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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has assessed the impact of bathing water status on the number of swimmers, children paddling, and other beach and water users using designated bathing water sites.

Defra has not assessed the impact of bathing water status on the number of swimmers, children paddling, and other beach and water users using designated bathing waters. However, the Environment Agency does regularly count bathers and beach users using a standardised measurement methodology at all designated bathing waters.