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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many private sewage pumping stations in (a) England, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Batley and Spen will be adopted by water companies when section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 is commenced.

I have recently reviewed the case for implementing section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. In 2021 my Department will start the work necessary to implement it. Part of that work will include a consultation on our implementation approach as well as determining the timing for implementation.

Section 42 implementation would cover new, not existing, sewerage assets, constructed from the date of implementation.

Regarding existing sewerage assets, such as operational private pumping stations, the consultation will seek views on making separate regulations concerning the adoption of those assets by sewerage companies.

We do not hold data on the number of private sewage pumping stations currently operating in (a) England, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Batley and Spen, however we will investigate this further as part of the work to prepare to implement section 42 and the development of any separate regulations.