Water Companies: Licence Conditions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Wigley
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Water Companies: Licence Conditions
Lord Wigley Excerpts(3 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Lord Douglas-Miller (Con)
I entirely agree with my noble friend on that issue. Ofwat will also take forward a consultation to consider a ban on water bosses receiving bonuses when their company has committed a serious criminal breach. As part of that consultation, Ofwat will consider the criteria for a ban on bonuses. This would likely include successful prosecution for a category 1 or 2 pollution incident, such as causing significant pollution at a bathing site or conservation area.
Lord Wigley (PC)
My Lords, given the uncertainty of Thames Water’s finances, what are the prospects of it being able to go ahead with its scheme for water transfer from the Severn to the Thames to meet the needs of south-east England? Does that not put the capital requirement for that scheme very much in doubt?
Lord Douglas-Miller (Con)
The capital requirement will be considered at the next spending review, which is due this year, so we will hear more about that in due course.