Lift limits on government shares in water companies
“The Prime Minister announced on 29 September that the strengthened Water Bill will remove the current limits on Government ownership of shares in the major water and sewerage companies in England.”
- Promised
Where it stands
The Prime Minister announced the change on 29 September 2026; the Environment Secretary repeated it to Parliament on 12 October. She says it lets the government act where water companies let customers and the environment down, and that the government still relies on private investment. A ten-year plan due later this year is to set out stronger public control of the water sector. The card moves to legislated when the Water Bill becomes law with the change.
What has happened
- Oct 2026The Environment Secretary says the Water Bill will remove the limits on government ownership of shares in the major water and sewerage companies in England, Promised
About the cost
Lifting the limits costs nothing by itself; buying shares would, and no figure has been published.
More detail
How cards are checked
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