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

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government with regard to the transfer of additional quantities of water from the reservoirs in Wales, or from rivers running from Wales to England, to meet increased water demand in South East England.

As agreed in the Intergovernmental Protocol on Water Resources, Water Supply and Water Quality, Defra and the Welsh Government work closely on water resources management.

Water companies in England and Wales have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically.

Last year, regional water resources groups and water companies, consulted on their draft water resources plans. These plans set out how each company will secure water supplies sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies consider all options, including water demand management and new water resources infrastructure including water transfers. In the latest round of plans, no new additional quantities have been identified to be transferred from Wales to England. A summary can be found at gov.uk.

Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales issued joint water resources planning guidance to water companies, which takes account of policy in England and Wales. They are also statutory consultees on the plans, as relevant. When reviewing the plans, the Environment Agency and National Resources Wales regularly meet to discuss proposals by water companies.