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Consultation on the Cave Review of competition and innovation in water markets

This consultation paper provides an opportunity to comment on proposed new legislation to extend and enhance competition and innovation in the water and sewerage industries in England and to comment on the appropriateness of the recommendations in relation to Wales. The proposals are based on recommendations made by the Cave Review around reforming legislation on:

  • the water supply licensing regime (i.e. the competition regime for large non-household customers);
  • the new appointments  (or “insets”) regime; and
  • the special merger regime for water companies.

The consultation document also considers the Cave Review’s recommendations on reforming the water abstraction and discharge consent regimes and ways to increase innovative capacity in the water sector in England and Wales.  The Cave Review’s reports and further information can be found at:

The Cave Review’s recommendations were informed by the Council of Science and Technology’s (CST)report "Improving innovation in the water sector: 21st century challenges and opportunities".  The UK and Assembly Governments are also today publishing their response to the CST’s recommendations as part of this consultation package.

The consultation will close on 18 December 2009.

The documents below are in PDF format.

Page published: 17 September 2009