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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April to Question 46551 on Thames Water, what recent progress Ofwat has made in its enforcement case investigation into Thames Water's potential breach of its Water Industry National Environmental Programme obligations.

It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on an ongoing investigation.

We have a system of independent environmental and economic regulation, and the recently introduced Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers for the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period.  This includes powers for Ofwat to set rules on remuneration, governance, and financial reporting.

We expect Ofwat to proceed swiftly with ongoing investigations to hold water companies to account on poor performance and to drive improvements which benefit customers and the environment.