Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

River Health

Thursday 6 February 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Gordon questioned the Minister about sewage overflow issues in the River Nidd and the focus on current sewage problems rather than future-proofing infrastructure.
  • Ellie Chowns raised concerns about water pollution affecting North Herefordshire's economy and highlighted agricultural pollution as the main issue in her constituency.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of addressing agricultural pollution and mentioned plans to reduce run-off from agriculture through catchment-based models.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
Energy Environment
Context

The River Nidd regularly overflows with sewage, highlighting the issue of water companies managing current sewage issues without future-proofing. This raises concerns about infrastructure meeting both current and future demand.

Question

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, the River Nidd regularly overflows with sewage. When I visited the Killinghall sewage treatment works last year, a key thing that came to light was that water companies are putting in infrastructure to manage the current sewage issue, rather than future-proofing. What steps will the Minister take to ensure we build sewage works that meet both current and future demand?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Reed)

The money announced in Ofwat’s final determination before Christmas will create record levels of investment in our water system to do precisely what the hon. Gentleman says, dealing with the current sewage problems while also putting in place the infrastructure to manage and meet future demand.

Answered
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Q2 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

North Herefordshire suffers from water pollution, with agriculture being the main source of pollution in the constituency. The questioner requests for a joined-up approach to tackle both sewage and agricultural pollution.

Question

As the Secretary of State knows, North Herefordshire is badly affected by water pollution, with devastating effects for the local economy. He also knows that agricultural pollution, not sewage, is the main problem in my constituency. He did not mention that in his answer, so I respectfully remind him yet again that the Government need to tackle agricultural pollution and sewage pollution in a joined-up way. We know the solutions require farmers, regulators and environmental organisations to take action together. Will the Secretary of State now commit the funding needed to take forward the Wye catchment plan, and will he visit North Herefordshire with me?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Reed)

The hon. Lady makes an important point. Our farming road map will look at how we can reduce run-off from agriculture, which is a major source of pollution in our waterways. We are looking at how we can move to catchment-based models, including for the Wye, where a great deal of important work has already been done, so that we can more effectively tackle all the sources of pollution that are causing such trouble for our waterways.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment on funding and visit to North Herefordshire

How: Looking At How We Can Move

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