26 November 2004
The Scottish Executive has voiced concerns over a watchdog report that water customers in Scotland are getting poor value for money.
According to the water industry commissioner for Scotland, Alan Sutherland, Scottish Water's performance in its first year of operation was significantly lower than any of the privatised companies in England and Wales.
He found that Scottish Water achieved only 38% of the score of the worst-performing company south of the border. 'It is important that Scottish Water should deliver at least a service to customers that is as good as that offered south of the Border,' he said.
Scottish Water, a public sector authority, was set up in 2002 when it took over from three separate water authorities.
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: 'This is not acceptable and we expect Scottish Water to do more to catch up.'
Cheryl Black, Scottish Water's customer services director, said the findings failed to reflect the progress the authority had made in the past two-and-a-half years.
PFnov2004
