However Lib Dem Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames said the bill's provisions could only be said to send the wrong message because some Labour politicians had wrongly accused the government of pursuing a "hidden agenda".

BBC: Ministers offer more concessions on NHS bill

Bill Alexander, head of Britain's Thames Water, now wants his firm to earn a third of its profits from outside regulated Britain.

ECONOMIST: Water

To save the fast-disappearing forests, Parliament in 1581 passed a bill to forbid tree-cutting within 22 miles of the Thames, 3 miles of the coastline and 4 miles of the Sussex forests.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The water company Thames Water has doubled the salary of its chief executive, Bill Alexander.

BBC: Water chief sees salary doubled

While homeless charities St Mungo's and Thames Reach backed the plans, other charities and councillors were against the bill.

BBC: Plans to ban soup runs near Westminster Cathedral