Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Raw Sewage and Storm Water: Discharge into Waterways

Thursday 26 November 2020 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • A taskforce has been set up to develop actions addressing storm overflows, and water companies have committed to improvements costing around 1.2 billion.
  • The Government are supportive of the private Member's Bill proposed by Philip Dunne, which could help reduce storm overflows.
  • No commitment was made to speak to Rotherham Council about the plan to build 450 new homes on land above the Whiston brook.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Environment
Context

In 2019, Yorkshire Water discharged raw sewage into local rivers for a total of 616,643 hours, the worst figure in England. The company made profits over £212 million in 2018-19.

Question

What recent steps have been taken to reduce raw sewage discharge into waterways? It is good to hear that a taskforce has been set up. However, Yorkshire Water spent 616,643 hours discharging raw sewage into local rivers in 2019—the worst figure in England—and made over £212 million profit the previous year. The Environmental Audit Committee Chair proposed measures to raise standards. Will the Government support these proposals?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

A taskforce has been set up to develop actions addressing storm overflows, and water companies have committed to improvements costing around £1.2 billion. The Government are supportive of the private Member's Bill proposed by Philip Dunne; measures in that Bill could help reduce storm overflows.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting specific proposals made by the Environmental Audit Committee Chair

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Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Environment
Context

Yorkshire Water spent 616,643 hours discharging raw sewage into local rivers in 2019—the worst figure in England—and made over £212 million profit the previous year. The Environmental Audit Committee Chair proposed measures to raise standards.

Question

The taskforce is good news, but Yorkshire Water spent 616,643 hours discharging raw sewage into local rivers in 2019—the worst figure in England—and made over £212 million profit the previous year. The Environmental Audit Committee Chair has proposed measures to raise standards. Will the Government support these proposals?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

The taskforce will look at some of the measures in Philip Dunne's Bill to reduce storm overflows, but no explicit commitment was made regarding the specific proposals by the Environmental Audit Committee Chair.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting specific proposals made by the Environmental Audit Committee Chair

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Q3 Alexander Stafford
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

Whiston has repeatedly been flooded, most recently last year. Raw sewage went into the Whiston brook 43 times last year after recent flooding. Now Rotherham Council has granted planning permission for 450 new homes off Worrygoose Lane.

Question

Whiston in Rother Valley has repeatedly been flooded; raw sewage went into the Whiston brook 43 times last year, and now there is a plan to build 450 new homes on land above the brook. Will my hon. Friend speak to Rotherham Council to convince it that building more houses will exacerbate flooding?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

I have met with water companies and made it clear that sewage discharges must be reduced. Early studies of the proposed Whiston flood alleviation scheme indicate better protection for 60 houses, but no commitment was made regarding further discussions or actions to convince Rotherham Council.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to speaking to Rotherham Council about convincing them on housing development due to flood risk

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