Last weeks Queen’s Speech contained the Floods and Water Management Bill -to implement the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt’s report into the 2007 floods. If enacted the new legislation will provide local authorities with powers to lead in local flood risk management and enshrine an essential EU directive in UK law.
However Government critics were quick to point out that the Floods Bill contained no additional funding for the Environment Agency http://www.nce.co.uk/news/business/government-pledges-energy-floods-and-high-speed-action/5211033.article
Therefore, it is understandable that UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis should react angrily to news of excessive profits for privatised watercompanies. Dave is quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying: “It is disgusting that we are being asked to pay more when these companies are making massive profits.” The Mirror reports that ‘four of Britain’s biggest suppliers –with nearly 19 million customers between them – have made half-year profits totalling over £700million. In April, typical household bills shot up 4.1per cent to £344 a year’. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/21/customers-furious-as-water-firms-rake-in-700million-115875-21839817/
Urgent Government action is required to force caps on water charges or better still to levy a windfall tax to secure funding for much needed infrastructure investment. How many times must local communities suffer from inadequate flood defences before effective Government action is taken?