A debate has been scheduled in Westminster Hall on 9 February 2026 beginning at 9.30 am tomorrow on the final report of the Independent Water Commission. The subject for the debate was chosen by the Backbench Business Committee.
The joint Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation was launched by the UK and Welsh Governments in October 2024. It was chaired by the former Governor of the Bank of England, Jon Cunliffe, and was “expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation”.
In June 2025, an interim report was published, and in July 2025, the final report of the Independent Commission was published. The report made 88 recommendations and concluded that a ‘fundamental reset” of the water sector was needed.
Key recommendations included:
- abolishing Ofwat
- creating a new single water industry regulator for England
- devolving water industry regulation to Wales, and integrating this into the Welsh environmental regulator in Wales.
In tandem with the publication of the Independent Commission’s report, the then Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, made a statement in the House of Commons addressing the report and confirming the government’s plans to create a new single regulator for the water sector in England, as well as wider regulatory reforms.
In January 2026, the government published its water white paper, A new vision for water, which set out its response to the Independent Commission’s final report and the government’s plan to “overhaul the water system”.
Click here to watch the debate on ParliamentLive TV or to catch up later.
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