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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to improve enforcement powers against water companies that repeatedly discharge untreated sewage.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we have placed water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. This includes new powers for Ofwat to ban unjustified bonuses, and for the Environment Agency to impose automatic penalties and recover costs for a much greater range of enforcement activities.

The Environment Agency is also increasing its regulatory officers, data analysts and enforcement specialists who deal with pollution. They are using new digital tools and data sources, including from storm overflow monitors to identify offences and take enforcement action.