Keith Brown MSP highlights the benefits of public ownership of Scotland’s Water

It has recently emerged that the privatised water companies in England and Wales seek to increase their water bills by £156 a year.

House of Commons Library analysis, commissioned by the SNP, shows that households in England and Wales are paying almost 10% more for water and sewerage bills than those in Scotland, at £448 per year compared to around £410 in Scotland as of 2023/24. 

The analysis also reveals this money is being used to fund billions of pounds in dividends for private shareholders. Privatised water companies in England and Wales paid out at least £32.7billion in dividends to shareholders between 2002/03 and 2021/22. In contrast, Scottish Water is publicly owned and therefore paid no dividends at all to shareholders. 

The higher bills are also being used to fund significantly higher salaries for the CEOs of private water companies.  On average, privatised water company bosses in England and Wales were paid £1.48 million a year in 2021/22 – around three and a half times the pay of Scottish Water’s CEO at £425,000. The data shows the CEO of Severn Trent WaterLimited was paid £3.9million in 2021/22 – more than nine times the salary of Scottish Water’s CEO. 
 
It comes after Keir Starmer U-turned on his leadership election pledge to nationalise water companies.

The Labour Party leader has also broken pledges on the two-child cap, rent controls, tuition fees, free school meals, public sector pay, freedom of movement, progressive taxation, electoral reform, reform of the House of Lords, devolution, and Scotland’s right to choose its own future.

Commenting, SNP MSP Keith Brown said: 
 
“This latest news proves what we have known for a long time – that essential services like water supply should be in public hands – not ran for profit by Private Companies. 
 
“Families in England and Wales are paying an eye-watering price for failing services under Westminster control – this is relevant to Scotland as it shows the real benefit of Scotland’s publicly owned water service. 
 
“The Tories and Labour Party must stop privatising key services – and instead follow Scotland’s lead by putting water back in public hands, where it belongs. 
 
“At next year’s election, voting SNP is the only way to make this argument heard in Westminster, to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and to prioritise investment in public services, instead of more Westminster privatisation.”