Vulnerable households ‘should not have to cut back on washing or flushing the toilet’ to keep bills down, Rhian Bowen-Davies says

THE OLDER PEOPLE’S Commissioner for Wales has hit out at the UK Government after ministers declined to take forward a recommendation to introduce a national “social tariff” for water bills.

Rhian Bowen-Davies said she was “very disappointed” by the decision, which followed proposals from the Independent Water Commission. Campaigners have argued that a social tariff would bring consistent, meaningful support for people on low incomes, rather than the current patchwork of discounts that can vary between areas and companies.

In a statement, Ms Bowen-Davies warned that many households are already rationing basic water use in an effort to keep bills down.

“People on low incomes, including many older people, are already being forced to cut back on washing, laundry and even flushing the toilet to try to keep bills down,” she said.

She described that situation as “simply not acceptable”, arguing that people should not have to restrict water use “just to make ends meet”. She said doing so can increase the risk of illness and infection and can also lead to “stress, stigma, and social isolation”.

Ms Bowen-Davies said a national social tariff would provide “much needed, meaningful and consistent support” and help tackle what she described as a growing problem of water poverty.

She also warned that the issue is expected to worsen over the coming years, with projections suggesting it could affect around a million older households across the UK by 2029.

The Commissioner urged the UK Government to rethink its stance and work with the water industry and other stakeholders to ensure that customers who are struggling financially can access the support they need.

POST-16 sector invited to respond to evidence paper as rising costs, skills needs and participation gaps come under scrutiny

UNIVERSITIES, colleges, schools, learners and businesses across Wales are being urged to share their views on the future of post-16 education and research.

The call was issued by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells, following the publication of a Welsh Government evidence paper titled The Future of Tertiary Education in Wales.

The document sets out a range of challenges facing further and higher education and seeks responses to help build an evidence base that will inform future policy.

Among the issues highlighted are participation gaps, rising costs for both learners and institutions, demographic change, competition between education providers, and the need to better align skills provision and research with the needs of the Welsh economy.

Announcing the call for evidence, Vikki Howells said the system faced pressures that could not be tackled by government alone.

“The challenges facing our post-16 education system are too complex for us to solve alone,” she said. “Universities, colleges, schools, employers and learners hold vital insights about what is working, what is not, and what is possible.”

She said reforms had already been delivered, including the establishment of Medr and the maintenance of the Welsh Government’s approach to student support, but warned there were further challenges that needed to be addressed.

“This call for evidence is our opportunity to build on our progress, and your expertise will shape Wales’s future,” she said. “This is your opportunity to influence the future direction for your institution, your staff, your learners and your communities.”

The minister said she would be visiting Bangor University and Coleg Meirion Dwyfor this week to meet staff and students and hear their views on the pressures facing the sector.

“These conversations will build on my ongoing dialogue with the sector, and will be an essential part of this work,” she said.

The call for evidence is open from January to March 2026.

CATHOLIC bishops in Wales have called on Members of the Senedd to withhold consent for Westminster’s assisted suicide legislation, ahead of a debate and vote expected next week.

In a joint statement issued on Monday (Jan 19), Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff-Menevia and Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham said they were “deeply concerned” about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.

On Tuesday (Jan 27), Senedd Members are expected to be asked whether Wales should give legislative consent for the bill. This is the process used when UK legislation touches on devolved matters, including areas linked to health and the delivery of public services.

The bishops said that, if enacted, the bill would legalise assisted suicide and represent what they described as a “profound change” in how society responds to people who are terminally ill.

They warned that vulnerable people could be placed at greater risk, arguing that in countries where assisted suicide has been legalised, eligibility criteria have tended to widen over time, the number of deaths has increased, and some people may feel subtle pressure to end their lives, particularly those who are elderly, disabled, or anxious about becoming a burden.

Calling on Wales’ “long and proud tradition of compassion,” the bishops said true compassion did not mean ending a life, but supporting those who suffer, easing pain, and ensuring no one feels abandoned or without worth.

They urged politicians to focus instead on strengthening palliative and end-of-life care, saying every person should be able to live their final days with dignity, comfort and peace.

Supporters of assisted dying argue that the law would give mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis greater choice at the end of life, and say that any system introduced should include strict safeguards to prevent coercion or abuse. They also say the debate should include the experiences of patients and families facing the realities of prolonged and distressing deaths.

The bishops’ intervention comes as assisted dying continues to prompt strong views across the UK, with campaigners, faith groups, medical professionals and disability rights advocates raising questions about safeguards, potential unintended consequences, and the resourcing of palliative care.

As the Senedd vote approaches, Archbishop O’Toole and Bishop Brignall have invited people across Wales to “pray and reflect carefully” on the issue.

They are also encouraging those who can to observe a day of fasting on Monday (Jan 26), the eve of the debate, in solidarity with those they believe would be most vulnerable if the bill becomes law, and to urge those supporting it to reconsider.

The bishops ended by calling on the public to engage respectfully with their elected representatives ahead of what they described as an important decision for Wales.