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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable she has set for introducing primary legislation to reform the regulation of the water sector; and whether she plans to publish (i) draft clauses and (ii) a policy paper setting out how that legislation will provide for the (a) establishment of a single integrated water regulator, (b) transfer of functions from existing regulators and (c) commencement of the new regulatory framework.

Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Water Reform Transition to inform the strategic design of the new regulator and oversee transition arrangements. The Clean Water Bill was announced as a second session Bill in the King’s Speech and will be introduced in due course.