The government has announced that an independent consumer council will be established to protect water customers, replacing the existing Director General of Water Services with a new regulatory board.

Competition in the supply of water to large non-household consumers will be increased.

Forum Response: Consumers Association

A spokesman for the Consumers Association told ePolitix.com: "The Consumers' Association welcomes the government's commitment to establishing an independent consumer council for water, working in a similar way to Energywatch in the utilities sector.

"It is essential that the government does not place restrictions on this body's ability to do its job, and, even more importantly, there should be no gagging clauses on the ability of the consumer council to access and publish information in the consumer interest."