BAILLIE DEMANDS WATER PRICE FREEZE IN LIGHT OF EYE-WATERING RESERVES AND BONUSES

22nd November 2022

Water price rises should be frozen and every household should receive a £100 water bill rebate, Scottish Labour said today.

While millions of Scots face soaring prices and bills, Scottish Water is sitting on over £500m of cash reserves.

Despite this, water prices are set to rise - all the while senior executives rake in six figure bonuses on top of their salaries.

Today at the Net Zero Committee, Jackie Baillie challenged Alan Sutherland, the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland over pressure WICS has put on Scottish Water to raise charges, and called on Douglas Millican, Chief Executive of Scottish Water, to scrap inflation-busting price rises.

Commenting, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "Scottish Water is presiding over more than £500m of reserves which are growing by the day and paying their senior executives eye-watering bonuses of almost £100,000 on top of their salaries.

“To add insult to injury, Scottish Water is required to hike water bills by more than 13% - all of this during a cost of living crisis.

“People are struggling to make ends meet. Scottish Labour believes that water rates should be frozen and that every household should receive a rebate of £100 to ease the cost of living crisis.

“The SNP has the power to act and be on the side of every household in Scotland, but for too long they have sat on their hands. The time for excuses is over and action is needed now. It is ultimately a matter for the Cabinet Secretary, and the SNP government must intervene and freeze water rates for 2023/24."