Thames Water: Bids

Lord Roborough Excerpts
Monday 28th April 2025

(1 day, 23 hours ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock Portrait Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
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Obviously, water privatisation happened quite a long time ago now, which was when different foreign states came in and invested in our water system. I am sure the noble Baroness is very aware of the work going on through the Cunliffe review at the moment in order to try to get our water companies into a better state. The Government are very keen that we sort out the problem with Thames Water, but that is Ofwat’s and the company’s responsibility at present and we are just watching to ensure that Thames Water does not fail, because we cannot afford to have water companies failing.

Lord Roborough Portrait Lord Roborough (Con)
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My Lords, can the Minister, in light of the depressing state of British Steel, inform the House whether shareholders from any particular geographies would be excluded from investing in or controlling our water industry?

Baroness Hayman of Ullock Portrait Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
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I am afraid I cannot specifically answer that question. I am very happy to go away and look into it for the noble Lord.