Department for Culture, Media and Sport written question – answered at on 15 June 2026.
Andrew Slaughter
Chair, Justice Committee, Chair, Justice Committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential economic contribution of recreational paddlesport to local economies; and what steps she is taking to protect access to waterways used by paddlers in the Clean Water Bill.
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including taking part in paddlesport.
We know our waterways are vital for keeping the country active, which is why we are committed to protecting them so they remain clean, safe, and accessible for everyone.
The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system. Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water white paper. Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.
The Government also recently designated 13 new bathing waters, including six river sites. Designated bathing waters are regularly monitored during the bathing season, and water quality results are published on the Swimfo website. This helps to protect public health, allowing individuals to make more informed decisions about when and where to enter the water.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
