Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress he has made on improving the cleanliness of the West Midlands's rivers.

The Environment Agency (EA) is leading on innovative ways to address diffuse pollution using satellite, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and mapping data. The EA also works with partners and stakeholders to improve the water environment in England. An example is the Waterside Care Initiative, which supports local groups to take practical action to address urban diffuse pollution and poor in-channel habitat.

The EA uses evidence to prioritise and target work in areas most at risk from pollution, including both point and diffuse sources. The EA completes its regulatory duties focusing on compliance and enforcement of main polluters. The EA also provides advice and guidance through pollution prevention campaigns.

The EA also works with water companies to ensure environmental improvements are delivered via their 5 year investment plans agreed with Ofwat. Severn Trent Water is currently developing designs to improve 92 of its sewage treatment works in the West Midlands.

In Coventry South constituency we are currently working with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust who are developing the River Sherbourne Living Landscape Project. Potential project work includes the removal of a culverted section of the river, other river restoration opportunities and Natural Flood Management projects.

In the West Midlands Area, in 2016–17, the EA has delivered work designed to enhance 205kms of rivers and streams. This equates to £1,544,000 worth of benefits to the catchments concerned.