Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 March 2025

Correspondence to the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency relating to reforming the water sector inquiry, dated 11 March 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Reforming the water sector

Summary

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, conducting an inquiry into water sector reform, requests from the Environment Agency Chief Executive a comprehensive accounting of all investigations into English water companies since 2015, including status, resource allocation, and outcomes. The Committee cites difficulty accessing current and detailed information on ongoing and historic investigations despite relying on annual environmental performance reports.

Key findings

  • Committee is conducting iterative inquiry into water sector performance, role and culture in England and Wales
  • Environment Agency annual evaluations have been valuable but access to detailed ongoing investigation information has been challenging
  • Committee needs comprehensive list of all Environment Agency investigations into water companies opened since 2015
  • Committee requires status, target reporting dates, resource allocation, and outcomes for all investigations

Tone

Procedural

Topics

water-sector-regulationenvironmental-enforcementcorporate-accountability

Key actors

Alistair Carmichael MP, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Philip Duffy, Environment Agency

Notable line

It has presented a challenge, however, to access up to date and detailed information on ongoing investigations, and to track the status and outcomes of historic investigations.

Key Quotes

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into reforming the water sector.
Alistair Carmichael MP · Opening the letter and establishing the inquiry's scope
It has presented a challenge, however, to access up to date and detailed information on ongoing investigations, and to track the status and outcomes of historic investigations.
Alistair Carmichael MP · Explaining the difficulty in obtaining investigation data despite reliance on annual reports
View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗