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Written question asked by Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 February 2026. It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Friday, 13 February 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Water Charges: Social Tariffs

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72871, on Water Charges, what cost-benefit analysis her Department carried out when choosing not to introduce a national social tariff for water bills in the policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper published on 20 January 2026.

Answer

The Government is working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are working with water companies to ensure vulnerable customers across the country receive support. This includes improving the guidance for companies to design the best social tariffs for their customers.

We expect all water companies to put appropriate support in place for customers struggling to pay their bills and to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them. Over the next five years, water companies will have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs from 4% in 2025 to 9% in 2030. We expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end water poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to this end.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
112426
Session
2024-26
Related items
Water Charges
Monday, 8 September 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
A New Vision for Water
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Cost benefit analysis Social tariffs Water charges
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk