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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing exemptions within Temporary Use Bans that permit construction sites and housing developers to use sprinklers to water newly laid lawns during periods of water scarcity.

Water companies are responsible for deciding whether to implement a Temporary Use Ban during periods of water scarcity and must do so in accordance with their statutory drought plans and the relevant legislative framework. Temporary Use Bans are intended to reduce non-essential water use while allowing certain exemptions set out in legislation and guidance.