Rivers: Pollution

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 8 November 2024.

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Photo of Liam Conlon Liam Conlon Labour, Beckenham and Penge

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on tackling illegal water pollution in rivers (a) nationally and (b) in Beckenham and Penge constituency.

Photo of Emma Hardy Emma Hardy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

In July, we announced swift action to begin resetting the water sector, including ringfencing vital funding for infrastructure investment and placing customers and the environment at the heart of water company objectives.

In September, the Government introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.

Furthermore, on 23 October, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system, to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

The Environment Agency regulates discharges to water using environmental permits and investigates pollution incidents, nationally and in the Beckenham and Penge constituency. Regulators will take action when illegality is identified, in line with their enforcement and sanctions policies.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes2 people think so

No1 person thinks not

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