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 the paragraph on Meetings in the Storm Overflows Taskforce Terms of Reference, how many times the Storm Overflows Taskforce has met since its introduction; and when the taskforce (a) last met and (b) is due to meet next.

The Storm Overflows Task Force was set up in 2020 with the objective of developing proposals to reduce the frequency and impact of sewage discharges. The Taskforce supported the design and development of the Government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. This was published in August 2022. The Task Force has therefore not met since as it has met its initial goal in the publication of the Plan. We intend to seek the input of the Taskforce in future when reviewing the delivery programme of the Plan as part of the next water industry Price Review which will commence in 2025.