Thames Water price rises

Early day motion 6, tabled 17 July 2024 by Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 24 members.

That this House expresses anger at Thames Water’s customers’ water bills increasing by an average 23% over the next five years; welcomes Ofwat’s decision to not allow Thames Water’s proposed price hike of £191 to go ahead wholescale; calls on Ofwat to go further and use its existing powers to crackdown on large water bill rises; condemns Thames Water for discharging sewage into waterways for 196,414 hours last year, a 160% increase on 2022; notes that Thames Water spent over £30 million across their network, in the last financial year, on tankers used to clean up sewage spills in roads, gardens, and homes; asks the Government to tackle sewage dumping by introducing a Sewage Tax on water company profits and setting legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping into bathing waters and highly sensitive nature sites; further notes that Thames Water announced an increase in annual profits to £157.3 million in their annual report; urges Thames Water to prioritise public good over profit and environmental policy objectives in their day-to-day running; and implores the Government to implement a ban on water company executive bonuses until sewage discharges end.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 17, Green 4, DUP 1, Independent 1, Labour 1.