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Water and Sewerage (South-west)

That is certainly one conclusion that we could rightly draw. On the matter of an annual or lump sum subsidy, while a one-off payment would go some way to redress the balance—as Walker points out, there are strong arguments in favour of a one-off adjustment—it would not completely rectify the long-term problems facing the region. A further subsidy would be necessary in the future, especially if we envisage a time when another widespread series of improvements are necessary. An annual subsidy would resolve that problem for the foreseeable future. However, those solutions throw up a wider problem surrounding fairness. Aside from South West Water, customers in Wales or Wessex are also paying above the average—in their case, £100 more per year than those, say, in the Thames Water area. If we are to adjust for inexcusably high bills in the south-west, why not in Wales or any other area? Would not the logical extension of the argument be that water bills should be equalised throughout the United Kingdom?