SEVERN TRENT'S PRICING PRACTICES

EDM number 1174 in 1997-98, proposed by Peter Bradley on 31/03/1998.

That this House notes that while Ofwat has recommended for 1998-99 a maximum 4.2 per cent. increase in pricing levels for its water and sewerage services, Severn Trent Water has driven up charges to the large majority of its three million domestic consumers by 6.5 per cent while increasing its dividend to shareholders by 11 per cent and underspending by ú100 million on its capital programme; further notes that these are just the latest examples of Severn Trent's profiteering practices by which it has, since privatisation, increased charges by 90 per cent while paying ú2 billion on dividends; and calls on Ofwat to take the earliest opportunity to require Severn Trent to reduce charges to its customers and, in particular, to its domestic consumers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 49 MPs.