Ofwat has launched a new consultation on its proposed approach to setting the cost of debt which the water companies will need to use in developing their  5 year Business Plans for the upcoming Price Review in 2019, together with alternative approaches for setting the cost of equity for PR19.

The National Audit Office has launched a new inquiry to examine whether systems and incentives in the regulated industries sufficiently and cost-effectively protect vulnerable consumers.

Defra has published the form water companies must complete to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to withdraw from the non-household retail market for water – and demonstrate that this will ensure “a seamless process for customers.”

A report prepared by PwC for water watchdog CCWater has said that consumer protection is not the primary concern of the Government's Open Water programme led by Defra, Ofwat and MOSL, the market operator currently putting the final arrangements for the non-household retail sector in place.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has demanded that cosmetic companies should be banned from using plastic microbeads in bathroom products - like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste and shaving gel - because of the marine pollution they are causing.