Order!

Our next item of business is a Stage 3 Debate on SB241, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the Water (Scotland) Bill.

Water (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provisions regarding the water industry, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Abolition of Water Charges

1. Sections 29-40 (inclusive) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 are repealed.

2. After Section 28 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, insert:

“29H: Funding of Scottish Water

1. Scottish Water may not levy charges on users for its goods and services.

2. The Scottish Ministers have a duty to fund Scottish Water, at a level meeting the previous financial year’s expenditure, from the Scottish Consolidated Fund.”

Section 2: Public Provision of Drinking Water

1. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1 of this Act applies to services supplied under this section.

2. After Section 55 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, insert:

“55A: Public Provision of Drinking Water

1. Scottish Water shall have a duty to provide drinking water to the public in the designated places.

2. The designated places are:

a. Airports,

b. Major railway stations,

c. Sports stadiums with a capacity greater than 5,000, and

d. Any other place reasonably designated by the Local Authority or the Scottish Ministers.”

Section 3: Duty of Certain Businesses to Provide Drinking Water

1. Hospitality businesses who, in the normal course of their business, would supply food and drinks to customers for consumption on or off of their premises shall have a duty to provide the public with drinking water during their normal business hours.

2. Businesses may not levy charges for drinking water provided under Section 3(1) of this Act.

3. Businesses may levy charges for the following auxiliary expenses arising from providing drinking water under Section 3(1) of this Act.

a. The cost of providing, and cleaning, any glass or similar receptacle used to carry the water.

b. The use of tables, chairs or similar products arising from consumption of drinking water on their premises.

Section 4: Final Provisions

1. This Act comes into force 30 days following Royal Assent.

2. This Act may be cited as the Water (Scotland) Act 2023.

This bill was written by the Rt Hon /u/mg9500 MSP, Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and was submitted by the Most Hon Dame /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MP MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government.

Link to S1 Debate

This debate will close at 10pm GMT on the 8th of November

NB: This bill originally had numbering, but was lost at Stage 1 because Google Docs didn't store the numbers as markdown, that has been resolved now.