Surviving Drought (Environment and Climate Change Committee Report)

Lord Ashcombe Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Grand Committee

[Lord Ashcombe (Con)]

My Lords, it is a pleasure to serve on the Environment and Climate Change Committee and to speak in this debate. I too thank the staff who supported this inquiry and whose expertise contributed so much to the report.

We are a country that has long taken water for granted. Turn on the tap and the water appears, yet ensuring that it continues to do so is becoming an increasingly significant challenge. When we began this inquiry in November 2025, following a prolonged dry summer, few expected the following year to be even more severe. England avoided a serious water shortage only because the drought was followed by an exceptionally wet winter. Quite frankly, we got away with it. But relying on good fortune is not a water strategy. Given the current state of our water infrastructure, we must hope for another even wetter winter, because our resilience is not yet where it needs to be.

Our report concludes that England could face a shortage of 5 billion litres a day by 2050 if action is not taken. Yet there is reason for optimism. England receives around 10% more rainfall than it did in 1970. The challenge is one not simply of supply but of storage and management. We are experiencing wetter winters and drier summers. The committee found that we must improve the way that we measure, capture, store, supply and use water. Better data and infrastructure and a more strategic approach are all essential.

I welcome the Government’s positive response to most of our recommendations, including commitments on drought monitoring, water efficiency, smart metering and infrastructure investment. However, acceptance is not implementation. Leaks still account for around 19% of water leaving the system—almost 3 billion litres every day. In the oil industry, any leakage is regarded as unacceptable. It has smart pigs to regularly check pipeline integrity, so why not do that in the water industry? Can the Minister say more about the timetable for delivery? The key question is not whether the recommendations have been accepted but when they will be achieved.

In the time available, I shall focus on three issues: storage, demand and governance, starting with storage. England’s population has grown by around 7.5%, or possibly a bit more, over the last decade, yet no major new reservoir has come into operation. At the same time, climate change and economic growth are increasing demand. Major reservoirs currently under development will help, but they remain years from completion. We must therefore think about storage at every scale. That means restoring wetlands and reconnecting flood plains. It means supporting farmers who wish to build on-farm reservoirs that can be shared among them. In the last five years, just 34 reservoirs with a capacity greater than 25,000 cubic metres have been constructed, while the Country Land and Business Association estimates that around 450 will be needed annually until 2050. I am sure that my noble friends Lord Leicester and Lord Mancroft would have had a great deal more to say on this topic if they were still with us.

It also means expanding sustainable drainage schemes and encouraging rainwater harvesting in homes, schools and businesses. Every year, water that causes flooding in one part of the country is, only months later, during drought, unavailable elsewhere—indeed, sometimes in the same places. We must become far better at capturing and storing it.

Secondly, on demand, future water security cannot rest solely with the Government and water companies. We need a cultural shift in how we regard water. We now understand the importance of conserving energy; water should be viewed in the same way as a valuable resource that should not be wasted—mend that leaking loo, fix the dripping tap and use water wisely. Government can help through higher efficiency standards in new homes and buildings. Businesses can reduce consumption. Above all, however, tackling leakage must remain the priority.

Public engagement will be crucial. I regret to say that the Government’s “Let’s Save Water” campaign, in May this year, passed me by and I suspect that I am not alone. Lasting change will depend upon people understanding why it matters. Water companies inevitably also have a major role to play. It is difficult to persuade customers to save water when they see leaks left unrepaired for weeks. Public confidence matters if behavioural change is to succeed.

Finally, I turn to governance. There are many organisations involved in managing our water system. Each no doubt has an important role, but responsibility can appear fragmented. Who is responsible? The committee recommended clearer planning frameworks, better co-ordination between agencies and improved drought monitoring, data sharing and early-warning systems. I welcome the Government’s commitment in these areas, but I regret that water companies are not being given a stronger voice in planning decisions. They are, after all, responsible for ensuring adequate supply. Water availability must become a central consideration in planning, just as electricity connections increasingly are today. One need look only at the growth of data centres to appreciate the challenge; these facilities place substantial demands on local water and energy resources, often on a scale unmatched by other users.

Drought preparedness is fundamental to economic growth, food production, public health, biodiversity and national resilience. The Government deserve credit for responding constructively to our report. The challenge now is delivery. Future generations will not judge us by the number of recommendations we have accepted; they will judge us on whether rivers continue to flow, nature recovers, farms remain productive and households enjoy a secure supply of water. The title of this report captures the challenge perfectly: to survive the drought, we must first learn to reclaim the rain. I hope that the Government will continue to show the urgency and leadership that this challenge demands. I commend this report to the Committee.