3rd Report - Surviving drought: reclaim the rain
- HC No.
- Not recorded
- Published
- 21 May 2026
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 14 July 2026 (deadline 21 July 2026). Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Environment and Climate Change Committee
Drought Preparedness
Open
Opened 24 Oct 2025
Environment and Climate Change Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
This inquiry will focus on drought management practices and policies and consider whether these are sufficient for responding to current and future droughts. The inquiry will cover impacts, monitoring, engagement and changes in supply and demand, aiming to identify opportunities for improved drought preparedness and response in England.
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 24 October 2025.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 3rd Report - Surviving drought: reclaim the rain on 21 May 2026.
The government's response
Published 14 July 2026. The deadline was 21 July 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and responds to 17 recommendations, stating that it accepts most, partially accepts some and rejects two.
- On the Building Regulations (Recommendation 5), it "accepts this recommendation" and is "exploring options" to tighten water efficiency standards; a government response to the consultation is "expected in 2026".
- It rejects making water companies statutory consultees on all major planning decisions, saying strategic issues "are best dealt with at a strategic level". Local planning authorities can consult them on a non-statutory basis.
- It rejects expanding the remit of Internal Drainage Boards, noting they already manage water levels in an integrated way. It has commissioned research on their funding and costs, concluding by summer 2026.
- It partially accepts the call for a prioritisation plan for an emergency drought by autumn 2026. It will review company emergency drought plans, then "consider whether additional guidance or frameworks are needed", and says it would not be appropriate to publish detailed plans in full.
Reports
All reportsEvidence
- 9 oral evidence sessionsLatest 11 February 2026
- 30 witnesses
Recent activity
- Government response to Environment and Climate Change Committee report ‘Surviving drought: reclaim the rain’14 July 2026, Report published
- 3rd Report - Surviving drought: reclaim the rain21 May 2026, Report published
- Oral evidence session11 February 2026, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 2026 |
Oral evidence session
Emma Hardy MP · Defra,
Martin Woolhead · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|
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| 4 Feb 2026 |
Oral evidence session
Helen Wakeham · Environment Agency,
Paul Hickey · Ofwat
|
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| 21 Jan 2026 |
Oral evidence session
Deborah Feldhaus · Yorkshire Water,
Geoff Darch · Anglian Water,
Mr Doug Clarke · Severn Trent
|
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| 14 Jan 2026 |
Oral evidence session
Doug Hill · Surrey County Council,
Dr Adam Comerford · Canal and River Trust,
John Abraham · Veolia UK,
Luisa Cardani · Tech UK,
Matthew Robinson · North Yorkshire Council,
Steven Campbell-Ferguson · NTT Data Centres
|
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| 7 Jan 2026 |
Oral evidence session
Dr Mark Betson · National Farmers Union (NFU),
John Patrick · East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group,
Steve Moncaster · Norfolk Environment, Food and Farming
|
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| 10 Dec 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Andrew Newton · Ely Group of Internal Drainage Boards,
Meyrick Gough · Water Resources South East,
Sarah McMath · MOSL
|
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| 26 Nov 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dr Chris Counsell · HR Wallingford,
Professor Jim Hall · National Infrastructure Commission,
Rob Lawson · Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
|
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| 19 Nov 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Callum Ellis · Marsh,
Kathryn Brown · The Wildlife Trusts,
Yetunde Abdul · UK Green Building Council
|
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| 12 Nov 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Jamie Hannaford · UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH),
Professor Alan MacDonald · British Geological Survey,
Professor Jason Lowe OBE · Met Office Hadley Centre,
Richard Millar · Climate Change Committee,
The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS · Climate Change Committee
|
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Newton · Principal Engineer | Ely Group of Internal Drainage Boards | 1 |
| Callum Ellis · Head of Climate Resilience | Marsh | 1 |
| Deborah Feldhaus · Head of Water Resources | Yorkshire Water | 1 |
| Doug Hill · Assistant Director for Place, Commissioning and Engagement | Surrey County Council | 1 |
| Dr Adam Comerford · National Hydrology Manager | Canal and River Trust | 1 |
| Dr Chris Counsell · Technical Director | HR Wallingford | 1 |
| Dr Mark Betson · National Water Resources Specialist | National Farmers Union (NFU) | 1 |
| Emma Hardy MP · Minister for Water and Flooding | Defra | 1 |
| Geoff Darch · Head of Strategic Asset Planning | Anglian Water | 1 |
| Helen Wakeham · Director of Water | Environment Agency | 1 |
| Jamie Hannaford · Principal Hydrologist | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) | 1 |
| John Abraham · Chief Operating Officer for Industrial, Water and Energy | Veolia UK | 1 |
| John Patrick · Group Manager | East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group | 1 |
| Kathryn Brown · Director of Climate Change and Evidence | The Wildlife Trusts | 1 |
| Luisa Cardani · Head of Data Centres Programme | Tech UK | 1 |
| Martin Woolhead · Deputy Director for Vulnerabilities | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 1 |
| Matthew Robinson · Head of Resilience and Emergencies | North Yorkshire Council | 1 |
| Meyrick Gough · Managing Director | Water Resources South East | 1 |
| Mr Doug Clarke · Water Resources Planning Lead | Severn Trent | 1 |
| Paul Hickey · Managing Director (RAPID - Regulators Alliance Progressing Infrastructure Development) | Ofwat | 1 |
| Professor Alan MacDonald · Head of Groundwater | British Geological Survey | 1 |
| Professor Jason Lowe OBE · Head of Climate Services | Met Office Hadley Centre | 1 |
| Professor Jim Hall · Commissioner | National Infrastructure Commission | 1 |
| Richard Millar · Head of Adaptation | Climate Change Committee | 1 |
| Rob Lawson · Chair of Water Resources Technical Panel | Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management | 1 |
| Sarah McMath · CEO | MOSL | 1 |
| Steve Moncaster · Managing Director | Norfolk Environment, Food and Farming | 1 |
| Steven Campbell-Ferguson · Global Product Design Lead | NTT Data Centres | 1 |
| The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS · Chair, Adaptation Sub-Committee | Climate Change Committee | 1 |
| Yetunde Abdul · Director of Industry Transformation | UK Green Building Council | 1 |