Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Is our water system broken? The interim report [published after recording] from the Independent Water Commission says so. “Irresponsible owners, poor leadership, low investment and ineffective prioritisation,” reports the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The scale of the challenge facing regulators is huge, says the National Audit Office. And consumer trust in the water industry is at an all-time low.
What will it take to put it right?
Join Committee Corridor host, Toby Perkins MP as he sits down with the environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey to work out what’s gone wrong. Informed and incensed, Feargal is clear about the options ahead for water companies and regulators.
After questioning 10 of England and Wales’ water and sewerage companies, the EFRA Committee Chair, Alistair Carmichael MP, explained how the sector has forgotten its core functions to provide water and sewerage services to the public and to protect the environment.
The Public Accounts Committee published their water sector regulation report in July 2025. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP relates what shocked his committee most about the recent NAO report on the sector and how low levels of consumer trust are not surprising while bills rise and the performance of companies falls.
Find out more about the inquiries and reports mentioned in this episode:
—
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a like and subscribe to the UK Parliament YouTube channel so you don’t miss out.
Find House of Commons Committees on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukcommonscommittees/
We’re on LinkedIn too: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/house-of-commons-committees/
—
Other ways to listen:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1cxDxSwu48OuTZQYiAM9Fa
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/committee-corridor/id1622401621
Plus most major podcast providers.
—
Links:
Find out more about the Committee Corridor podcast: https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/committee-corridor-podcast/
More work from the Environmental Audit Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s work on Priorities for water sector reform: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/207615/failing-water-sector-needs-root-and-branch-reform-to-address-culture-that-is-deaf-to-crisis/
Read the Public Accounts Committee’s report into Water sector regulation:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmpubacc/824/report.html
The National Audit Office’s report: Regulating for investment and outcomes in the water sector – https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/regulating-for-investment-and-outcomes-in-the-water-sector/
Read the Independent Water Commission’s report published July 21 2025: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/687dfcc4312ee8a5f0806be6/Independent_Water_Commission_-_Final_Report_-_21_July.pdf
—
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Welcome
00:01:57 – Feargal Sharkey
00:18:31 – Alistair Carmichael MP
00:28:48 – Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP