There is to be no senate hearing into the effect of 20 years of privatisation in the Netherlands, Trouw reports on Wednesday.

Senators on Tuesday voted against the plan by 38 votes to 37. The two governing parties and fundamentalist Christian SGP were opposed.
Senators did agree to look into whether setting up a formal hearing would be a useful exercise. The new look senate, to be inaugurated on May 23, will decide then whether to go ahead.