Government U-turn on water bill social tariffs welcome - Horwood

12.51.00pm GMT Fri 22nd Jan 2010

Millions of people could pay less for their water bills after the Government backed down on proposals for new social tariffs tabled by the Liberal Democrats.

Ministers promised to introduce new social tariffs, after the Liberal Democrats put forward a clause into the Flood and Water Management Bill that would cut the bills of the poorest customers.

Only around 24,000 customers currently benefit from the Government's WaterSure scheme that provides assistance to vulnerable people with their bills, despite estimates that as many as 300,000 households could be eligible.

The Conservatives opposed today's move, but ministers expect the Bill to come into law before the General Election.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Martin Horwood said:

"I'm delighted by the Government's U-turn on this issue.

"With so many other pressures on family budgets, it is right that we take action now to protect the most vulnerable customers, particularly in areas where low incomes combine with high water bills.

"It's appalling that the Conservatives actually oppose this measure.

"It says a lot about how they would behave towards our poorest citizens if they ever got into Government."