• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

There is potential scope, if there were regional movements of rain from let us say the North East down to London via the canal network, and it is something which, in due course, the London Waterways Commission may look into. I just wonder whether you feel that has got a role to play in dealing with the water demands down here in London.

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

While we are on Thames Water's profits, the other issue here is the sewerage system. Can you confirm that the interceptor tunnel has now had the go ahead, as press reports say? Are you aware of that?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

If you do not get water metering, if patterns do continue, and if Thames Water do not dramatically improve their leakage problem, then you are going to have to look at the growth scenario again.

• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

Joanne (McCartney) has raised the point because the House of Lords report also pointed out that at the current replacement rate, it will take 128 years to replace the pipe network. Are you aware that when Thames Water have come and given evidence to our scrutinies, they are saying that they could actually increase the replacement rate if Ofwat allowed them to charge more to the customers for the replacement costs? It is actually down to Ofwat. Certainly from our side, are you aware that we would not argue that the customers should be paying more when Thames Water's profits...

• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

Given that half of London's water is lost through leakage, do you think the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) has enough teeth, or are using the teeth that they do have effectively enough?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

The report was very critical that the housing growth plans for London and the South East did not properly take into account the impact on water usage. Do you share that view?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

Are you confident then that your plans for the growth in the Thames Gateway are robust enough in terms of taking into account the impact on water in the city?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

You mentioned over the weekend that, astonishingly, Wembley Stadium does not have reuse or recycling built in. Will you give an undertaking that the Olympic venues will have that?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

As long as we switch to metering and conserve water then we do not need to worry about the population growth and the impact on water?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 21 June 2006

One of the suggestions within the House of Lords' report is about the reuse and recycling of water. What are you proposing to do in terms of major housing developments?