Written question asked by Lord Berkeley (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2016. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 April 2016 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Thames Tideway Tunnel

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the publication of the Departmental Minute by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 21 October 2015 Notification that the Secretary of State may approve the entering into of contracts regarding the Hinkley Point C Power Station that could give rise to liabilities, whether the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs published a similar Minute in respect of its liabilities in connection with the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Answer: Defra did not submit a Departmental Minute on the Government’s contingent financial support package for the Thames Tideway Tunnel because the Secretary of State has statutory authority to give financial assistance for major water or sewerage infrastructure projects under section 154B of the Water Industry Act 1991. This is consistent with the approach set out in HM Treasury’s guidance, Managing Public Money.

Secondary information