Tories back continuation of bill rebate for South West customers

The Conservative Party pledged in its manifesto, published yesterday, to continue to pay customers in the South West a water rebate, should it be returned as the next government.

South West Water customers currently receive a £50 bill rebate from public funds – a payment designed to address the unfairness of 3% of the nation’s population supporting the £2bn Clean Sweep programme to clean up a third of the country’s bathing waters. The current support programme is guaranteed until 2020.

The Conservative manifesto also pledged to enhance the powers of the Competition and Markets Authority “to tackle consumer rip-offs and bad business practices”.