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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the extent to which increases in United Utilities' financing costs are recoverable from customers through regulated water bills.

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. It approves allowed revenues, spending priorities, and expected financing costs, and monitors financial performance. Ofwat publishes an annual assessment of company finances.

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