§ Mr. BurgonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made with the review of competition in the water industry. [119431]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government are today publishing, jointly with the National Assembly for Wales, a consultation paper entitled "Competition in the Water Industry in England and Wales". Copies of this paper have been placed in the Libraries of the House and it is available on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' website.
The Government believe that the properly managed development of effective competition in the water industry in England and Wales is desirable. It should benefit consumers by promoting greater efficiency, lower prices, innovation and better services—as it has in other utilities. This consultation paper seeks views on how increased competition can be arranged in ways that safeguard, in particular, public health, the environment and wider social objectives. We are keen to receive a wide range of responses to inform policy decisions. We expect that some of these will be taken forward in a future water Bill.