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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Environment Agency's policy is on single person site, river and infrastructure inspections.

The Environment Agency does not have a policy prohibiting single-person site, river or infrastructure inspections. Decisions on lone working are based on robust risk assessment arrangements, and inspections may be undertaken alone where risks can be controlled; however, lone working is not permitted for certain higher-risk activities or hazards.