Ofwat yesterday published its first major consultation on how it will set price limits for customers' water and sewerage bills for the five years from 2010 to 2015. The consultation paper describes the approach that the regulator will take to make sure that the prices companies charge their customers are designed to deliver the best results for those customers.

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy told the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday that water Rates will be introduced into Northern Ireland but the ratepayers will not be expected to pay twice for the service.

Ofwat has written to the Government to set out its views on implementation options for the transfer of private sewers and lateral drains into the ownership of water and sewerage companies.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has today published the results of its inquiry into the adequacy of the current structure and operation of government in dealing with the challenge posed by climate change. The Committee is calling for the creation of a new post of climate change minister.

Ofwat gave a formal City Briefing yesterday with presentations from Philip Fletcher, Chairman  of Ofwat and Regina Finn, Chief Executive.

Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have published proposals today for delivering improved bathing water quality under the revised Bathing Water Directive. Views on these proposals are sought as part of a consultation which runs until 4 February 2008.

The House of Lords Committee on Regulators today criticised Ofwat for failing to match the success of other economic regulators in introducing competition to their market. The Committee's report UK Economic Regulators concludes that UK economic regulators perform well in promoting competition and competitiveness and argues that there is no need to re-write the legislation that established them, but stresses that Ofwat (the economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales) needs to do more to facilitate competition in the water market.