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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| How to fix the water sector? Public asked for ideas as bills soar | How to fix the water sector? Public asked for ideas as bills soar |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| There has been growing public anger about sewage spills into waterways | There has been growing public anger about sewage spills into waterways |
| The water sector in England and Wales "urgently needs fixing", Environment Secretary Steve Reed has said. | |
| The public, environment groups and investors have been asked for their views about how the water sector can be changed by a body set up by the UK government. | The public, environment groups and investors have been asked for their views about how the water sector can be changed by a body set up by the UK government. |
| The head of a new independent commission will invite ideas on how to fix England and Wales' troubled water industry. | The head of a new independent commission will invite ideas on how to fix England and Wales' troubled water industry. |
| Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, will launch his call for evidence in Manchester on Thursday morning. | |
| There has been growing public anger about water company performance amid massive sewage leaks and soaring bills, and the commission is looking for views on reform. | |
| Reed has ruled out nationalisation, saying it would cost up to £100bn, and that waterways would continue to be polluted while private ownership structures were unpicked. | Reed has ruled out nationalisation, saying it would cost up to £100bn, and that waterways would continue to be polluted while private ownership structures were unpicked. |
| Instead, the government wants private investment to upgrade the sewerage system and reservoirs. | Instead, the government wants private investment to upgrade the sewerage system and reservoirs. |
| To get that, regulator Ofwat has allowed the water industry to raise bills, which will go up by an average of £123 a year from April. | To get that, regulator Ofwat has allowed the water industry to raise bills, which will go up by an average of £123 a year from April. |
| There were 3.6 million hours of sewage spills into England's lakes, rivers and seas by water companies in 2023, which is more than double the amount of the previous year. | There were 3.6 million hours of sewage spills into England's lakes, rivers and seas by water companies in 2023, which is more than double the amount of the previous year. |
| Reed said there are "serious" and "interlocking concerns" with the sector which need "ambitious changes", and acknowledged that "trust in the system" had "broken down on all sides". | Reed said there are "serious" and "interlocking concerns" with the sector which need "ambitious changes", and acknowledged that "trust in the system" had "broken down on all sides". |
| He said there had been "poor decisions and poor performance by companies, regulatory gaps, policy instability and a history of ad-hoc changes that have left an increasingly complex system that is no longer working well for anyone". | He said there had been "poor decisions and poor performance by companies, regulatory gaps, policy instability and a history of ad-hoc changes that have left an increasingly complex system that is no longer working well for anyone". |
| But he said these problems were not the "inevitable" consequence of privatisation. | But he said these problems were not the "inevitable" consequence of privatisation. |
| The government established the independent water commission promising the biggest shake up of the sector since privatisation 35 years ago. | The government established the independent water commission promising the biggest shake up of the sector since privatisation 35 years ago. |
| Sir Jon is expected to recognise the widespread dissatisfaction at multiple failings and will seek submissions from regulators, investors, industry leaders and the public on potential reforms. | Sir Jon is expected to recognise the widespread dissatisfaction at multiple failings and will seek submissions from regulators, investors, industry leaders and the public on potential reforms. |
| He will acknowledge the tensions between different regulators, the increasing demands place on the system by climate and population growth, and making the sector attractive to private investors. | He will acknowledge the tensions between different regulators, the increasing demands place on the system by climate and population growth, and making the sector attractive to private investors. |
| His review comes as six companies are appealing against decisions by Ofwat to limit bill increases over the next five years. | His review comes as six companies are appealing against decisions by Ofwat to limit bill increases over the next five years. |
| The commission's report, expected in June, will not affect that process. | The commission's report, expected in June, will not affect that process. |
| To try to make companies more accountable, the government has brought in a law which gives regulators the power to ban bonuses for water company bosses. | To try to make companies more accountable, the government has brought in a law which gives regulators the power to ban bonuses for water company bosses. |
| In addition, executives who fail to co-operate or obstruct investigators could face prison sentences of up to two years. |