SCOTLAND’S water bills will be £113 cheaper than in England and Wales despite an upcoming price hike from Scottish Water.
While bills in Scotland will increase by 9.9% in Scotland from April, the rise in England and Wales will be an average of 26%, or £123, from April – according to Water UK.
The SNP told The Herald that Anas Sarwar must now admit Scotland’s public ownership model is better than the industry south of the border – which is run by a series of private water firms, although UK Government watchdog Ofwat does regulate the proposed increases.
Water bills in England and Wales will rise to £603 on average from April, 113£ more than the £490 average in Scotland.
SNP MSP Willie Coffey told The Herald: “Public ownership means Scots will save £113 this year compared to those in England – a stark difference and a huge help to households during the cost of living crisis.
“While England’s water companies are run for profit, Scotland’s are run for public benefit.”
He added: “Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar needs to admit that privatisation – continued under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – is the wrong path to deliver public services.
“Keeping Scotland’s water in public ownership was a historically hard fought for and hard-won SNP campaign – and the SNP will always protect that for the benefit of those we represent.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie (below) hit back, saying: “It is utterly insulting that the SNP expects Scots to be grateful for a 10% hike in water charges.
“It’s right that Scottish Water is in public hands, something that Scottish Labour delivered, but the SNP is nodding through eye-watering hikes to bills and signing off on obscene levels of executive pay.
“Under the SNP families across Scotland are being forced to pay the price of SNP failure – from soaring water bills to council tax hikes to higher income tax rates.
“Instead of trying to gaslight Scots about their inflation-busting bill hikes, the SNP should step in and stop this 10% rise.”
