PMQs: Sunak refuses to say if Thames Water will exist by the end of the year 

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney has slammed the Prime Minister after he refused to say if he believed Thames Water would still exist at the end of this year.

Responding to a question from Sarah Olney at PMQs today, Rishi Sunak refused to comment, saying ‘it would not be appropriate for me to do so’.  

The Prime Minister’s response will raise further questions about the financial situation of Britain’s largest water company.  It is known that the Government is developing a rescue plan, codenamed ‘Operation Timber’ in the event of the company’s collapse. However, despite repeated calls, ministers have continually refused to publish the proposals claiming it ‘would not be appropriate’. 

Sarah Olney has a debate in Parliament on Friday on ‘Contingency Plans for Thames Water’, which will put more pressure on the Government to publish the plans. 

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said: 

“The Prime Minister’s refusal to say if Thames Water will exist by the end of the year will reassure nobody they are not about to fall into special administration. The public therefore has a right to know what ministers plan to do should this happen. 

“This Conservative Government’s continual refusal to make their contingency plan in the event of Thames Water’s collapse public is now clearly amounting to a cover up.

“For too long, water companies have been allowed to get away with pumping raw sewage into our waterways whilst Conservative Ministers have refused to take action. It is time they cracked down on these polluting giants and put an end to this disgusting practice.”  

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Details on Sarah Olney’s Parliamentary Adjournment Debate, which is expected at 14:30 on Friday 15th March can be seen here, reported in The Guardian here.  

Refusal of the Government to publish Operation Timber on 14th February can be seen here. 

Report in the Financial Times on Operation Timber can be seen here. 

A clip of Olney’s question to the Prime Minister can be seen here, with text here: 

“Thank you very much Mr Speaker,

Under this Government’s watch, Thames Water have dumped over 72 billion litres of sewage into our capital's rivers. 

All whilst racking up multi-billion pound debts. 

Reports are now they could go bust any day.

Despite this, the Government is still refusing to publish plans for the collapse of our country's biggest water firm. 

So, yes or no, does the Prime Minister believe that Thames Water will still exist by the end of the year?