Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her letter of Monday 15th June 2026 to Ofwat on Thames Water’s performance and infrastructure, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the company’s Asset Health Index; what steps she is taking to ensure that reductions in asset health are tackled through regulatory and enforcement action; and what action she plans to take if Thames Water’s Asset Health Index further reduces.

In line with Section 2 duties of the Water Industry Act 1991, the Secretary of State has given her preliminary views on the London and Valley Water Consortium’s Proposal to Ofwat, but it is for Ofwat to decide whether to reject or accept the Proposal.

The Government is overseeing a shift to a system where assets are properly maintained and there are clear standards for companies to meet, supported by improved asset mapping and forward‑looking metrics.

Regulators will continue enforcing standards in full, and companies remain accountable for fixing current problems where performance falls short.