The minister said the charges in the north of Scotland reflected the higher costs of providing water services in remote areas. She said the increase for the average customer represented 60 pence per week. The increases come in the wake of recommendations by Scotland's new water industry commissioner, Alan Sutherland, who said greater revenue was needed to finance improvements to Scotland's water supply system.
European regulations make the improvement in standards a priority which requires immediate funding.
Environmental concerns Ms Boyack said the move was in the interests of public health. Equally the desire to look after our environment is not compatible with pumping untreated sewage into rivers and coastal areas. The basic infrastructure we depend upon was put in place in the Victorian era and decades of under-investment mean that much of it needs to be replaced soon. The water commissioner's review demonstrates clearly that consumers are not best served by keeping prices artificially low if this action means growing risks to public health and breaks in the water supply. However I do not feel that increases of the size proposed can be introduced next year.