Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the current environment and economic regulatory framework of the water sector.

Strong environmental and economic regulatory frameworks are key to delivering the Government's ambitions for the water sector. The Government and regulators will continue to work together to drive improvements that benefit both customers and the environment and hold water companies to account, where necessary through strong enforcement action. We have set clear expectations of the sector and will not hesitate to take further action if we do not see the necessary action.

The Government is committed to the system of independent economic regulation. Since privatisation, the private water sector model has unlocked around £150 billion of investment. This is equivalent to around £5 billion annually and has delivered a range of benefits to customers and the environment.