Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
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 take steps to implement the Catchment Based Approached (a) Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy 2021 and (b) Chalk Stream Strategy Implementation Plan 2023.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) group has led fantastic work in developing the Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy and Implementation Plan, and I particularly want to thank them for all their great work in restoring these important habitats.
Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is a core ambition of our overall programme of work to clean up rivers, lakes and seas for good. Alongside our programme of reforms, Water companies will invest £2 billion over the next 5 years to deliver more than 1,000 targeted actions for chalk stream restoration as part of our Plan for Change. The government is investing £1.8 million through the Water Restoration Fund and Water Environment Improvement Fund for locally led chalk stream clean-up projects across affected regions.
Our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan ensures chalk streams are prioritised for improvement as part of the record £11 billion investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows nationwide.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reopening Bathing Water applications before changes including (a) core reforms and (b) wider reforms are implemented.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations will modernise the system so that it reflects how and where people use bathing waters.
We have taken the decision to reopen applications this year and published interim guidance for applicants wishing to apply for designation in 2026.
To manage this transition to the reformed Regulations we shall enact a triage system for new applications submitted in 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-apply-to-designate-or-de-designate/designate-a-bathing-water-guidance-on-how-to-apply.
For the wider reforms, we have begun policy development and research, including epidemiological studies, to determine how best to implement these reforms in the future, considering any potential environmental, societal and access impacts.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's consultation outcome entitled, Reforms to Bathing Water Regulations 2013, published on 12 March 2025, when (a) core reforms and (b) wider reforms will be implemented.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In November and December 2024, the Government, jointly with Welsh Government, consulted on Reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013, in the first shake-up to the Bathing Water Regulations since they were introduced.
Reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 has been a priority for this Government since taking office in July 2024. The reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations will modernise the system so that it reflects how and where people use bathing waters. In their current form, the Regulations take a generally ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, so we are working to facilitate the enjoyment for water users.
Subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to proceed with planned regulatory reform for the 3 Core Reforms and 9 Technical Amendments outlined in the consultation ahead of the next bathing season. For the wider reforms, we have begun policy development and research, including epidemiological studies, to determine how best to implement these reforms in future and take into account any potential environmental, societal and access impacts.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Chalk Stream recovery pack.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top Government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.
Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on designating nine new National River walks; and if he will make an assessment of the merits of establishing a new chalk stream river walk in the Chiltern National Landscape.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. We are currently considering possible locations for the River Walks as well as several delivery options and will provide more information once we are in a position to do so.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure the (a) safe and (b) smooth passage of vessels along the Thames during (i) Henley Royal Regatta week and (ii) other events which attract international visitors to the town.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As the navigation authority for the non-tidal River Thames, the Environment Agency (EA) plays a key role in supporting the safe and successful delivery of over 200 river-based events each year. These events contribute significantly to the cultural heritage and public enjoyment of the River Thames, while the EA remains committed to upholding the public right of navigation and ensuring the river remains open to traffic.
The EA has a long-standing and constructive relationship with the event organisers of Henley Royal Regatta. Working together, they’ve developed and implemented local navigation measures that provide a dedicated racing lane for competition and a separate channel for passing vessels. This approach ensures that competitors, commercial operators, and leisure users can all share the river safely and effectively throughout the event.
The EA also maintains a visible presence on-the-water during the Regatta, working closely with professional partners including Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This coordinated effort helps to ensure compliance with navigation rules and supports the safety of all river users. Drawing on all its operational experience, the EA is confident that this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, along with all other events along the Thames, will proceed smoothly and safely.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 7 May 2025 on lock keepers' safety concerns.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51082 on National Landscapes: Chilterns, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing changes to the budget of Natural England in the context of the cancellation of the project to expand the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty; and if she will publish the technical review completed by LUC.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
For year 2025/26 the direct funding for National Landscape designation work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work. Decisions on future funding for Natural England will be made as part of the 2025 multi-year Spending Review and through finance settlement processes. Natural England are considering how the evidence base which has been gathered so far through their designation work can best be shared and used.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to amend the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In October 2024 the UK and Welsh Government launched an Independent Commission into the water sector regulatory system, this is the third stage of the Government’s water strategy and is the largest review of the industry since privatisation.
The Commission will publish an interim report soon and final report later this summer with recommendations to the Government on how to tackle inherited systemic issues in the water sector. The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) and River Basin Management Plans are in scope of the Commission.
The UK and Welsh Government will respond to the report and consult on proposals they intend to take forward to fundamentally transform how the nation’s water system operates to tackle pollution and deliver a resilient water supply, turbocharge investment, and speed up the delivery of infrastructure upgrades to clean up the nation’s waterways.
The Corry Review into Defra’s regulatory landscape, published in April this year, has identified the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 along with other regulations as a priority for reform. The review recommends modernising these regulations to ensure they are outcome-focused, proportionate and fit for the future- supporting both nature recovery and sustainable growth. Defra is actively considering implementation of the recommendations from the review.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on achieving (a) Good Chemical Status and (b) Good Ecological Status for waterways in Henley and Thame constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The major waterbodies in the Henley & Thames constituency are the Thames (Wallingford to Caversham), Thames (Caversham to Cookham) and the Thame. These waterbodies do not achieve Good Ecological Status due to their Phosphate Status. All the other elements are at Good Status or above. The Environment Act (2021) puts obligations on water companies to reduce their Phosphorous loading from STWs by 80% using a 2020 base. This needs to be achieved by 2038. It is anticipated that once these improvements have been made, most waterbodies will be at or close to Good Status for Phosphate. Any additional reductions to get Phosphate to meet Good Status will need to be done with other sectors, particularly the agricultural sector.
The tributaries within the Thame catchment have various reasons for Not Achieving Good Status. During Asset Management Period 8 (which covers 2025-30), 8 Sewage Treatment Works (STW) overflows will be improved to meet Environment Act targets, and a further 7 will have storm overflow investigations, alongside Phosphorus reduction. It is expected that these measures will form part of the pathway to getting the waterbodies to Good Ecological Status.