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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating Ofwat to incentivise long-term outcomes on (a) net-zero and (b) the delivery of the 25 Year Environment Plan through the forthcoming strategic policy statement.

The Government is consulting on a draft strategic policy statement for Ofwat. This will set priorities for the economic regulator in the following areas:

• Protecting and enhancing the environment – including supporting delivery of the 25 Year Environment Plan, net zero, nature-based solutions and catchment approaches by water companies,
• Delivering a more resilient water sector; and
• Serving and protecting customers, including those who are vulnerable.

The consultation for the strategic policy statement can be accessed via the link here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/water-industry-governments-strategic-policy-statement-for-ofwat