Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the presence of (a) antidepressants, (b) contraceptives and (c) other over-the-counter medications in the water supply.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies are required by law to assess and manage risks to drinking water quality, including those posed by pharmaceutical substances such as antidepressants, contraceptives and over-the-counter medications. Where a risk is identified, appropriate monitoring and treatment processes must be in place to ensure the safety of drinking water.
The DWI has commissioned research and monitoring to assess the presence of pharmaceuticals in source and treated waters. This includes a toxicological evaluation and targeted monitoring studies, which have concluded that levels found, where detectable, are extremely low and do not pose an appreciable risk to human health.
The Department continues to monitor emerging scientific evidence and works with expert bodies including the UK Committee on Toxicity and the World Health Organization to ensure that drinking water standards remain protective of public health.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing higher penalties for the failure of water companies to adequately (a) monitor and (b) report on sewage spills.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.
Since 1 January 2025, water companies have been required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. The Secretary of State has authorised Ofwat to carry out enforcement action for this duty, in accordance with the powers conferred under sections 18 and 141DA (4) of the Water Industry Act 1991. Ofwat’s enforcement powers provide for a wide range of enforcement activity, including substantial penalties.
Ofwat is monitoring compliance with the duty to report relevant data in real time. Where it detects non-compliance, it will take appropriate enforcement action. In addition to this, the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 has introduced an equivalent duty for water companies to publish data related to discharges from all emergency overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. Once commenced, this duty will be enforced in the same way.
The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise the failure to prevent dumping of sewage into public waterways by water companies.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.
Storm Overflows are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). Where breaches are found, EA will not hesitate to hold companies to account.
The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, signed into law on 24 February, marks the most significant increase in the water industry regulators’ enforcement powers in a decade. The Act increases criminal liability for water executives who break the law. It also delivers new powers for Ofwat to make rules to ban the payment of bonuses for water bosses where water companies fail to meet specified standards, including standards in relation to the environment, and requires water and sewerage companies to develop statutory Pollution Incident Reduction Plans, driving increased transparency and a stronger preventative approach.
Beyond this new legislation, we are also carrying out a full review of the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer.
The government is also committed to taking a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This means looking at the bigger picture – how these systems affect the environment, local communities, and other key priorities like flood prevention, economic growth, and urban development. By doing this, we can make sure policies and services work better together to deliver real benefits for people and nature.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits when sewage is released by water companies that poses a risk to human health of requiring (a) a physical warning system and (b) the flying of warning flags for a minimum time duration at (i) beaches and (ii) waterways.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, local authorities with a designated bathing water must actively disseminate and promptly make available to the public, in the near vicinity of the bathing water, a warning whenever short-term pollution is predicted or present.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) add all resident pinniped species to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (b) protect all pinniped and cetacean species from each offence under Section 9 of that Act.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We continue to consider the evidence for legislative change. This includes the proposals submitted by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to the previous Government for amending the lists of species afforded protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Nature recovery is one of my main priorities, so Defra is working to review whether we have the right tools in place including developing a revised Environmental Improvement Plan to protect and restore our natural environment, which will be published later this year.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish his response to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's 7th Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 relating to marine mammals; and whether he plans to consider the potential impact of this review on his review of the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are carefully reviewing the proposals, including for marine mammals, from the 7 Quinquennial Review, taking into account our nature recovery ambitions. The Government has concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) and published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. We are developing a new EIP to protect and restore our natural environment, it will be published later this year. We will publish our response to the Quinquennial Review in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on setting gill nets in areas frequently used by surfers, swimmers, and paddleboarders.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Decisions on an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on setting gill nets in areas frequently used by surfers, swimmers, and paddleboarders is shared between several bodies. These include Local Authorities which oversee the safety of recreational sea users, such as swimmers; Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities which manage fishing activity within the 0-6 nautical mile zone; and the Marine Management Organisation which manages fisheries beyond the 6 nautical mile zone. HM Coastguard provides safety guidance for recreational sea users including swimmers and paddleboarders.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the selection criteria his Department is using to (a) review and (b) allocate funding for locations for the nine new national river walks.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Officials are continuing to scope out the delivery of the nine new national river walks manifesto commitment. Further details will be published in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a timeline for the (a) planning and (b) development of the nine new national river walks.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Officials are continuing to scope out the delivery of the nine new national river walks manifesto commitment. Further details will be published in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum-distance rule for gill nets.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Decisions on an assessment 0-6 nautical miles from the shore would be for individual Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, with measures beyond six nautical miles falling to the Marine Management Organisation.