Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Sewage Discharges: South West

27 November 2024 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Ben Maguire Lib Dem North Cornwall

Environment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Ben Maguire raised concerns about sewage discharges: south west in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Ben Maguire highlighted that sewage discharges into rivers and beaches in North Cornwall increased significantly in 2023 compared to 2022.
  • The Minister acknowledged the severity of sewage dumping and outlined measures such as a consultation on storm overflow guidance and plans for South West Water to invest 750 million to reduce sewage spills.
  • The Minister mentioned the establishment of a national storm overflows hub to address the issue.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Ben Maguire Lib Dem North Cornwall

The issue of sewage dumping in our waterways was one of the biggest concerns for residents across North Cornwall during the general election. Ben Maguire highlighted the environmental and health impacts, including a significant increase in sewage discharges into rivers and beaches in 2023 compared to 2022. He cited examples such as three-year-old Finley contracting illness after playing on a beach contaminated with sewage. Additionally, he criticised South West Water's investment in infrastructure upgrades while increasing customer bills significantly. Maguire also called for regulatory reforms including stricter enforcement measures and the potential revocation of licences for poorly performing water companies.

Other contributors (1)
  • Emma Hardy Lab Delyn

    Expressed support for the debate, highlighting the unacceptable level of pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas. She mentioned South West Water's poor environmental performance and ongoing legal action against them.

Government Response

Several hon. Members

The Minister acknowledged the severity of sewage dumping issues and outlined several measures being taken by the Government to address these problems. These include the launch of a consultation on storm overflow guidance, plans for South West Water to invest about £750 million over five years to reduce sewage spills, and legislative actions such as the Water (Special Measures) Bill to strengthen regulatory powers. The Minister also mentioned the establishment of a national storm overflows hub for transparent data publication and improvements in bathing water regulations. Additionally, they discussed plans to reform the entire water system through an independent commission and ensure stronger enforcement against companies failing environmental standards.

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