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The government has issued an update on calls to introduce a national social tariff on water bills for UK households. An MP from Greater Manchester asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is considering proposals to introduce a single social tariff for UK households in a written question last week. It comes as Citizens Advice revealed that almost one in five households struggled to pay their water bill in the last year following a hike in charges in January - increasing the average household water and sewerage bill from under £500 to more than £600 a year. Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme , submitted a written question to the government asking whether it is "considering proposals to introduce a national social tariff on water bills". Emma Hardy, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding, responded to the question issuing a statement on behalf of the department. She said the government is considering a recommendation made by the Independent Water Commission to consult on a National Social Tariff and confirmed that the government would publish a White Paper in response to the proposal "later this year". She said: "The government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported and expects water companies to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills." Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE She added that water companies had "more than doubled" the number of customers eligible for help with their bills through existing social tariffs, with the percentage of households rising from 4 per cent to 9 per cent. Citizens Advice found that more than a fifth of those who struggled to pay their bill last year found themselves falling into debt with their supplier. The survey, taken at the beginning of August, and following the largest single-year increase in household water charges since privatisation of the industry, found that more than two fifths of those finding it hard to keep pace with their bills had been forced to cut back on groceries and energy as a result. The hike in charges, announced in January, increased the average household water and sewerage bill from under £500 to more than £600 a year. However, households have been hit particularly hard since April with an average hike of £86 or 20 per cent front-loaded into the coming year, with smaller percentage increases in each of the next four years. Factoring in inflation, which is added to bills each year, the 2025-26 increase in the average bill is £123, or 26 per cent. Citizens Advice described existing social tariffs as a “postcode lottery”, with each water provider having different rules on who qualifies for help. Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: "The government has shown it’s committed to addressing the water industry’s systemic issues. Now it needs to create a single social tariff without delay to end the postcode lottery for support, and ensure that those who need this get it automatically."
