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 hold discussions with OFWAT on the potential removal of the board of Welsh Water in response to the phosphate levels in the Wye catchment area.

This is a devolved matter and the responsibility for water and sewerage companies based either wholly or mainly in Wales lies with the Welsh Government. Welsh Water is licensed to operate as a water and sewerage company operating wholly or mainly in Wales, and its area of operation includes areas in England. It is therefore not for the UK Government to hold discussions with Ofwat regarding the board of Welsh Water or Ofwat's supervision of Welsh Water.

The joint Intergovernmental Protocol on Water Resources, Water Supply and Water Quality made under Wales Act 2017 came into effect on 1 April 2018. It provides a mechanism to enable both the UK Government and the Welsh Government to work together on cross-border issues to avoid any serious adverse impact on water resources, water supply or water quality in England or in Wales.

Section 48 of the Wales Act 2017 when commenced will make provision for a "down the border" arrangement in relation to water and sewerage. The UK Government and the Welsh Government are currently discussing the logistics of commencement.