Thames Water

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Wednesday 17th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that it is not necessarily just ownership of a water company that is the deciding factor, and there are other jurisdictions in which leakage and sewage going into rivers and the sea are problems. I think of Denmark, where the vast majority of water companies are in the public sector, and sewage spills and water pollution were serious issues in the recent election. I ask for an assurance from the Minister that, when the water Bill reaches this House, the cost of regulation will not increase for water companies, and that they will be able to use the resources they have to deliver wastewater, and clean water to consumers, and to ensure that they have the infrastructure in place.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Clearly, we need to see the water Bill to see the detail on that and many other issues that people have a particular interest in. The Government are clear that we do not want to have overburdensome regulation. That is important. The regulator is there to help support the industry and make sure that it works properly for customers and the environment. I am sure that the detail of that will be considered in the Bill, but it is not the Government’s approach to make regulation more difficult for consumers and organisations.