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Water firms urged to curb prices
Water companies have been urged to reconsider price hikes by the Government. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told Britain's biggest water companies that keeping bills affordable is "crucial".
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Speaking in Battersea, Mr Miliband attacked the Government on the issue of the cost of living crisis and vowed to "stand up for markets that work for working people".
Mr Miliband said the water industry should be "scrutinised to make sure it is working properly", during an interview with the Evening Standard last week.
The water industry is the latest sector to be scrutinised by the Labour leader after he promised to freeze gas and electricity bills until 2017 if his party won the next general election.
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Environment Secretary: Affordable water bills 'crucial'
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has told water firms it is "crucial" that water bills are kept affordable for "hardworking people".
Water firms urged to curb prices by Government
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has called on water companies to "look closely" at whether price increases are necessary and introduce special tariffs for hard-pressed households.
In a letter to suppliers, Mr Paterson said the firms should recognise the financial strain people are under.
The intervention came ahead of an Ofwat ruling expected later this week on an application from Thames Water to increase bills by £29 in 2014-15.
The regulator is expected to reject the application and has questioned the profits being made by firms.
It suggested its next Price Review could ease the upward pressure on bills by up to £750 million after 2015.