Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill

Gavin Shuker Excerpts

Wednesday 29th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con)]

I congratulate the Government, because they have done an extremely fine job. Frankly, I find the comments about the £50 reduction being cheeseparing a bit sad.

I was interested to hear the comments of the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw) and I agreed with him on many points. He said that he is concerned that the £50 will be wiped out by price rises. As I said, there will be price rises across the country. Is he saying that the Opposition would have provided more money to give a greater subsidy? If so, how would they have funded that? I will leave him to ponder that.

[Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)]

The hon. Lady asked about Opposition policy. We support the £50 payments in the south-west, but are looking for further action on water affordability across the piece, which this Bill does not provide.