The Sainsbury Review of Science and Innovation has concluded the water companies have been forced to reduce investment in new technologies as a result of delivering price cuts.

The latest security of supply Report published yesterday by Ofwat shows that the industry has improved its overall capacity to meet planned levels of service and peak period conditions.

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.