Scotland could provide water for South East England Mr Neil said: "I am pleased that the UK Government has responded positively to our offer. Even as some hosepipe bans are lifted, the South of England continues to face real issues with water supply, which look set to continue well into the future. Scotland has a plentiful supply of water and superb industry expertise, so it was only right that we offered our assistance. He continued: "Of course, we readily acknowledge there are massive logistical issues and there will need to be major developments to ensure the transfer of water is commercially viable. But this is a Government that thinks long-term and our hydro nation agenda is ambitious and offers huge opportunities in this area. Mr Neil was speaking at a conference in Edinburgh, where he restated the importance of keeping Scottish Water as a publicly-owned corporation. He said the utility had transformed its performance over the last decade, "developing into an organisation that has garnered plaudits from across the world." That is why the Scottish Government is committed to keeping Scottish Water as a publicly-owned corporation serving the needs of the Scottish people.