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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment Ofwat has made of South Staffs Water’s progress in reducing leakage; how the reported saving of one million litres per day from leaks repaired in 2025 compares with the company’s total daily leakage; and what proportion of the forecast supply-demand deficit is expected to be addressed through (a) company-side leakage reduction, (b) customer-side leak repairs and (c) reduced household consumption following compulsory metering.

South Staffs Water has a target to reduce leakage by 17% during 2025-30. Ofwat assesses company performance through its regulatory reporting and performance framework, which includes leakage and demand management measures.