MP for Richmond Park Sarah Olney has lashed out at the Prime Minister after he refused to say if he believed Thames Water would still exist at the end of this year.

Olney, who has been campaigning for the Government to publish their rescue plan in the event of Thames Water's financial collapse, asked the question of Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions. 

In response, Sunak refused to comment, saying "it would not be right" for him to do so.

Olney's question follows reports in the Financial Times that the company was lobbying the Ministers and the industry regulator, Ofwat, for permission to raise bills, give dividend payouts and receive lower fines in an effort to avoid a Government bailout. 

Commenting on her questioning of the PM, Olney said: "The Prime Minister's refusal to say if Thames Water will exist by the end of the year will reassure nobody they are not about to fall into special administration." 

"This Conservative Government's continual refusal to make their contingency plan in the event of Thames Water's collapse public is now clearly amounting to a cover up."

This week, Thames Water was also the only water company which this week refused to contribute to the £180 million anti-pollution fund that the Government wants to use to tackle sewage spills - worsening fears about their financial status.

Raw sewage has been spotted in the Thames around Kingston as recently as 6 March.

A sewage dump found in the River Thames 6 March was described as an 'environmental hazard' by Olney (Photo Credit: Sarah Olney MP)

It is known that the Government is developing a rescue plan, codenamed 'Operation Timber' in the event of the company's collapse. 

However, despite repeated calls from the Richmond Park MP, Ministers have continually refused to publish the proposals claiming it again 'would not be appropriate'. 

The Richmond Park MP has a debate in Parliament on Friday on 'Contingency Plans for Thames Water', where she will again reiterate her calls for Operation Timber to be published.

Olney's debate will mean that an Environment Minister will have to respond to the demands in the House of Commons, heaping pressure on the Government to publish the plans. 

"For too long, water companies have been allowed to get away with pumping raw sewage into our waterways whilst Conservative Ministers have refused to take action," said the MP.

"It is time they cracked down on these polluting giants and put an end to this disgusting practice."