Water Sector: Public Ownership
Debate between Paul Davies and Afzal Khan(1Â week, 5Â days ago)
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Paul Davies
I will make a little progress; otherwise, I am not going to get past the next few paragraphs.
In 1989, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sold off our then publicly owned water and sewerage industry for £5.2 billion, arguing that privatisation would bring desperately needed investment to the sector. She told the Commons that she believed it would be a better deal than nationalised water. She hoped it would “proceed successfully”, encouraging the Opposition at the time to
“wait and see in the light of the facts rather than pontificate.”—[Official Report, 28 November 1989; Vol. 162, c. 577.]
Years later, here we are: we can see in the light of the facts that the private model for water has been far from a success. It has been an economic, environmental and public health failure. I will take an intervention now.
Afzal Khan (Manchester Rusholme) (Lab)
My constituents in Manchester Rusholme have seen a ÂŁ57 increase this year, yet it is safe to say that there has been very little to show for it. Just last week, United Utilities had to pay a further ÂŁ900,000 in fines for dumping raw sewage. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government must treat water reform as a strategic priority to tackle the cost of living crisis as well as the crisis in our waterways?