Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sewage Discharge Reduction: Water Company Investment

Thursday 20 March 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

  • Ministerial discussions with Ofwat aim to encourage water companies to increase investment in reducing sewage discharge.
  • Sewage spills into rivers occurred in Bramley, Godalming, Chiddingfold, and Cranleigh for varying durations.
  • The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 grants Ofwat authority to ban bonuses for company bosses responsible for pollution.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeremy Hunt Con Godalming and Ash
Environment
Context

Sewage was discharged into rivers for significant durations in Jeremy Hunt's constituency, with Godalming experiencing sewage discharge for 83 hours in 2023. This issue highlights the need for increased investment by water companies.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with Ofwat on encouraging water companies to increase investment in sewage discharge reduction measures. In Bramley, sewage was spilled into the local river for 59 hours; in Godalming, it was 83 hours; in Chiddingfold, 410 hours; and in Cranleigh, 691 hours. Thames Water agreed to invest £400 million by the end of next year as a result of pressure from Jeremy Hunt and others. Will the Secretary of State meet me and the chief executive of Thames Water to see whether that money is actually being spent?

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

The situation described by the right hon. Gentleman is absolutely outrageous, and Members across the House will recognise similar situations in their own areas. We need to completely reset the water sector so that these situations cannot continue, which is why Sir Jon Cunliffe is leading a water commission. I would be happy to arrange for the right hon. Gentleman to meet an appropriate Minister to discuss his concerns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting with Jeremy Hunt and Thames Water CEO was not directly confirmed, but offered to meet an 'appropriate Minister'.

How: Will Be Happy To Arrange For The Right Hon. Gentleman To Meet An Appropriate Minister

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Q2 Amanda Hack Lab North West Leicestershire
Energy Environment
Context

Residents in North West Leicestershire are experiencing toxic sewage discharges into waterways, such as the brook near Donington le Heath. Previous promises to hold bosses accountable were not fulfilled.

Question

Will the Secretary of State assure me that, unlike the previous Government, when he says that he will hold the water bosses to account, he means it? The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives Ofwat tough new powers, including banning bonuses for polluting company bosses.

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

Absolutely. That is why we have passed—and my hon. Friend will have voted for—the Water (Special Measures) Act, which gives the regulator the power they need to hold those water bosses to account so that instead of paying themselves multimillion-pound bonuses they do not deserve, that money is spent where it should be spent: on fixing our broken sewage system.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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