Economic regulation of the water industry
The water industry is privatised, with regional monopoly companies, in England and Wales. Regulation includes a price review that sets bills for customers.
Ownership of the water sector
The water industry in England and Wales is in private ownership. However, following examples of poor environmental performance and high levels of accrued debt, many campaigners have called for the industry to be brought back into public ownership. This briefing presents different perspectives and debate on ownership of the water sector.
Water reform: “A new vision for water”
The government has announced a series of water reforms. Find out more about these plans and the next steps.
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Research Briefing
What is ‘water bankruptcy’?
The United Nations published a landmark report warning of ‘water bankruptcy’ in January 2026. Find out what this means for the UK and the world.
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Research Briefing
Droughts in England
Droughts are increasingly common in England. Droughts can lead to restrictions on water use, reduced crop yields and environmental damage.
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Research Briefing
Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals
This paper provides statistics on household food insecurity, food bank usage and free school meals in the UK, and tracks the impact of rising living costs.
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Research Briefing
Green Belt
This briefing discusses Green Belt planning policy including recent reforms and the introduction of grey belt. It applies only to England.
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Research Briefing
What might a ‘Godzilla’ El Niño mean for the UK?
El Niño conditions form when warmer waters spread across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in global changes to weather and climate. Several forecasts from national weather agencies indicate that the next El Niño could be one of the strongest on record.
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Research Briefing
What is a ‘whole of society’ approach to defence and security?
What is the government doing to prepare the UK for crisis or conflict?
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Research Briefing
Home defence: A new ‘Home Guard’?
The 2025 Strategic Defence Review recommended the government explore options to create a new Reserve-style force to protect critical national infrastructure.
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Research Briefing
Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and UK national security
The government published its national security assessment on Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security in January 2026. A debate on the assessment, introduced by Adrian Ramsay, is due to take place in Westminster Hall on 3 September 2026.
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Research Briefing
Agriculture: Historical Statistics
This briefing sets out important indicators of UK agriculture that have been published annually over a long period of time. Together they give an indication of some of the ways that agriculture has changed in response to events over the last 100 years.
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Research Briefing
Debate: Government support for rural upper-tier local authorities
A briefing on the debate on government support for rural upper-tier local authorities scheduled for 2 September 2026 in Westminster Hall.
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Research Briefing
Is the UK prepared for heatwaves?
Amid multiple heatwaves this summer, is the UK is prepared for extreme heat? This briefing provides an overview of the risk posed by heatwaves, government policy, progress and stakeholder comment.
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Research Briefing
UK aid and climate change
Sets out the potential effects of climate change on global development goals, UK Government aid strategies on climate change, and how UK aid is spent.
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