Latest news with #IndependentWaterCommission
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Independent water commission chair denies probe into reforms is ‘tinkering'
Sir Jon Cunliffe addressed recent criticism that he has been 'tinkering' with the industry's deep-rooted issues as he was quizzed by MPs on Tuesday. The Independent Water Commission was tasked by the UK and Welsh governments to carry out the largest review of the sector since privatisation in the face of widespread public anger over pollution, bills and bosses' bonuses although ministers ruled out nationalising water companies. The final report is expected in mid-July but earlier this month, the commission published an interim report which said the industry needs a 'fundamental reset'. But this initial paper was criticised for not going far enough to deliver recommendations that would engender a complete industry overhaul. The Government outlined the scope of the probe to focus on what changes could be made within the current privatised regulated ownership model rather than considering a wholesale shift to other models such as not-for-profit or nationalisation. Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said the interim report was tinkering around the edges and he called for the commission's final recommendations to 'end pollution for profit' as well as 'reshape the water industry to put public health and environment first'. Asked by MPs if the review is 'tinkering' given the broken culture found across the sector, Sir Jon said: 'No I don't accept it at all. I just don't, I'm sorry. 'First of all, you wouldn't expect me to think, to accept, that this was a report that was tinkering. 'But just moving past that… I do not think the problems you see in the culture of the water companies that you've identified, and the problems we've seen in performance, are the inevitable consequence of the ownership model that we have.' Sir Jon continued to say the commission will look at other ownership models, such as not-for-profit, and make recommendations where companies are feasibly able to make a transition without public spending. Challenged on how he can assure MPs he will look at other models of ownership given the current failures, he said the commission could do so only in certain circumstances. 'But what we won't do is say: 'We need to move the whole sector to a different model' for two reasons,' he said. We've published our report on priorities for the water sector, calling on Sir Jon Cunliffe and the Water Commission not to shy away from 'root and branch' reforms. Read the report: — EFRA Committee (@CommonsEFRA) June 16, 2025 Sir Jon outlined that he is not sure how the sector can do this without large public spending to buy the assets but also that he has not found a 'strong correlation' between models and outcomes. 'It's not tinkering, it's trying to be evidence-based,' he said. His comments come after the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released its own report into the sector on Tuesday morning, which concluded the industry is 'failing' while water firms are 'deaf to the crisis' it is facing. The MPs also argued the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. Sir Jon was also questioned about criticism that the review is not truly independent from the Government due to Environment Department staff helping to carry out the work. In response, he said: 'I'd like to put this on the record, if I can chair. 'I've been given a secretariat of high-quality Defra officials. 'I have not felt in any way that I am being channelled down any particular route outside of my terms of reference and I'd also say that they are incredibly hard-working, and they are in seeker after truth mode.' He added that while the commission has had to draw on some departmental expertise, the recommendations 'will be my own'.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Independent water commission chair denies probe into reforms is ‘tinkering'
Sir Jon Cunliffe addressed recent criticism that he has been 'tinkering' with the industry's deep-rooted issues as he was quizzed by MPs on Tuesday. The Independent Water Commission was tasked by the UK and Welsh governments to carry out the largest review of the sector since privatisation in the face of widespread public anger over pollution, bills and bosses' bonuses although ministers ruled out nationalising water companies. The final report is expected in mid-July but earlier this month, the commission published an interim report which said the industry needs a 'fundamental reset'. But this initial paper was criticised for not going far enough to deliver recommendations that would engender a complete industry overhaul. The Government outlined the scope of the probe to focus on what changes could be made within the current privatised regulated ownership model rather than considering a wholesale shift to other models such as not-for-profit or nationalisation. Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said the interim report was tinkering around the edges and he called for the commission's final recommendations to 'end pollution for profit' as well as 'reshape the water industry to put public health and environment first'. Asked by MPs if the review is 'tinkering' given the broken culture found across the sector, Sir Jon said: 'No I don't accept it at all. I just don't, I'm sorry. 'First of all, you wouldn't expect me to think, to accept, that this was a report that was tinkering. 'But just moving past that… I do not think the problems you see in the culture of the water companies that you've identified, and the problems we've seen in performance, are the inevitable consequence of the ownership model that we have.' Sir Jon continued to say the commission will look at other ownership models, such as not-for-profit, and make recommendations where companies are feasibly able to make a transition without public spending. Challenged on how he can assure MPs he will look at other models of ownership given the current failures, he said the commission could do so only in certain circumstances. 'But what we won't do is say: 'We need to move the whole sector to a different model' for two reasons,' he said. We've published our report on priorities for the water sector, calling on Sir Jon Cunliffe and the Water Commission not to shy away from 'root and branch' reforms. Read the report: — EFRA Committee (@CommonsEFRA) June 16, 2025 Sir Jon outlined that he is not sure how the sector can do this without large public spending to buy the assets but also that he has not found a 'strong correlation' between models and outcomes. 'It's not tinkering, it's trying to be evidence-based,' he said. His comments come after the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released its own report into the sector on Tuesday morning, which concluded the industry is 'failing' while water firms are 'deaf to the crisis' it is facing. The MPs also argued the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. Sir Jon was also questioned about criticism that the review is not truly independent from the Government due to Environment Department staff helping to carry out the work. In response, he said: 'I'd like to put this on the record, if I can chair. 'I've been given a secretariat of high-quality Defra officials. 'I have not felt in any way that I am being channelled down any particular route outside of my terms of reference and I'd also say that they are incredibly hard-working, and they are in seeker after truth mode.' He added that while the commission has had to draw on some departmental expertise, the recommendations 'will be my own'.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Independent water commission chair denies probe into reforms is ‘tinkering'
Sir Jon Cunliffe addressed recent criticism that he has been 'tinkering' with the industry's deep-rooted issues as he was quizzed by MPs on Tuesday. The Independent Water Commission was tasked by the UK and Welsh governments to carry out the largest review of the sector since privatisation in the face of widespread public anger over pollution, bills and bosses' bonuses although ministers ruled out nationalising water companies. The final report is expected in mid-July but earlier this month, the commission published an interim report which said the industry needs a 'fundamental reset'. But this initial paper was criticised for not going far enough to deliver recommendations that would engender a complete industry overhaul. The Government outlined the scope of the probe to focus on what changes could be made within the current privatised regulated ownership model rather than considering a wholesale shift to other models such as not-for-profit or nationalisation. Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said the interim report was tinkering around the edges and he called for the commission's final recommendations to 'end pollution for profit' as well as 'reshape the water industry to put public health and environment first'. Asked by MPs if the review is 'tinkering' given the broken culture found across the sector, Sir Jon said: 'No I don't accept it at all. I just don't, I'm sorry. 'First of all, you wouldn't expect me to think, to accept, that this was a report that was tinkering. 'But just moving past that… I do not think the problems you see in the culture of the water companies that you've identified, and the problems we've seen in performance, are the inevitable consequence of the ownership model that we have.' Sir Jon continued to say the commission will look at other ownership models, such as not-for-profit, and make recommendations where companies are feasibly able to make a transition without public spending. Challenged on how he can assure MPs he will look at other models of ownership given the current failures, he said the commission could do so only in certain circumstances. 'But what we won't do is say: 'We need to move the whole sector to a different model' for two reasons,' he said. We've published our report on priorities for the water sector, calling on Sir Jon Cunliffe and the Water Commission not to shy away from 'root and branch' reforms. Read the report: — EFRA Committee (@CommonsEFRA) June 16, 2025 Sir Jon outlined that he is not sure how the sector can do this without large public spending to buy the assets but also that he has not found a 'strong correlation' between models and outcomes. 'It's not tinkering, it's trying to be evidence-based,' he said. His comments come after the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released its own report into the sector on Tuesday morning, which concluded the industry is 'failing' while water firms are 'deaf to the crisis' it is facing. The MPs also argued the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. Sir Jon was also questioned about criticism that the review is not truly independent from the Government due to Environment Department staff helping to carry out the work. In response, he said: 'I'd like to put this on the record, if I can chair. 'I've been given a secretariat of high-quality Defra officials. 'I have not felt in any way that I am being channelled down any particular route outside of my terms of reference and I'd also say that they are incredibly hard-working, and they are in seeker after truth mode.' He added that while the commission has had to draw on some departmental expertise, the recommendations 'will be my own'.
Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Times
Water review will not recommend changes to ownership structure
The head of the Independent Water Commission will not recommend that the government change the ownership structure of water companies in his review of the sector. Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, has served as the chairman of the commission since it was established in October 2024, after Labour came to power, to make recommendations on reforms to the water sector. Speaking to MPs on the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee, Cunliffe suggested that questions about the ownership structure of water companies were outside the commission's terms of reference. Challenged on how he could assure MPs he would look at other models of ownership given the sector's failings, he said the commission could do so only in certain circumstances. 'What we won't do is say 'We need to move the whole sector to a different model', for two reasons. If the question is, will we recommend a wholesale move to another [ownership] model?' He added: 'I don't think looking at the models, the evidence we have, it's not a big data set, but I don't think the conclusive evidence is there to make a big change like that.' Cunliffe's commission published an interim report this month, and a final version is expected in July. In the interim version, it said that there were 'deep-rooted, systemic' problems in the water industry in England and Wales. However, the report added that there was 'no simple, single change, no matter how radical, that will deliver the fundamental reset that is needed for the water sector'. • Feargal Sharkey: Cunliffe report won't make one atom of the UK's water any cleaner The former civil servant has suggested his final report could include recommending better water planning across river basins and new laws on the health of wild swimmers. Cunliffe also told MPs that his commission had not looked at the security aspects of foreign ownership, and that, due to time limits, his report was less exhaustive than it could have been. 'Without sounding like a Treasury official, there's a trade-off here between how fast we do this and how detailed we are, and how much we leave with a direction for other people to do after us,' Cunliffe said. 'We're probably about eight months in total for a report this size. You could argue that you could take two or three years dealing in detail with everything that is here.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Independent water commission chair denies probe into reforms is ‘tinkering'
The chair of the Independent Water Commission has defended his ongoing probe into the water sector reforms. Sir Jon Cunliffe addressed recent criticism that he has been 'tinkering' with the industry's deep-rooted issues as he was quizzed by MPs on Tuesday. The Independent Water Commission was tasked by the UK and Welsh governments to carry out the largest review of the sector since privatisation in the face of widespread public anger over pollution, bills and bosses' bonuses although ministers ruled out nationalising water companies. The final report is expected in mid-July but earlier this month, the commission published an interim report which said the industry needs a 'fundamental reset'. But this initial paper was criticised for not going far enough to deliver recommendations that would engender a complete industry overhaul. The Government outlined the scope of the probe to focus on what changes could be made within the current privatised regulated ownership model rather than considering a wholesale shift to other models such as not-for-profit or nationalisation. Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said the interim report was tinkering around the edges and he called for the commission's final recommendations to 'end pollution for profit' as well as 'reshape the water industry to put public health and environment first'. Asked by MPs if the review is 'tinkering' given the broken culture found across the sector, Sir Jon said: 'No I don't accept it at all. I just don't, I'm sorry. 'First of all, you wouldn't expect me to think, to accept, that this was a report that was tinkering. 'But just moving past that… I do not think the problems you see in the culture of the water companies that you've identified, and the problems we've seen in performance, are the inevitable consequence of the ownership model that we have.' Sir Jon continued to say the commission will look at other ownership models, such as not-for-profit, and make recommendations where companies are feasibly able to make a transition without public spending. Challenged on how he can assure MPs he will look at other models of ownership given the current failures, he said the commission could do so only in certain circumstances. 'But what we won't do is say: 'We need to move the whole sector to a different model' for two reasons,' he said. Sir Jon outlined that he is not sure how the sector can do this without large public spending to buy the assets but also that he has not found a 'strong correlation' between models and outcomes. 'It's not tinkering, it's trying to be evidence-based,' he said. His comments come after the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released its own report into the sector on Tuesday morning, which concluded the industry is 'failing' while water firms are 'deaf to the crisis' it is facing. The MPs also argued the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. Sir Jon was also questioned about criticism that the review is not truly independent from the Government due to Environment Department staff helping to carry out the work. In response, he said: 'I'd like to put this on the record, if I can chair. 'I've been given a secretariat of high-quality Defra officials. 'I have not felt in any way that I am being channelled down any particular route outside of my terms of reference and I'd also say that they are incredibly hard-working, and they are in seeker after truth mode.' He added that while the commission has had to draw on some departmental expertise, the recommendations 'will be my own'.
