AFFORDABLE WATER

Early day motion 619, tabled 11 February 2004 by Desmond Turner (Labour). Signed by 42 members.

That this House welcomes the concern shown by the Prime Minister about water affordability problems, but believes that cutting water clean-up programmes to give people a saving of ú2 a year on the current average water bill of ú234 is not enough; notes that, according to the National Consumer Council's recent report, Lifelines, average household water bills are already a problem for some customers, and the proposed price increases can only make this worse, with an average bill for South West Water representing 12 per cent. of the income of a single person on jobseeker's allowance and customers in the North West facing a proposed 70 per cent. increase over five years; further notes that current levels of benefit are not sufficient to assist those on low incomes and that the current vulnerable users scheme has been a failure, with less than 2 per cent. take up of eligible customers; and therefore calls on the Government to develop proposals for a co-ordinated strategy involving suppliers, the regulator and cross-departmental initiatives to tackle affordability problems in water and to protect disadvantaged consumers, and to give clear guidance to Ofwat to ensure that the problem is tackled as a matter of urgency.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Labour/Co-operative 6, Liberal Democrat 4, DUP 1.