Thames Tideway Tunnel

Lord Harris of Haringey Excerpts

Wednesday 24th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, over the past decade studies have looked at options which include green infrastructure solutions such as sustainable drainage systems. The purpose of the Thames Tunnel Evidence Assessment, published by my department in 2012, was to ensure that due consideration had been given to the full range of evidence available on all the proposed solutions to address sewage in the Thames and to provide an assessment of the nature of that evidence.

[Lord Harris of Haringey]

My Lords, is not the fundamental problem that since privatisation the privatised water utilities have failed to make the investment that is necessary, including in sewers? What are the Government doing to address that in terms of the regulatory environment?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I am sorry, I simply do not accept the premise of the noble Lord’s question.