To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce sewage discharges by water companies into waterways.

The Secretary of State recently met with water company bosses to make it clear that water firms will be held accountable for their performance for customers and the environment. During the meeting, water bosses signed up to the government’s initial package of reforms to reduce sewage pollution and attract investment to upgrade infrastructure.

The government also announced a new Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will turn around the performance of water companies, in the King’s Speech. The Bill will strengthen regulation, give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and increase accountability for water executives. These are the first critical steps in enabling a long-term and transformative reset of the entire water sector.

I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July, HCWS3.