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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of river safety.

No such recent assessment has been made by Defra. Responsibility for water safety issues is spread across a variety of other Government departments, public bodies (including the Environment Agency, Fire and Rescue Services, and local authorities) and non-governmental organisations (such as navigation authorities and the National Water Safety Forum) to improve safety in and around our rivers and other water bodies, and to ensure people have the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe. For example, the Environment Agency has published guidance on water safety and raises awareness through press releases, and the Department for Education includes development of swimming skills for pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2, which contributes to wider water safety.