L

Lord Katz (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 12 January 2026

Debate

Independent Water Commission

Contribution

When we are delivering a once-in-a-generation reset of a system that has not been touched in, frankly, decades—in the last 14 years of the last Government—it is important that we make sure that we get the reforms right. If that means that there is a delay in publishing the White Paper, it is better to make sure that we measure twice and cut once. It is important that we provide certainty to customers, the industry, regulators and, indeed, investors in making that delay. That does not mean that we have not been doing anything. There has been constant dialogue with key stakeholders, including companies and investors, throughout the development of the White Paper. Obviously, we have also already legislated through the Water (Special Measures) Act to make sure that we a have a really strong regulatory regime. It has already seen over £4 million in bonuses to company executives banned by Ofwat in six out of the nine water companies. So, it is not as if action has not been taken.

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