Sandra White said: "I couldn't believe the audacity of Scottish Power's ill timed announcement. It felt like they were adding insult to injury to people who have seen their bills rise by an unacceptable 95% for gas and 50% for electricity over the last three years. Especially at this time of year as the cold weather starts to bite and with Christmas looming."
Scottish Water has been praised for lowering costs while at the same time improving service and environmental standards. The commission went on to add that households were paying almost a hundred pounds less than last year and that Scottish Water had become 20% more efficient.

"These results unlike the ones of Scottish Power are welcomed but I still believe they have a long way to go, although I am optimistic that the future will see more savings for customers. These two wildly differing pictures have shown us that its time to have a real debate on this subject. Gone are the times of being able to dismiss one argument out of hand and politicians must wake up to this fact. Here is the evidence that maybe one isn't wrong and the other right out of hand. We must grow up in our approach to this subject and look at the evidence not the dogma," added Sandra.

Note: Sandra White's parliamentary motion is as follows:

That the Parliament notes with concern that, while Scottish Power has increased profits by a staggering 77% to £483million, customers have seen bills rise by an incredible 95% for gas and 50% for electricity over the last three years, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of people living in fuel-poor homes and adding further misery and hardship to many deprived areas especially in Glasgow; contrasts this with Scottish Water’s recent accolade from the Water Industry Commission for Scotland whose cost and performance report states “Determined management is generating real benefits for customers. At the same time as it has lowered costs, it has improved service and achieved better quality and environmental standards”, and believes that there should be a mature, modern and considered debate, without the usual dogmatic arguments, on the whole issue of private and state ownership.