Minister's Response to Motion 959
Please see below response from Emma Hardy MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Motion 959
This Council resolves to:
1. Write to Steve Reed as Minister for Environment, Food, and Rural
Affairs, and Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking
them to:
a) review the case for nationalisation of Thames Water and the wider
UK water industry, based on independent research rather than
reports commissioned by industry players;
b) in any case, to use the existing powers the Government, to
change the governance model of the water companies so that they are transformed into Public Benefit Companies, to build accountability and transparency back into our water system, and;
c) to bring in legislation requiring English water companies to follow
the example of Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm to ensure the
governing boards are elected by workers and consumers, and
have representation from the councils and devolved assemblies
across the region.
2. If a change in ownership of Thames Water continues to be pursued,
to use our membership bodies, including the County Council Network
and Local Government Association, to call on DEFRA and
Government to convene a coalition from across the Thames Region to
scrutinise any proposed bidders, and to push for a transparent,
democratic process. This coalition should include politicians from
areas supplied by Thames Water, Trade Unions and workers, citizens’
groups, and environmental organisations.