Jackie Baillie says SNP ministers must act now to prevent family finances being hammered by ‘eye-watering’ water charges.

Despite the cost of living crisis hammering thousands of Scottish families, Scottish Water are raising water prices by some 4.2 percent in 2022/2023 – after being forced to climb down from a proposed price hike of 6.2 percent.

Unless ministers revise down expectations, Scottish Water will be forced to raise water charges by over 12 percent in coming years to meet Scottish government targets.

This is despite Scottish Water sitting on a cash stash of some £428m in reserves, a figure that is expected to reach £500m – while thousands of households, including many in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond, struggle to make ends meet.

Scottish Labour has already called for these reserves to be used to provide every Scottish household with a £100 water bill rebate to help people during the cost of living crisis.

And the party is calling on Scottish ministers to act to prevent households being devastated by ‘eye-watering’ charges by revising down their expectations of Scottish Water.

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Households in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch and Helensburgh are facing the toughest cost of living crisis in years, with thousands shamefully being forced to choose between heating and eating.

“Indeed, we have read reports of people presenting at foodbanks but rejecting food because they can’t afford to heat it up. That is how desperate this situation has become.

“Faced with this crisis, the SNP and Tory governments have completely failed to act to protect family finances.

“While Nicola Sturgeon tours Scotland on her ‘cost of living express’ bus, thousands of households are being landed with crippling water charges.

“With hundreds of millions of pounds languishing in Scottish Water’s cash stash, it is high time that this money was used to give Scots a £100 water rebate.

“Scottish Water is entirely the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Ministers could act now to protect family finances and prevent even further hikes in water charges over the next few years.”