Free water allowance plan deemed ‘costly’ and ‘unfair’

The Government’s plans to give householders a free allowance of water — after which they will have to pay for consumption — have been described as “costly” and “unfair” by one of the country’s top thinktanks.

Tasc said the free allowance proposed under the new water charges plan was an inefficient use of scarce resources.

The body criticised the Government for planning “to subsidise all households regardless of means and circumstances”. The charges are due to begin in 2014.