SEVERN TRENT REDUNDANCIES

Early day motion 150, tabled 7 December 1999 by Peter Bradley (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House regards as utterly unacceptable Severn Trent's announcement of its intention to make 1,100 employees redundant and defer or abandon scheduled improvement schemes over the next three years; rejects the attempts of Severn Trent's Managing Director to lay the blame for its cynical disregard for the interests of its consumers and workforce alike at the door of the water regulator; notes that Severn Trent has increased charges by 90 per cent. since privatisation while paying its shareholders ú2 billion in dividends; commends Ofwat for requiring Severn Trent to reduce its charges by 14.1 per cent. in 2000-01 after years of profiteering at the public's expense; accepts Ofwat's assurances that this reduction in charges should not prejudice Severn Trent's ability to deliver improvements in service; and calls on Ofwat to intervene to protect the consumers' interests and on the directors of Severn Trent, if redundancies are required, to consider their own positions.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Labour/Co-operative 2, DUP 1, Liberal Democrat 1.