Taken from http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php...ConWebDoc.1853
Consumer Council for Water welcomes appointment for review of water charging, metering and affordability
4 August 2008
The Consumer Council for Water today (4 August) welcomed the Defra’s appointment of Anna Walker to chair an independent review of water charging, metering and affordability.
Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “We are pleased that the government is taking these issues seriously, and recognises that a review of charging and metering would be incomplete without looking at the issue of water affordability as well.
“There are only very limited safety nets in place for those already struggling to pay their water bills, and we are particularly concerned about the impact of an expansion of metering on low income families. Better protection for vulnerable customers must be in place before metering is to be pushed out on a wider scale.
“We look forward to working with the Chair, Anna Walker, and bringing consumers’ concerns about these issues into the review.”
Ends
Notes for editors
1. The Consumer Council for Water represents consumers in England and Wales.
2. The Consumer Council for Water is the statutory water consumer body, and operates as a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. It has a committee for Wales, and at local level is supported by four regional committees in England.
3. Our national website is http://www.ccwater.org.uk.
For public enquiries to the Consumer Council for Water, please contact via email on enquiries@ccwater.org.uk, our national number, 0845 039 2837, or via minicom on 0121 345 1044.
Consumer Council for Water welcomes appointment for review of water charging, metering and affordability
4 August 2008
The Consumer Council for Water today (4 August) welcomed the Defra’s appointment of Anna Walker to chair an independent review of water charging, metering and affordability.
Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “We are pleased that the government is taking these issues seriously, and recognises that a review of charging and metering would be incomplete without looking at the issue of water affordability as well.
“There are only very limited safety nets in place for those already struggling to pay their water bills, and we are particularly concerned about the impact of an expansion of metering on low income families. Better protection for vulnerable customers must be in place before metering is to be pushed out on a wider scale.
“We look forward to working with the Chair, Anna Walker, and bringing consumers’ concerns about these issues into the review.”
Ends
Notes for editors
1. The Consumer Council for Water represents consumers in England and Wales.
2. The Consumer Council for Water is the statutory water consumer body, and operates as a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. It has a committee for Wales, and at local level is supported by four regional committees in England.
3. Our national website is http://www.ccwater.org.uk.
For public enquiries to the Consumer Council for Water, please contact via email on enquiries@ccwater.org.uk, our national number, 0845 039 2837, or via minicom on 0121 345 1044.
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