Member

These penalties will be in addition to existing enforcement options that can only be imposed using the criminal standard of proof, including prosecution and, I stress, unlimited, uncapped variable monetary penalties, which will remain unchanged. The Government will consult on the offences for which the civil standard of proof may be used, and on the cap for the additional new lower standard of proof variable monetary penalties. There are no plans to remove unlimited penalties for severe offences. Parliament will then debate and vote on the secondary legislation before we make any changes. Clause 5 will strengthen the powers of water industry regulators and help to drive improved performance in the sector.