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Saturday, October 25, 2008, 07:00
Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders has taken the Prime Minister to task, accusing him of ignoring hard-pressed householders' concerns by dodging the problem of soaring utility charges, while making the 'spurious' claim that living standards had improved in the South West under a Labour government.
Mr Sanders has written to the PM demanding a full answer over when struggling South West Water customers would get 'action rather than sympathetic words'.
He pointed out the high number of pensioners on low incomes in Torbay, and the reliance on seasonal, poorly-paid jobs made high water and sewerage charges an acute problem in the area.
Mr Brown's dismissive response has sparked public anger, amid continuing calls for action to tackle rocketing water charges in the area.
Water customers in South Devon are hit with the highest bills in the country, with people paying for the clean-up of nearly a third of the country's coastline.
Concerns have long been raised that households in Devon and Cornwall on fixed and low incomes were struggling to pay their water bills, particularly given the low average incomes in the far South West.
Mr Sanders said: "Just like David Cameron, who announced in the summer that there would be no special help for charge payers, the Prime Minister has completely ignored the problem of high water bills and his answer shows the utter contempt the Labour Government has for the South West.
"Ever since privatisation the South West has suffered and it is time this inequity was stopped."
Earlier in the week, when challenged in the Commons by Mr Sanders over rocketing water bills, Mr Brown ignored the question and said: "I have met Members of Parliament from the area to talk about the issues and to see what could be done, but I have to say to them, after 10 years of Labour Government, that the South West enjoys higher employment, higher standards of living and better public services as a result of a Labour Government."
Ministers have announced a review of water charges that will look at metering and different pricing plans in a drive to cut water usage and ensure a fairer payment system, but this is not due to report until next spring.
In South Devon, average bills for homes with meters soared by 5.6 per cent this year to £397, and rocketed by 8.7 per cent for unmetered households.
In London, where wages are much higher, bills are much lower, with the average being £304.
South West Water's parent group Pennon recently announced pre-tax profits of £154.9million for the last financial year.
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