NEWS RELEASE
Sunday 9th May 2004
STUC to launch Charter for the Scottish Water Industry at Water Conference on Monday 10th May 2004 Speaking on the eve of the conference, Bill Speirs, STUC General Secretary said:
"The Charter for the Scottish Water Industry will be based on the fundamental principles we believe must underpin development of the Scottish Water industry. It will outline our strongly held view that Scottish Water must remain publicly owned and accountable and that it should be focussed on the following objectives:
· Providing an effective and accessible public service; · Maintaining public health; · Protecting the environment; and, · Underpinning economic development.
"An effective regulatory regime should be focused on helping achieve these objectives. It is also essential that regulators adopt an open consultative approach and are duty bound to fully explain the reasoning behind their decisions".
"Employees within the industry must be recognised as its strongest asset with employment levels linked to the completion of new facilities and safe systems not financial targets. Further loss of experienced staff could fatally undermine safety and customer service".
Speakers at the Conference will include Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Environment Minister and professor Alan Alexander, Chairman of Scottish Water. Jeanette Findlay, Department of Economics, Glasgow University will present findings from STUC commissioned research into regulation, charges and debt within the industry.
ENDS
For further details contact
David Moxham Stephen Boyd
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Notes
The conference will be held at 10.00am on Monday 10 May 2004 at AMICUS, John Smith House, 145-165 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4RZ.
The conference will be attended by MSPs and representatives of the STUC, affiliated trade unions, Scottish Water, business organisations.