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 existing process for applying for an inland, riverine bathing water designation.

My department provides guidance to assist those in making an application for a new bathing water designation. As part of the review of bathing waters policy in England, we plan to produce revised guidance this year to make it easier for water community groups to understand the criteria for bathing water status and ensure only necessary information is requested.