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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether costs incurred by United Utilities as a consequence of (a) environmental fines, (b) enforcement action and (c) remediation following breaches of environmental permits may be recovered (i) directly and (ii) indirectly through customer bills; and whether safeguards prevent customers paying those costs.

Customers will not have to bear the costs of more penalties for Water companies. Any costs must be the responsibility of the shareholders.

The economic regulator can take enforcement action if companies do not comply with this.