Steve Reed has conceded that the bulk of the £104bn of water industry investment which he boasts Labour has attracted since coming to office will come from bill payers.

In an interview with Sky News, the environment secretary sought to blame the previous Tory government for a string of high profile investors walking away from the sector over the last year.

Mr Reed does not accept claims that further threats to jail water bosses and promises to curb price rises have deterred investment.

Instead, he told Sky News that “by bringing in the £104bn of private sector investment that we secured at the end of last year, we can make sure that the investment is going in to support” the industry.

When challenged that the £104bn was total expenditure not total investment, and that bill payers would pay back this expenditure over the coming decades, Mr Reed conceded this was right – and the money ultimately is coming from bill payers.

“The money comes in from investors up front so we can do that spending straight away,” he said.

“Over decades, the investors got a modest return from the bills that customers are paying. That’s how investment works.”

Some investors have warned they do not think it viable to fund the UK water sector because of the hostile political tone of ministers and lack of certainty.

Ministers have said the government does not want to renationalise water as it would mean years of legal wrangling and cost a lot of money.

Labour has launched a record 81 criminal investigations into water companies over sewage dumping since winning the election last year.

Water company bosses could be jailed for up to five years and the companies fined hundreds of millions of pounds if they are found guilty.

Mr Reed committed to not interfering with those prosecutions, saying it would be “highly inappropriate” for any minister to do so.

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He rejected suggestions ministers will be pressured to ensure water bosses do not serve jail time as this will deter investors.

“It’s a judicial process, it would be highly inappropriate for any ministerial interference in the process,” Mr Reed said.

“They will work their way through the court system, as they should do, and ministers will decide on sanctions after.”