David Ruffley MP has today spoken of his concern at new House of Commons figures, revealed during his questioning of Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which show that Anglian Water's charges are at their highest level since 1997-98.

The new figures, given in 2009-10 prices, also show that Anglian Water's customers pay more on average than neighbouring customers of Essex and Suffolk Water and Cambridge Water.

In 2009/10 the average Anglian Water bill is £173.85 compared with a bill of £164.49 from Essex and Suffolk Water and £115.96 from Cambridge Water.

David said:

'These new parliamentary figures are not good news for customers in our part of Suffolk- not only are prices at their highest level since 1997-98 but we are paying more than our immediate neighbours in Cambridgeshire and Essex.

'It is of deep concern to me that as local people grapple with the recession and make every effort to make ends meet, Anglian Water are sending out their highest bills in over a decade and charging more than neighbouring suppliers.

'While I recognise that Anglian Water need to balance their own books I will be looking to them to justify these figures and assure residents across Suffolk that they will be getting value for money in the future.'