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  Water Bill - New Clause 7 - National Affordability Scheme for Water
  
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  @ MP voted aye for national eligibility standards for assistance paying water bills.
  @ MP voted no against national eligibility standards for assistance paying water bills.
  
  The majority of MPs voted against introducing a National Affordability Scheme for water.
  
  During the debate MP Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife, Labour) explained the proposal:
  
  :As we have set out, too few water companies are helping too few customers through social tariffs, and it is clear that left to their own devices many water companies, by their own admission, will never introduce such schemes. That is why we are proposing a national affordability scheme to end the postcode lottery and ensure national standards for eligibility.
  
  
  MPs were considering the Water Bill[1]. The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was:
  
  :â(1) The Secretary of State must, by order, introduce a National Affordability Scheme for water.
  :(2) The National Affordability Scheme must include an eligibility criteria, determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation withâ
  :(a) the Water Services Regulation Authority; and
  :(b) the Consumer Council for Water.
  :(3) An order under this sectionâ
  :(a) shall be made by statutory instrument; and
  :(b) may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.â
  
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  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/water/documents.html Parlimentary webpage on the Water Bill 2013-14]
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-01-06a.75.0#g82.1 Thomas Docherty MP (Dunfermline and West Fife, Labour), House of Commons, 6 January 2014]
  
  
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  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  