Prospect responds to publication of the Cunliffe Review

Responding to the publication of the Cunliffe Review of the water sector regulatory system, Prospect Deputy General Secretary Steve Thomas said:

“This is an important and timely review, following years of underinvestment in the water sector and its regulators.

“It is essential that the specialist workforce of the new single regulator is given the requisite power and investment to do its job effectively, whilst ensuring that environmental regulation remains robust and is not diluted.

“Recommendations around strengthening the regulator's ability to recruit and retain the right staff through greater pay flexibility would be a welcome first step in achieving this.

“The Government must also ensure that any decisions regarding the abolition and merging of arms-length bodies in this space is done through meaningful engagement with trade unions and the specialist workers in the sector and does not come at the expense of the vital work carried out by existing environmental regulators.”