Unions call for water regulator to be sacked

Unions have called on Environment Minister Ross Finnie to sack the Chair of the Water Industry Commission, Sir Ian Byatt. This follows Sir Ian's announcement of a blueprint for the privatisation of Scottish Water.

The unions say he is trying to overturn decisions of the Scottish Parliament on the structure of Scottish Water; he is trying to force full privatisation on part of the industry by using his powers to set unfair conditions, and he is trying to privatise the rest on the quiet by setting up a shell mutual company.

UNISON Scottish Organiser, Dave Watson said: "We warned ministers at the time of the recent charge determination that Sir Ian was privately briefing in favour of privatisation and he has now gone public. It is not the function of the regulator to propose structural change to the water industry in Scotland. That is a matter for Ministers and the Scottish Parliament."

Sir Ian's call for Scottish Water's new business-supply arm to be privatised is totally contrary to the assurances given to parliament when the Water Services Act was passed.

Dave said: "This is the most underhand and disgraceful way any regulator can treat an organisation they have to regulate. They secretly decide on a new structure for the industry and then deliberately set conditions to force Ministers and Scottish Water to comply with that view."

Dave said: "Scottish Water, despite the best efforts of the WIC to hamstring it, is a great success story for the Scottish public sector model at a time when communities across the world are rejecting water privatisation.

"Indeed most of the difficulties facing Scottish Water are caused by Sir Ian importing his failed English model of short term cuts in investment leading to increased short and medium term pressure on vital assets."

headlines . top