Member

The noble Lord, Lord Remnant, also mentioned that others may have greater experience and knowledge than Ofwat in some of these matters. I stress that Ofwat is required to consult not just with the Secretary of State but with other stakeholders in the industry, including the Consumer Council for Water, before any changes to the rules are made. Any concerns with Ofwat’s proposed rules, or changes to the rules in future, can be addressed through this process. I hope that has helped the noble Lord, Lord Remnant, to better understand the Government’s position on this matter and that he understands why we believe that it is important to retain flexibility here and so will not press his amendment.