Environmental Targets Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Duke of Wellington
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Environmental Targets
Duke of Wellington Excerpts(2 years, 1 month ago)
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Lord Benyon (Con)
I would say to the noble Viscount the words “over pay and grade”, but I do appreciate the point he makes.
The Duke of Wellington (CB)
My Lords, the Minister mentioned storm overflows. I wonder if he shares my and many others’ frustration that the water companies continue to discharge dreadful quantities of sewage into our rivers and the sea, using as an excuse the fact that they are storm overflows. What are the Government going to do about that?
Lord Benyon (Con)
As the noble Duke knows, the Environment Act places several duties on government and water companies to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows. The Government have now launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. Our new strict targets will see the toughest crackdown on sewage spills and will require water companies to secure the largest infrastructure programme in water company history: £56 billion of capital investment over the next 25 years. Our plan will protect biodiversity, the ecology of our rivers and seas, and the public health of our water users for generations to come.