Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, speaking ahead of the debate on Labour’s amendments to the Water Bill in the House of Commons today (Monday 6 January 2014), said:

“David Cameron promised action to tackle the impact that rising water bills are having on stretched household budgets, yet all we have seen is one weak letter to the water companies. The fact is that the water companies are making eye-watering amounts of money, while UK customers face some of the highest bills in Europe.

“Conservative MPs voted in committee against every single one of Labour’s amendments to the Government’s legislation on water, frustrating efforts to help households. As the legislation returns for its final Commons’ stage, Labour has again tabled amendments to help customers. Under Labour’s reforms, all water companies would be required to support a national affordability scheme to help those struggling to pay their bills, Ofwat’s powers to cut bills would be strengthened and companies could be barred from passing on the cost of bad debt to paying customers. If David Cameron’s Tory MPs do not back these measures then people will know that he wasn’t serious when he claimed he would do something about rising water bills. The truth is that, unlike Ed Miliband’s Labour Party, David Cameron and the Conservatives are unwilling to stand up to vested interests and tackle the cost of living crisis.”