Government sets up task force to progress public control of water

(by Karma Loveday)

A public control task force has been set up by the new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet to address “the failure of many privatised utilities to deliver basic services at a fair price”.

This is one of three new task forces that will operate across central government departments and local government, including with regional mayors as part of the devolution agenda. The other two focus areas are cost of living – especially challenging everyday rip-offs – and local regeneration, with focus on the visible decline of town centres.

Water is understood to the the highest priority area for greater public control. A government statement on the new task force said: “For decades, the essential services that underpin daily life – housing, water, energy and transport – have suffered from over-privatisation, leading to high costs for the public. The Government is clear that the public has a right to expect these services to be affordable and accountable. The public control task force will rewire the state, examining how public control across those four sectors can be utilised to return them to public service, and bring down costs for families. Looking at areas including market reform that could support these aims.”

All three task forces fall under the auspices of first secretary of state Louise Haigh. She said: “The prime minister has been clear that the Government’s priorities are the public’s priorities. This is about putting people back in control of the things that matter most to them and ensuring that the everyday essentials are more affordable and more accountable.”