Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Jupp Excerpts

Thursday 23rd February 2023 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Simon Jupp (East Devon) (Con)]

1. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce sewage discharges in East Devon constituency.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)]

My hon. Friend will know, regrettably, of the poor environmental performance of South West Water, with the second highest number of pollution incidents in the country. That is completely unacceptable for his constituents, and South West Water can, and must, do better. Meanwhile, it is subject to an ongoing criminal investigation led by the Environment Agency, which must be allowed to run its due course.

[Simon Jupp]

The Conservative party and Government have brought in the toughest ever crackdown on sewage spills. We are holding failing water companies to account, including the one-star rated South West Water, which was fined £13 million last year, and rightly so. Does my right hon. Friend agree that South West Water must clean up its act and our water?

[Dr Coffey]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. South West Water continues to be a poor performing company, which is unacceptable. That is why I called in the worst performing water companies at the end of last year, including the chief executive of South West Water. Those companies must take urgent steps to significantly reduce their pollution incidents, and we will ensure that they continue to be held to account. That is why I have asked water companies to provide individual reduction plans for each of the combined sewer overflows.