{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/779952.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":779952,"attributes":{"action":"Replace fines for water companies with transfers of shares to public ownership","background":"Fines of water companies by Ofwat have proven to be ineffective; they are ultimately paid for by higher bills for consumers. Neither the behaviour of these companies or their performance has improved. Instead companies should be compelled to transfer the same value of shares into public ownership.","additional_details":"By swapping fines for share transfers, water companies would not be able to 'pay' for their transgressions at the expense of their users. Increased public ownership would provide far more leverage to influence the behaviour of these companies (decisions on dividend payments, bonuses for company executives and infrastructure spending programs, etc). Companies (e.g. Thames Water) that are demonstrably unable to deliver the public service they exist to meet could ultimately become renationalised.","committee_note":null,"state":"open","signature_count":29,"closing_date":"2027-03-14","created_at":"2026-08-18T14:25:00.233Z","updated_at":"2026-09-15T19:31:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-14T15:07:58.648Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-20T18:40:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Daniel Collins","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DEFRA","name":"Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":29}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Broxtowe","ons_code":"E14001140","mp":"Juliet Campbell MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Chingford and Woodford Green","ons_code":"E14001167","mp":"Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chorley","ons_code":"E14001170","mp":"Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Derby South","ons_code":"E14001194","mp":"Baggy Shanker MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Worthing and Shoreham","ons_code":"E14001218","mp":"Tom Rutland MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Ellesmere Port and Bromborough","ons_code":"E14001222","mp":"Justin Madders MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Erewash","ons_code":"E14001228","mp":"Adam Thompson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Esher and Walton","ons_code":"E14001230","mp":"Monica Harding MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gillingham and Rainham","ons_code":"E14001246","mp":"Naushabah Khan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Loughborough","ons_code":"E14001342","mp":"Dr Jeevun Sandher MP","signature_count":9},{"name":"Ribble Valley","ons_code":"E14001443","mp":"Maya Ellis MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Scunthorpe","ons_code":"E14001462","mp":"Sir Nicholas Dakin MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stroud","ons_code":"E14001529","mp":"Dr Simon Opher MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Watford","ons_code":"E14001568","mp":"Matt Turmaine MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dundee Central","ons_code":"S14000075","mp":"Chris Law MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Cardiff East","ons_code":"W07000089","mp":"Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":5},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":13},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":1},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":3},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":3},{"name":"Wales","ons_code":"L","signature_count":1},{"name":"Scotland","ons_code":"M","signature_count":1}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}