Water bosses face bonus ban for failing on green measures

OFWAT will be granted fresh powers to ban bonus payments to water firm executives, who could also be held criminally liable liable for for lawbreaking, according to a new Bill outlined in the King's Speech yesterday.

- Jessica Frank-Keyes

The Water (Special Measures) Bill will grant the water regulator the ability to bar bosses from pocketing additional payments if environmental standards are not met.

It will also ensure executives "face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking".

It comes after significant public outcry over sewage spills in rivers, lakes and seas amid rising bills and the potential collapse of debt-laden Thames Water, which has effectively been placed into special measures.