Water Bills

Lord Kamall Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

This takes me right back to the Water (Special Measures) Bill, where this was discussed in some depth. The simple answer to my noble friend is that this is something that the water commission, which is making good progress under Sir Jon Cunliffe, will look at and will be central to the outcome for the future of the water industry, because there is great dissatisfaction with the way in which the water regulator has managed things in the past. Certainly, that is something that will be central to the water commission’s investigations.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, one way of possibly reducing water bills is through the installation of domestic water harvesting systems. I know they are not feasible for all consumers, but what is the Government’s view on encouraging and perhaps assisting more people and possibly SMEs to install domestic water harvesting systems in order to reduce their water bills? It is also better for the environment.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I think one thing water companies could be better at is providing advice to consumers about how to cut their water usage. We are not particularly good at that in this country; other countries are much better at it, and I think it is something that we need to encourage water companies to do.