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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to commission a third-party audit of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, to be made available to assist water companies to adopt best practice when managing contracts for new reservoirs, in particular regarding the optimal use of outside contractors and specialist companies capable of constructing reservoirs.

The Government has not planned any third party audit. We note the National Audit Office published a report in June 2014 on the risks and governance of the Thames Tideway Tunnel and may choose to write a further report. Copies of the strategic and economic case for the TTT, cost-benefit analysis and peer reviewed supporting evidence will be placed in the House Library.

In respect of contracts for new reservoirs, Ofwat have said with reference to the Thames Tideway Tunnel that it is keen to explore whether this delivery model could work for other big projects in the water sector. We are not aware of any ongoing applications to construct new reservoirs.