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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of Wessex Water's profits that have been distributed to shareholders rather than retained for investment in the company's infrastructure since 2002.

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.