Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Afzal Khan and Kate Osborne

Thursday 12th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)]

1. Whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of a reduction in the Environment Agency’s budget on levels of sewage discharge.

[Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab)]

16. Whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of a reduction in the Environment Agency’s budget on levels of sewage discharge.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow)]

The volume of sewage discharged by water companies is absolutely unacceptable. Improving water quality is a high priority for the Government, which is why we have launched an ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm sewage overflows in water companies, the biggest in history. It is also why we have increased our monitoring from 5% in 2016 right up to 19% now. It will be 100% next year. Interestingly, one might want to note that under the Labour party there was no monitoring at all, and that the Environment Agency has received £2.2 million each year for the last three years specifically for water company enforcement to ensure that robust action is taken against illegal breaches.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Afzal Khan and Kate Osborne

Tuesday 23rd March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab)]

What recent discussions he has had with (a) employers and (b) trade unions on the use of dismiss and re-engage tactics in negotiations with employees.

[Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)]

What recent discussions he has had with (a) employers and (b) trade unions on the use of dismiss and re-engage tactics in negotiations with employees.