MSP’s anger as bid to cut water charges for pensioners fails

Feb 14 2008 By Alastair McNeill

HAMILTON South MSP Tom McCabe this week expressed disappointment after a bid to cut water charges for pensioners was rejected by opponents.

Mr McCabe, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s finance committee, had tabled an amendment to the Scottish Government’s budget, aimed at cutting the charges for OAPs.

He was backed by two Labour colleagues on the committee but SNP, Liberal Democrat and Conservative members rejected the move.

Mr McCabe said: “Much has been made of the possible Council Tax freeze but that helps those who are well-off far more than it helps the poorest people.

“It also does nothing to help the poorest pensioners who already receive Council Tax benefit but have to pay water charges.

“I feel that this amendment would have provided the money to eliminate water charges for pensioner households.

“It would have resulted in more money in the pockets of our poorest elderly people.”

However, Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil said: “The Scottish Government doesn’t have the powers to do what Tom was proposing. It is the responsibility of the water industry regulator.

“He knows that and was playing politics with water charges for elderly people.”

Mr Neil estimated that Mr McCabe’s proposals would have meant a substantial cut in Scottish local government funding in the region of £400m.

He added: “In South Lanarkshire alone, the cut would be around £20m, and that would have led to cuts in essential services like home helps and meals on wheels.

“Tom’s amendment was about playing politics with Scotland’s pensioners.”