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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for dividing Thames Water into two new companies, one with responsibility for the upper Thames area and one with responsibility for London and the lower Thames area.

The water industry in England and Wales was privatised in 1989, when the ten publicly-owned regional water authorities transferred their functions and assets to private water companies. There are currently 32 privately-owned water companies serving England and Wales, overseen by the independent economic regulator Ofwat.

As an appointed water and sewerage company, Thames Water’s licence of appointment specifies a specific area of appointment. Water company licencing is a matter for Ofwat. The Government has therefore made no assessment of any such change in the company’s structure.