Thames Water

Olly Glover Excerpts
Tuesday 16th June 2026

(1 month, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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My hon. Friend is right to say there have been 15 years of failure, with the company letting down customers and businesses in his constituency. Chalk streams are an absolute priority for me, both as a Member representing a constituency in the Chilterns and as Environment Secretary.

Olly Glover Portrait Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)
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The Government have been very clear in their support for Thames Water’s proposed £5.7 billion White Horse reservoir in Oxfordshire. Given that Thames Water may run out of money in months, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of the risk that a collapse could lead to the Government having to bear the cost of the reservoir?

Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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As a country, we have failed to build a reservoir for 30 years. That cannot be right. On the specific reservoir to which the hon. Gentleman refers, we will have to look at the details, but as it stands the company is ongoing; it is a solvent company and it should continue to complete the projects that it started.