The European Commission is taking the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for its failure to propose sites for the protection of the harbour porpoise, a marine mammal regularly found in UK waters.

The UK Regulators Network has published a new report on price comparison websites which it says can reduce barriers to entry and growth for providers, stimulate stronger competition and innovation between firms, and encourage new entrants, resulting in further benefits for consumers.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching a new study examining the digital comparison tools (DCTs) which enable consumers to compare products and services on quality as well as price, and help them switch between suppliers.

Ofwat has flagged up the opportunity for commercial businesses to become their own water and sewerage services supplier when the retail market opens to competition from  April next year.

Ofwat has said that the introduction of household competition in the water sector could deliver up to £3 billion in benefits to customers –and the regulator is calling for the government to take an early decision on the issue.

Ofwat has published its draft determinations for the PR16 price review, as part of the preparation for the opening of the business, public and charity sector retail water market in April 2017.

Ofwat has published a paper setting out its key decisions on how credit and collateral arrangements will operate between wholesalers and retailers in the new business retail market.