WATER BILLS

That this House expresses concern about the effect of high water bills on individuals and families during the current challenging economic climate; recognises the particular difficulties faced by vulnerable groups and those on low incomes; welcomes the All Party Parliamentary Water Group's April 2008 report into the future of the UK water sector which recommends, amongst other things, the phasing in of universal metering combined with a new tariff system; notes the potential for rising block tariffs to play a part, that further investigation into the potential of smart metres is needed and that the Vulnerable Groups Regulations should be updated and extended; and calls on the Government to consider the role that the tax and benefits system could play more generally in helping customers struggling to pay their water bills, as part of the current review into metering and charging and to ensure that any residual problems which cannot be addressed by appropriate tariffs can also be tackled to ensure that child and pensioner poverty is fully addressed.