8th Report - Regulation of the water industry
- HC No.
- HC 1041
- Published
- 9 Oct 2018
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 21 December 2018. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Regulation of the Water Industry inquiry
Closed
Opened 8 May 2018
Closed 19 Dec 2018
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry will consider how well the water industry serves consumers and the environment, how innovation can be encouraged and whether current regulatory enforcement mechanisms are fit for purpose. Further, it will consider the potential benefits of regulatory divergence post-Brexit.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 8 May 2018.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 8th Report - Regulation of the water industry on 9 October 2018.
The government's response
Published 21 December 2018.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government responds to each recommendation without a blanket acceptance, endorsing some industry commitments, planning a call for evidence on a per capita consumption target, and keeping some regulatory arrangements under review.
- On leakage, the Government "endorses the water industry's commitment to halve leakage by 2050" and will review progress every five years, rather than adopting the Committee's 2040 date.
- On demand, it will "launch a call for evidence" on a national, non-binding per capita consumption target, alongside a consultation on supporting policy options including the future role of metering.
- On water transfers, it says Ofwat "concluded that at present amending the existing incentives was not justified", and that Ofwat and the other regulators will explore barriers to trading.
- On sewage overflows, it will "keep the current system of regulating and controlling sewer overflows under review and consider proposals to minimise CSO discharges". On regulatory review, it points to a National Infrastructure Commission review concluding in summer 2019.
Reports
- 8th Report - Regulation of the water industry9 October 2018
Evidence
- 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 11 July 2018
Recent activity
- 14th Special Report - Regulation of the water industry: Government and Ofwat Responses to the Committee’s Eighth Report21 December 2018, Report published
- 8th Report - Regulation of the water industry9 October 2018, Report published
- Oral evidence session11 July 2018, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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