Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to place conditions relating to water recycling and usage on the construction of data centres.

The Government recognises the importance of sustainable water use as digital infrastructure grows. BIST works with Defra, the Environment Agency and others to ensure data centre growth does not compromise public water supply resilience. Water resources are managed through statutory water company and regional plans and the Environment Agency’s National Framework. The Government supports water-efficient cooling technologies, including closed-loop systems, and alternative sources such as rainwater harvesting. National planning policy promotes sustainable water use and resource efficiency.