Scottish water is cleaner, cheaper – and costs less. This is because it is owned by Scotland, and not by a private company.
Since Thatcher’s rule in the 1980’s, the UK’s public services have been agressively sold off. Successive Labour and Tory UK Governments have continued this strategy, and Scotland has suffered as a result. When Scotland regains independence it can reverse this – and spend the money generated from monopoly national services on reducing bills and increasing investment, instead of ever increasing profits for mostly foriegn owners. In water this as already happened.
A case study in Thatcher’s legacy
England is the only country in the world to have 100% direct private ownership of water. Its private water companies make enormous profits that are simply given to mostly foriegn shareholders, rather than being re-invested in better services and lower bills. It’s estimated that some £6.8bn is lost in this way. As a result 0% of rivers, lakes and streams are considered in “good health”. Still, the average CEO pay for English private water companies is £1.8m/yr.
In Scotland water is wholly owned by the public. Compare the result with England’s experience: 66% of rivers, lochs and stream are classed as in “good health”. Bills are on average 18% lower than in England. Oh, and our Scottish Water CEO gets paid £558k/yr.
What this means for Independence
These are some of the areas of public service that Thatcher and later UK Governments have sold off:
- Oil
- Gas
- Water
- Electricity
- Nuclear
- Transport
- Telecoms
- Post
In all of these areas private companies have syphoned off much more in profit than the UK Government received for their sale.
The only thing holding back Scotland from applying the success of our nationalised water service to other national services – like energy – is Westminster. Of course Scotland has no control over Westminster. Clearly, regaining Independence removes this barrier.
Sources
UK Government and here
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Various English water company Statutory Reports, via their web sites
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