River Wear Pollution 2022-04-28
2022-04-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The River Wear has ongoing pollution issues, impacting local wildlife and water quality. The Environment Agency works with other organizations to address these problems.
What recent assessment has his Department made of the level of pollution in the River Wear?
The Environment Agency routinely assesses pollution levels in the River Wear, and it is working with the Coal Authority and Northumbrian Water to reduce pollution. The EA will take the strongest enforcement action where necessary, and improving water quality is a Government priority.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Year 5 and 6 pupils at St Thomas More School found high levels of pollution during a field trip, especially plastic waste. They requested that their representative speak to address this issue.
Following their field trip to the River Wear last month, year 5 and 6 pupils at St Thomas More School in Belmont were saddened by the levels of pollution in the river, so they have asked me to come here today to keep everyone on the right track. Can the Minister tell the pupils of St Thomas More School what the Government plan to do to help clean up the River Wear to protect local wildlife and preserve the beauty of the riverside?
I commend the St Thomas More primary school pupils for going out, and it is wonderful to get our children out in the environment. It is interesting and perhaps disappointing that they found pollution, but the message to them is that this Government are absolutely on water and river pollution. Indeed, our new proposed target to reduce the amount of pollution in rivers such as the Wear in old abandoned mining areas by 50% by 2030 will make a genuine difference, as will our raft of other measures to tackle storm sewage overflows.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for cleaning up the River Wear was not addressed with concrete actions beyond general statements and proposed targets.
Government Priority
New Proposed Target
Response accuracy