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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with OFWAT on number of leaks, pipe bursts and sewage leaks reported by Thames Water in the past five years.

My officials and I regularly discuss with Ofwat a number of issues across the water sector including the subjects raised in your question and the performance of individual companies.

Our Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat (SPS) published in 2022, and replacing the previous statement from 2017, sets out our expectations for water company action to renew and replace the water network. It outlines that Ofwat will promote good asset management and challenge companies to better understand the health of their assets and adopt a strategic and long-term approach.

In December I met with Ofwat to discuss its Annual Water Company Performance Report 2021-22, and had a subsequent meeting with Ofwat and Thames to discuss its performance, including leakage, mains repair, supply interruptions, sewer collapse and sewer flooding.

Ofwat have required all companies to produce an action plan to address their performance issues and I have been clear that I will be monitoring progress closely.