Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026, to Question 111526, on Water Charges: Social Tariffs, and with reference to the Ofwat, Summary of water companies' published plans for affordability for 2025-30, December 2024, page 9, whether the Ofwat estimate of the average cross-subsidy per customers for social tariffs of (a) £26 a year for all Waste and Sewerage Companies and (b) £55 a year for Thames Water, remains the most recent estimate of the costs of social tariffs on households who are not on a social tariff as a consequence of the increases in social tariff charging.

Government is working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. In total the sector has committed to contribute £449 million to social tariffs, debt matching, and other support schemes over 2025-30. Water Companies set the amount that they have committed to social tariffs in their company business plans up to 2030 in Price Review 2024 and this remains the most up-to-date estimate of social tariff costs.

It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December 2024, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. This will deliver substantial and enduring improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector.