Water (Special Measures) Act 2025: Enforcement
Debate between Gideon Amos and Rosena Allin-Khan(1 week, 6 days ago)
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Gideon Amos
That is absolutely right. Water companies should be run in the interest of the public, not of the private shareholders’ pockets. That would be a welcome reform for communities in Taunton and Wellington and, no doubt, across the country.
In Taunton and Wellington, Wessex Water needs to reform and put this right. I welcome the action it is beginning to take, but we need real investment in the River Tone to improve bathing water quality, and water quality generally. Our sewage works must get the investment that they need. The Government must close the loopholes whereby bonuses are paid in all but name, and we need to ban the parent company payments that circumvent those rules. We need to strengthen enforcement powers, give regulators teeth and hold companies accountable so that communities such as mine can have confidence that the water they pay for comes from a company that is set up and run in the interest of the public, not private profit.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (in the Chair)
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Tim Farron. I thank everyone for keeping to time.