12 Sep 2024
Crossbench peer Lord Krebs last week introduced the Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill to the House of Lords. This would give public bodies a statutory objective to support the targets set under the Environment Act 2021 and Climate Change Act 2008. If passed the Bill would apply to over 40 government departments and agencies, including […]
23 Jul 2024
Last week’s King’s Speech included 35 bills and draft bills, setting out the new government’s plans for this parliament and recognising “the urgency of the global climate challenge and the new job opportunities that can come from leading the development of the technologies of the future”. The government will establish Great British Energy, a new […]
14 May 2024
On Wednesday 15 May, the Environmental Audit Committee considers what progress has been made in tackling water pollution and supply issues since it last examined the area in detail. It relates to the Committee’s 2022 Water quality in rivers report. Watch evidence from Defra, CIWEM, Water UK, Ofwat and others, covering infrastructure investment, resilience, regulation […]
20 Dec 2023
Water industry finances are under pressure again. Thames Water Last week, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee questioned Thames Water and Ofwat about the company’s financial situation. This included the nature of the recent £500m equity injection to Thames, its parent company’s ability to pay its debts, Ofwat’s new dividend lock-up powers and prospects […]
08 Nov 2023
This week’s King’s Speech set out the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary year and is the final legislative programme before the next general election. It includes plans for new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea, contrary to advice from climate scientists, the International Energy Agency and many others, and despite the […]
13 Jul 2023
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee quizzed key decision-makers involved with Thames Water to a public hearing of the Committee on Wednesday 12 July to explain the difficulties facing the company and the water industry more generally. The Committee asked about the causes of the problems facing Thames Water and the potential solutions – […]
22 Mar 2023
Under investment, insufficient government strategy, and inadequate co-ordination has resulted in a failure to “treat water with the care and importance it deserves”, warns Industry and Regulators Committee. The Industry and Regulators Committee has been investigating the regulation of the water industry, including looking at Ofwat’s performance in relation to its statutory duties, the investment […]
06 Jul 2021
The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology has published a briefing on Water Supply Resilience and Climate Change, to which Waterwise contributed. The impartial briefing for MPs highlights the scale of the water supply challenge and outlines the policy proposals to tackle the issue – water efficiency labelling, minimum efficiency standards and changing planning policy […]
