Water Bills

Debate between Baroness Winterton of Doncaster and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Thursday 9th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

We are working very closely with water companies in order to ensure that consumers do not have extra charges placed upon them and that anything the water company wants to do through future investment, through the price review that has just come through, does not land in customers’ laps in a way that it should not. It is really important that the water commission, which we discussed recently in the Water (Special Measures) Bill, looks carefully at how water companies operate financially to ensure that consumers do not suffer unnecessarily.

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that water companies should be encouraged to work closely with local organisations, such as citizens advice bureaux, to ensure that debt relief advice is available? If water companies are encouraging people to go on to direct debit, perhaps when they have water meters, they should not make big charges and then when they have taken a lot of money refuse to alter the direct debit to reflect what people are actually using, which can often get people into debt. Will she encourage water companies to look at these measures?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

My noble friend makes some extremely important points. Citizens Advice does an important service in supporting vulnerable people. Water companies should work with all charities, such as Citizens Advice, in order to support vulnerable consumers. It is important that we simplify the processes so that customers who need extra assistance can get it. Citizens Advice is an important part of that and helps customers get advice on benefits and managing debt, particularly customers who have not been in financial difficulty before. My noble friend makes some very good points.

Fire Safety and Cladding

Debate between Baroness Winterton of Doncaster and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Wednesday 23rd January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Sue Hayman (Workington) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wish to correct today’s record. Earlier, when the motion on private Members’ Bills was being discussed in a point of order, the hon. Member for Chichester said that amendment (b) had been proposed by the Labour spokesperson for the environment, which is, of course, me. I was quite surprised to hear that, as it was not something that I had done. I just want to set the record straight to confirm that it was the Labour spokesperson for communities who had put forward amendment (b) to the motion on private Members’ Bills.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)]

I thank the hon. Lady for her point of order and for giving me prior notice of it. I think that she did try to contact the hon. Member for—I think—Chichester. [Interruption.] Sorry, Christchurch. The hon. Lady has contacted the hon. Member for Christchurch (Sir Christopher Chope) and she has, obviously, put the record straight.

Question put and agreed to.