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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to regulate water abstraction rates to sustainable levels in chalk stream catchment areas.

The Environment Agency takes action where water abstraction is adversely impacting the water environment.

Implementation of the Water Industry Natural Environment Programme between now and 2030 will result in an additional £170 million being invested by water companies to improve river flows in chalk streams.

In June, the Environment Agency will launch an update to the Water Resource National Framework. This update includes placing chalk streams environmental needs at the centre of long-term water resource planning decision making. Investment in national water resource infrastructure and water demand management will be needed to secure sustainable water abstraction in chalk streams.