To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofcom, (b) Ofwat and (c) Ofgem on incentives for innovation and research and development in their sectors and how that relates to the 2.4 per cent GDP spend on R&D target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofcom, (b) Ofwat and (c) Ofgem on incentives for innovation and research and development in their sectors and how that relates to the 2.4 per cent GDP spend on R&D target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will direct (a) the Drinking Water Inspectorate and (b) Ofwat to monitor levels of asbestos in water; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will direct (a) the Drinking Water Inspectorate and (b) Ofwat to monitor levels of asbestos in water; and if he will make a statement.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment OFWAT has made of whether the water market is working effectively for new entrants and small business customers.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment OFWAT has made of whether the water market is working effectively for new entrants and small business customers.

Yes, we need to do more. When compared with other European countries, we are absolute laggards: we use much too much water, wash our cars

with potable, drinking-quality water, and do all kinds of things that we should not. We have to change our lives, and I hope the Minister...

Yes, we need to do more. When compared with other European countries, we are absolute laggards: we use much too much water, wash our cars

with potable, drinking-quality water, and do all kinds of things that we should not. We have to change our lives, and I hope the Minister...

I was quite surprised by the contribution made by the right hon. Member for Newbury, as that is not my understanding. Perhaps I should quote the Scottish Water Commission, which noted in 2013:

“It is now more than a decade since Scottish Water was established. In that time the company has...

I was quite surprised by the contribution made by the right hon. Member for Newbury, as that is not my understanding. Perhaps I should quote the Scottish Water Commission, which noted in 2013:

“It is now more than a decade since Scottish Water was established. In that time the company has...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the future of the water industry in England and Wales.

Customers and employees should be helped to take back control of the companies providing our water and taking away our sewage. The people of England should once again be front and centre of...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the future of the water industry in England and Wales.

Customers and employees should be helped to take back control of the companies providing our water and taking away our sewage. The people of England should once again be front and centre of...

Does my hon. Friend agree that the rather poor practices of some water companies have led to widespread public disillusionment? When I worked for Unison a few years ago, an excellent report was published showing some remarkably creative accounting, which seemed to suggest that money was being diverted not to...

Does my hon. Friend agree that the rather poor practices of some water companies have led to widespread public disillusionment? When I worked for Unison a few years ago, an excellent report was published showing some remarkably creative accounting, which seemed to suggest that money was being diverted not to...

My hon. Friend and the trade union movement in general have pointed that out on a number of occasions. I will come on to one of the trade union movement’s particular campaign issues.

Water companies have become a desirable global financial commodity, bought and sold by big banks, international infrastructure investors,...

My hon. Friend and the trade union movement in general have pointed that out on a number of occasions. I will come on to one of the trade union movement’s particular campaign issues.

Water companies have become a desirable global financial commodity, bought and sold by big banks, international infrastructure investors,...

Does my hon. Friend agree that this is an excellent opportunity to bring consumers into the conversation with businesses, in a way that mutualisation allows, so that we can learn from customers as well as talk about the ownership of utilities?

Does my hon. Friend agree that this is an excellent opportunity to bring consumers into the conversation with businesses, in a way that mutualisation allows, so that we can learn from customers as well as talk about the ownership of utilities?

My hon. Friend makes a good point. I will come on to how mutuals would allow customers to have a lot more say over—indeed, they would give them ownership of—the water services on which we all depend.

Turning to one specific company, Thames Water was owned for 11 years by a...

My hon. Friend makes a good point. I will come on to how mutuals would allow customers to have a lot more say over—indeed, they would give them ownership of—the water services on which we all depend.

Turning to one specific company, Thames Water was owned for 11 years by a...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for bringing this debate. Ofwat imposes no penalties on managers who break their commitments. Does he agree that legislation must be put in place to ensure that—after loading Thames Water with debt and flooding the Thames valley with excrement—the water body faces more than just...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for bringing this debate. Ofwat imposes no penalties on managers who break their commitments. Does he agree that legislation must be put in place to ensure that—after loading Thames Water with debt and flooding the Thames valley with excrement—the water body faces more than just...

The hon. Gentleman is making a powerful case against the water companies. The issue of leakage seriously needs to be addressed. Something like 1,273 Olympic-size swimming pools-worth of water is leaked daily because water pipes have not been addressed. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has...

The hon. Gentleman is making a powerful case against the water companies. The issue of leakage seriously needs to be addressed. Something like 1,273 Olympic-size swimming pools-worth of water is leaked daily because water pipes have not been addressed. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has...

If hon. Members check my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, they will see that I chair an organisation called the UK Water Partnership. As the Leader of the Opposition claimed that I was some sort of stooge for the water companies, I put on the record that...

If hon. Members check my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, they will see that I chair an organisation called the UK Water Partnership. As the Leader of the Opposition claimed that I was some sort of stooge for the water companies, I put on the record that...

I am enjoying the trip to Venezuela that the right hon. Gentleman is taking us on. May I draw him back to my remarks about the mutual model

of democratic public ownership, which would see the water companies remaining in the private sector, albeit run by their customers and employees,...

I am enjoying the trip to Venezuela that the right hon. Gentleman is taking us on. May I draw him back to my remarks about the mutual model

of democratic public ownership, which would see the water companies remaining in the private sector, albeit run by their customers and employees,...