To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing water companies into public ownership.

Since privatisation, the private water sector model (underpinned by strong, independent economic regulation) has unlocked around £215 billion of investment. This is equivalent to around £6 billion annually in investment, almost double the pre-privatisation level, and has delivered a range of benefits to customers and the environment.

Government is therefore committed to the system of independent economic regulation and has no plans to bring water into public ownership.

The Government is clear that to retain public support, water companies must ensure they meet high standards of transparency and corporate governance.