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Question
The MP criticised the Conservative Government for cutting the Environment Agency's budget, leading to reduced monitoring and enforcement which increased illegal discharges. He questioned Ministers about 'misinterpretations' of environmental law allowing more frequent sewage discharges without risk of sanction. Reed called for severe fines and mandatory monitoring of outlets and asked if the Secretary of State would resign if found guilty.
Minister reply
The Minister defended her party's actions, pointing out that previous Labour Governments failed to address the issue effectively and allowed self-monitoring by water companies. She highlighted the Conservative Government’s role in initiating storm overflow monitoring and increasing penalties on water companies under the Environment Act 2023.
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Question
The MP asked for focus on eliminating dry weather discharges and ensuring investment targets areas of highest sewage concentration. He suggested that addressing this issue should be prioritised.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the importance of focusing on dry weather discharges and highlighted that the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan will prioritise investments where the biggest issues lie, aiming to address significant environmental responsibilities and ensure water companies spend their allocated funds effectively.
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Question
The right hon. Gentleman raises concerns about the minority of livestock farmers who pollute waterways through silage and slurry runoff, despite government cuts to inspections and lack of prosecutions. Why has this happened?
Minister reply
Funding for farm inspections was increased last year with around 4,000 inspections carried out. The approach is targeted, and enforcement remains a key priority. We are actively working with farmers to encourage better practices through funding and incentives, as well as allowing the Environment Agency to make independent decisions on criminal investigations.
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Question
The right hon. Friend acknowledges government action against illegally discharged sewage but asks for clarification on the powers of the Environment Agency to fine companies like Southern Water, which has been dumping sewage during dry weather.
Minister reply
We have given the Environment Agency stronger powers, including unlimited penalties, and a recent case saw Southern Water fined £90 million. We continue to work with regulators to enforce these laws effectively.
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Question
My constituents are concerned about the pollution of rivers like the River Lune and beaches such as Fleetwood, where water companies have broken the law. What measures will the Secretary of State take to ensure these companies face justice?
Minister reply
There is legislation in place for unlimited penalties, and a criminal investigation by the Environment Agency against water companies is ongoing. We are committed to ensuring that companies comply with laws and invest properly rather than seeking shortcuts through fines.
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Question
The hon. Friend acknowledges the work of the Office for Environmental Protection, created by Government Members to scrutinize environmental laws and practices across all sectors, including water companies.
Minister reply
We agree that scrutiny is necessary post-Brexit. The OEP’s investigation into sewage discharges will provide important information without being party political.
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Question
The hon. Member points out the frequency of sewage dumping by water companies and questions whether £72 billion given to shareholders since privatisation has contributed to under-investment, suggesting nationalisation.
Minister reply
While some may advocate for nationalising water services, we recognise that significant investment (£190 billion) has been made in infrastructure since privatisation. We will continue with our plan to hold companies accountable and invest further.
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Question
During the hottest day on record, water companies admitted to sewage spills despite dry conditions, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.
Minister reply
We do not agree with the BBC's assessment of the data but acknowledge that sewage spills on dry days are part of ongoing investigations and efforts to address such issues.
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Question
The hon. Friend calls for stronger control over water companies like South West Water, which he deems a disgrace.
Minister reply
Unlimited penalties are available to the Environment Agency, and criminal investigations are ongoing. My hon. Friend has secured a Westminster Hall debate next week to further discuss this issue.
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Question
The hon. Lady asserts that under this Government, sewage dumping is no longer an exception but the rule.
Minister reply
The assertion is simply not true according to government data and actions taken.
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Question
My hon. Friend highlights local initiatives in Southend West, such as regular sewage summits with Anglian Water, aiming for 75% reduction of combined storm overflows ahead of the target.
Minister reply
Local action is crucial and commendable. The quality of water and beaches has improved significantly since 2010, increasing from half deemed excellent to more than three-quarters currently.
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Question
I ask the Secretary of State this pertinent question: what does she say to the senior executive at Yorkshire Water, who, when I complained about the quality of the water in some of the rivers in Yorkshire, said, “Mr Sheerman, don’t you realise that there is no river in our country that is fit to swim in?” Is it not the truth that the Secretary of State’s pathetic performance today, and her use of the most vulgar language I have heard in this Chamber in all my years in this House, show that she is out of her depth, that she is incompetent and that she should resign immediately?
Minister reply
I look forward to the election in Huddersfield—the hon. Gentleman should look at some of his own speeches. I do not know on what basis he has made that assertion, quoting the chief executive of Yorkshire Water, but that is not the case—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman can always contact me directly to give me the quotation and the source of the quotation. I look forward to receiving it, and I will take the water company’s chief executive to task if that is truly what she said.
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Question
Despite all we have heard from Labour, is it not the reality that in Government Labour did absolutely nothing on this issue, with no monitoring in place, and that it is this Government, as the OEP recognises, who are sorting the problem through the plan for water, through record investment, and through monitoring, improving waters in North West Norfolk and across the country?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; he has a coastal constituency as well and will know the continuing work to improve the quality of our designated bathing waters and our waters more broadly. There have been more stringent standards applied over the last decade. We continue to work to try to improve that and we will continue to get on with the job.
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Question
The Secretary of State seems to have a weird amnesia about the past decade or so, so that there is a big leap from Labour being in government to her suddenly being in front of us today. I hope she does remember the many times, whether in the Environmental Audit Committee, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee or the Environment Bill Committee, that I asked her about making sure the Office for Environmental Protection really had teeth, was independent and was respected by Government. I am concerned that there are already signs that the Government are trying to undermine the work of the OEP. Will she assure us that she will respect the conclusions that it comes to and act accordingly?
Minister reply
I will say that we set up the OEP, we will comply with the information notice it has requested and then we will see where its decision goes from that. It is important that that institution continues to have the freedom we gave it; we will continue to respect that and to comply with its notices, as set out under the statute.
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Question
The water Minister and I regularly visit a beach that has been subject to several environmental spills this August. When I checked at the site, it was a storm overflow and not a combined sewage outlet. Given that there was not enough rainfall to constitute an exceptional amount, can the Secretary of State advise me why the Environment Agency has not taken enforcement action against South West Water and all the other water companies that are spilling sewage when there are no exceptional circumstances?
Minister reply
I understand from my hon. Friend the water Minister that the Environment Agency is currently investigating the source of the pollution to help with its investigation.
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Question
The right hon. Lady’s Department issued a statement saying that it does not ‘agree with the OEP’s initial interpretations,’ but will ‘continue to work constructively with the OEP on this issue.’ That seems like a contradiction to me. How does the Secretary of State plan to work constructively with the OEP when her Department’s statement demonstrates a complete disregard for environmental law?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is incorrect. We absolutely respect the law—we introduced the Environment Act. We can disagree with initial assertions, but we will continue to ensure that we provide the information the OEP has requested.
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Question
I thank the Secretary of State for the renewed determination to bring about improvement—it is clear that we need it. When we voted on this issue in the House, we were given assurances that these incidents would not take place. It is clear that, while officials may not agree with this investigation, there is still a real cause for concern. How does the Secretary of State intend to alleviate those concerns and, more importantly, ensure that sewage releases are regulated and safe? I make this suggestion very respectfully: stopping the dividends to the chief executives and directors would be a method to encourage improvements by the water companies, who seem reluctant to make them.
Minister reply
I am conscious that the hon. Gentleman is a Member for a Northern Ireland constituency. The OEP’s remit extends to Northern Ireland, although not to the Welsh Labour Government or the Scottish SNP Government. Investigations can be undertaken—that is what we legislate for in this House—and unlimited penalties can be applied. That is true in England. We will continue to make sure that we do what we can not only to reduce these challenges, but to fix the long-term issues. We know that in London, for example, the Thames tideway tunnel has taken a decade—that is the scale of the issue. The fact that we know about the scale of the issue right now is due to the Conservative Government having taken action, while the Labour Government looked the other way.
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Question
The last time I asked about the dumping of sewage in our rivers in this Chamber, the Prime Minister agreed with me that it is absolutely unacceptable. However, the OEP’s investigation is a scandalous revelation that shows the entire water and regulatory system is broken. What does the Secretary of State think should happen to companies, regulatory bodies and Government Departments that knowingly break the law?
Minister reply
We set up the OEP and it has the powers, thanks to this Conservative Government, to get on with the role as it sees fit. It is doing so—it has started the investigation and asked for more information, and we will comply with that. I say to the hon. Lady, as I said at the start of my response to the urgent question, that this is completely unacceptable by the water companies. That is why we are taking action and getting on with the job. We do not need lessons from Labour, who looked away and did nothing. They are the people who were taken to court by the European Commission for failure, failure, failure—thanks to Labour.