Written question asked by Alison Griffiths (Conservative) on Friday, 3 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Thursday, 9 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Water: Regulation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish an implementation plan for the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission setting out whether each recommendation (a) has been accepted, rejected and remains under consideration and (b) requires primary legislation, secondary legislation, regulatory action and non-legislative departmental action; and if she will set an indicative timetable for implementation of each recommendation accepted.

Answer: Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Water Reform Transition to inform the strategic design of the new regulator and oversee transition arrangements. The Clean Water Bill was announced as a second session Bill in the King’s Speech and will be introduced in due course.

Secondary information