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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pollutant discharges into the River Mersey have been reported to the Environment Agency in each of the past five years.

There have been 56 pollution discharges to the River Mersey that have been substantiated by the Environment Agency in the last five years. In 2019 there were 15 reported incidents, in 2020 eight reported incidents, in 2021 five reported incidents, in 2022 ten reported incidents and in 2023 18 reported incidents.

In all instances where a polluter was identified, action was taken in line with the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanctions policy.