Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, the Food Standards Agency are taking to ensure there is no public health risk arising from eating fish caught in UK waters which have been contaminated by sewerage outflows.

When the Food Standards Agency is notified of a potential food incident, such as sewage spills, which may lead to a food safety risk, it works with local authorities to take appropriate action to protect public health.

Fish and fishery products sold for consumption in the United Kingdom must meet the requirements of food hygiene legislation. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement and carry out official controls, such as inspection and taking samples for laboratory testing, to verify that food business operators comply with the legislation.

Food businesses are responsible for ensuring the food sold is safe to eat and that fishery products comply with the relevant health standards. There is currently no evidence that fish caught in UK waters are unsafe to eat.