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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent funding he has provided to local authorities in Fylde constituency to help tackle (a) water pollution and (b) storm overflows into the Ribble Estuary.

Water and sewerage companies are responsible for the maintenance of storm overflows and other assets.

The Water (Special Measures) Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry and the Independent Water Commission will make recommendations to shape and transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good.

As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025 to 2030, Ofwat are allowing United Utilities £2.5 billion to reduce the use of storm overflows by at least 33%. During this period, UU will be improving eight storm overflows in the Fylde constituency to reduce how often they discharge, in order to improve both river and coastal water quality.

Monitoring investigations are being undertaken in the Ribble catchment to inform future actions to improve bathing water quality at designated bathing waters on the River Ribble and Fylde coast, including St Annes.