Cllr Kevin Foster

Cllr Kevin Foster, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Coventry South, has welcomed proposals to end unaffordable charges for water services by the water regulator following his visit to a Scout Association Youth Forum at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester earlier this week.

Kevin said: “It was great to meet first hand scouts and scout leaders from across the UK and to hear about the impact Scouting has on their lives, as well as to discuss a wide range of issues from how young people can get more involved in politics to what are the key issues for them at the next Election. Our Conference was focussed on the future of our country, so it was great to meet those who will play a key part in it.”

Along with the Rugby Football Union, the Church of England, the Football Association, The Lawn Tennis Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board, The Scouts have been campaigning for Ofwat to agree an acceptable new social tariff structure which would take into account vulnerable low-income groups. Last week, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs announced plans to bring in amendments to the forthcoming Draft Floods and Water Bill to enable water companies to offer concessionary tariffs to community and voluntary groups.

Severn Trent’s current scheme includes capped charges for Scout buildings as part of its Community Premises special case. The water company would be content to continue with this arrangement but have been instructed by Ofwat to remove the special case arrangements. This will happen from 2010.

Kevin added:”In addition to discussing a range of issues the Scouts also told me how Ofwat’s rain tax was a source of real concern to them and thousands of other local community and voluntary groups across the UK. That’s why I will be supporting the introduction of amendments to the Draft Flood and Water bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech to allow water companies to set concessionary schemes for groups like the Scouts in future. I will be lobbying to make sure the legislation proposed is secured in the Queen’s speech and that this issue no longer threatens to rain on the Scouts Parade.”

Sam Lacey, a 15 year old Explorer Scout and young leader from Manchester said:

“It was great that so many MPs and candidates came to meet with us and hear our concerns about the rain tax as well as thoughts on issues affecting young people. It’s even better to know today that there is an end to the rain tax in sight!”