Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Water Bills

Thursday 5 February 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Minister advocates for water meters as a cost-saving measure.
  • Ofwat's water efficiency fund explores methods to promote water metering benefits.
  • The Government plans to double social tariffs support over five years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Energy Environment
Context

Thames Water’s typical metered charges increased by 40.7% this financial year and are expected to rise until 2030, indicating significant cost-of-living issues for consumers.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to bring down the average water bill? Thames Water's typical metered charges have risen by 40.7%, with further increases projected through 2030. The Government should encourage more households to use water meters, which can save money compared to non-metered usage.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)

I am a strong advocate for water meters which help with cost savings and environmental conservation. Ofwat’s water efficiency fund is exploring innovative methods to promote the benefits of metering. We are also doubling social tariffs support over five years and reforming WaterSure to assist those needing more water due to medical reasons.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific advertising plans were not detailed, and no new steps beyond Ofwat's existing fund were mentioned.

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Q2 Andy Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Benefits & Welfare Environment
Context

Independent Age estimates that a national social tariff could lift up to half a million pensioner households out of water poverty, highlighting the need for targeted financial relief.

Question

Does the Minister have plans to introduce a national social tariff? Such a tariff could significantly alleviate water poverty among pensioners. It was not mentioned in the recent White Paper, but it has the potential to help many households.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)

We are focused on supporting the most vulnerable by doubling the number of people getting help through existing social tariffs over five years. We have also reformed WaterSure to provide more support based on medical needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No new national tariff was proposed, only improvements to current schemes were mentioned.

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