Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – in the House of Commons at on 4 June 2026.
Peter Swallow
Labour, Bracknell
What steps she is taking to help clean waterways in the Thames Valley.
Emma Hardy
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We are taking decisive action to clean up waterways in the Thames valley, tackling pollution from water companies, agriculture and urban run-off. The Environment Agency carried out more than 800 inspections of Thames Water assets this year, holding water companies to account and improving water quality for local communities.
Peter Swallow
Labour, Bracknell
Last week there was a major fire in Bracknell, and I pay tribute to the emergency services, Bracknell Forest council, local businesses and the community, which all came together to respond. Alongside Mr Reynolds, I have since contacted the Environment Agency to raise residents’ concerns about the environmental impact of the fire, including on Bracknell’s waterways, and I thank the EA for its ongoing work to mitigate the impact. What policies are in place to support nature and waterway recovery following such incidents?
Emma Hardy
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this important issue to the House, and I join him in paying tribute to the Environment Agency, all the emergency responders and everybody who has been working so hard. Public health advice has been issued, including precautionary guidance to avoid contact with potentially contaminated material. The incident is under investigation to assess regulatory compliance and to determine whether enforcement action is required, and I am happy to meet him to see whether it has been dealt with to his satisfaction and whether there is any more help I can give him.
Lincoln Jopp
Conservative, Spelthorne
One of the sources of contamination that the Minister did not mention is human waste being discharged over the side from slum boats on EA land. The EA claims that its statutory obligation is only to register boats on its land when an application is received, and that it is discretionary. It basically does not police slum boats on its land. Will the Minister have a look at this issue and discuss it with the Environment Agency, so that slum boats on EA land can either be registered properly and policed, or moved on?
Emma Hardy
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point; I would be happy to look at it with the Environment Agency.
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