Labour will seek to amend the Government’s Water Bill at Report Stage in the House of Lords MPs. Labour’s amendments would introduce a new national affordability scheme to require all water companies to help those struggling with their bills, ending the current postcode lottery whereby companies choose whether to offer a ‘social tariff’ and set the criteria for eligibility.

Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, speaking ahead of the Report Stage of the Water Bill in the House of Lords, said;

“After failing for four years to tackle the impact that rising water bills are having on hard-pressed households budgets, David Cameron today has a second chance to support Labour’s amendment in the Water Bill to help those struggling to pay their water bill.

“Whilst water companies have been making huge amounts of money the Tories’ and Lib Dems’ water legislation has done nothing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and keep water bills affordable.

“Instead the Government should now back Labour’s amendment to take tough action to bring the rising cost of water under control and force all water companies to support a national affordability scheme to help those struggling to pay their bill.”