Passenger Services (EPS) has still not broken into the business travel sector with its Eurostar rail service between London and Paris or Brussels. The service does not run frequently enough to meet the needs of business travellers, but EPS plans to address this problem by introducing earlier trains as the service builds up. It believes that business travel business would pick up if British time were aligned with Europe.

Services, Surveys, Business travel, Railroad holding companies, European Passenger Services Ltd.

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