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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent overseas private equity investment in Thames Water.

There are no plans to introduce any such legislation at this time.

More broadly, the Independent Water Commission is actively considering whether reforms are needed across the water industry, including with respect to economic regulation of water companies. Within this, the Commission is considering regulation of water companies’ financial resilience, investment and competition. The Commission is expected to publish its recommendations, following which the Government expects to bring forward further actions to ensure the water industry is delivering for customers and the environment.