Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

7 July 2026

Contents updated on 7 Jul 2026

The session opens with introductions before focusing on Defra’s oversight of the water industry, examining special administration regime tests, South East Water’s failures, proposed resilience reforms, and limits of current ownership and bonus‑control powers, including the high SAR threshold, Thames Water’s financial position, and customer exposure and data transparency issues.

Committee Tue, 7 Jul 2026 House of Commons

00:06 - 00:36

Speaker 7

Order, order. Good afternoon and welcome to this meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. We return to our ongoing inquiry today in relation to the work of the department and its arm's-length bodies. We're delighted to have with us this afternoon the Secretary of State and a coterie of minders and advisers. Emma, just for the benefit of the official record and for those who are following our proceedings, can I invite you just to introduce yourself and your colleagues to the committee, please?

00:36 - 00:43

Speaker 2

So, I'm Emma Reynolds, I'm the Secretary of State. If I could let my colleagues introduce themselves, it would probably be nicer.

00:43 - 00:46

Speaker 17

Thank you. David Hill, Director General for Strategy and Water.

00:46 - 00:49

Speaker 1

Emily Miles, Director General for Food, Farming and Biosecurity.

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