WATER PRICE ROUND

Early day motion 801, tabled 8 July 1999 by Helen Clark (Labour). Signed by 22 members.

That this House welcomes the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister of the ú8 billion programme of investment relating to environmental obligations to be achieved by the water industry in England and Wales from 2000 to 2005; agrees that this programme of investment can be met with a one-off price cut in customers' water bills followed by stable water prices; is concerned that in the past 10 years the water companies have made very high profits while the environment has suffered, that an unacceptable proportion of rivers fail to meet even basic water quality standards and as many as 79 designated wildlife sites are threatened by water company activities; and calls on the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that any additional savings in delivering the environment programme that are identified before the price round is finalised are shared equally between consumers and the environment.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 1.