Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con): I very much support this debate. I would like to reinforce the point that although many people feel that we in the south-west live in a land of plenty-a land of flowing milk and honey-there are areas of great deprivation. For many people in our constituencies, the cost of living is high compared with the national income, and they are therefore hit particularly hard.
Alison Seabeck: The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and I concur with that view. Again, however, I will deal that issue in more depth a little later.
Anne Marie Morris: The Minister makes a good point, but when we examine the issue of affordability I want us to ensure that the WaterSure provision does help those who are particularly in need. I have looked at the detail of this and it is clear that it is not simply a matter of someone's health need, the amount of money they have and the benefits that they are on. The way in which the system works means that it does not help those who really need that support, and I want the Government to consider that when we examine affordability.
Richard Benyon: As my hon. Friend did in her earlier intervention, she points out the important and urgent need to represent the needs of the most deprived and poorest households in the south-west. I shall discuss WaterSure in a moment and I am conscious of the amount of time available to me, but I must say that she rightly points out that when we address the urgent needs of the poorer families in the south-west we may have to examine the WaterSure provision.