Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Office for Environmental Protection’s report entitled Investigation Report addressed to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to their compliance with the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 regarding the regulation of network combined sewer overflows, published in December 2025, whether her Department accepts that report’s findings that there have been failures to comply with environmental law by (a) her Department, (b) Ofwat and (c) the Environment Agency.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) concluded its investigation in December 2025 and is taking no further action due to the significant progress that has been made by Defra, Ofwat and the Environment Agency (EA). This progress includes:

• Defra replacing outdated guidance with a new policy and guidance document that better reflects the legal duties of sewerage undertakers
• Ofwat revisiting its enforcement guidance and taking enforcement action against several water companies
• The EA updating its Storm Overflow Assessment Framework, whilst progressing with plans to modernise permits and introduce spill limits
• Progress on cross-cutting issues, such as the clarification of roles and responsibilities between the authorities.

The OEP stated that, throughout the investigation, all public authorities engaged constructively, with a focus on the outcome of protecting the environment.