{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/61926927b481c700126c2eb2/645dd7acd3567100117ae2b0?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"\"Hosepipes No; Dividends Yes!\"","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61926927b481c700126c2eb2/1644921937661-83296c998938c08efb7ab6e9aa94a8a1.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>England's water utilities have been under fire for leaks and discharging sewage into the rivers,&nbsp;something we are told they&nbsp;don't have the cash for. So why are they paying out huge dividends, which almost tripled last year to £1.4bn? Neil and Jonathan are joined by David Hall, visiting professor at Greenwich university, to peer into the murky world of utility financial&nbsp;flows.</p><p><br></p><p>Trigger warning: John Stuart Mill, private monopolies and nationalisation are all discussed.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.</p><p>With David Hall.</p><p>Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.</p><p>In association with Briefcase.News</p>","author_name":"Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins"}