Whether it will consider the further extension of the water and sewerage charge exemption scheme for churches and charitable organisations …

The Scottish Executive’s generalpolicy is that all customers, including charitable organisations and other organisationswhich serve a public function, should contribute to the cost of the water servicesthat they use. Some of these organisations are currently exempt from paying waterservices charges under the water services charges exemption scheme.
The Executive previously extendedthis scheme from 2006-10 to allow more time for these organisations to prepare topay for their water services. It now intends to consult on its wider principlesof charging (including its consideration of the exemption scheme) for 2010-14, whichit expects to publish in the autumn.