Embattled regulator for England and Wales faces accusation over conflict of interest
Water regulator Ofwat employed several consultancies at the same time they were advising water and sewerage companies, raising conflict of interest concerns. Five advisory groups, including PwC and Deloitte, were contracted by the regulator for England and Wales over the past six years while also providing regulatory or management advice to water companies, according to research from government contracting experts Tussell.
He added: “How can Ofwat hold these polluting firms to account properly when it is hiring the very same people who are working for the water companies?” Ofwat said there were “rigorous conflict procedures in place which require consideration of any mandates which might be viewed as giving rise to any actual or potential conflict of interest before work begins”. It stressed these ensure “that there can be no prejudice or impediment to our regulatory decision-making”.
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