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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on Proposed changes to the water company drought plan guideline, published on 16 December 2024.

The Environment Agency launched the consultation ‘Proposed changes to the water company drought plan guideline’ on GOV.UK on 16 December 2024, with more information available at the following link:

Proposed changes to the water company drought plan guideline - GOV.UK

As per the Government’s Publishing Accessible Documents guidance, the consultation document is published in HTML format to make it easier to read and to find. The digital survey for users to respond to the consultation is also hosted on an accessible platform. The draft regulations which accompany the consultation are lengthy and technical in nature, and so these are published as a PDF to preserve formatting and technical content. Users of assistive technology (such as screen readers) can request a copy of the draft regulations in an accessible format by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk..

Users who have queries on the consultation or require an alternative format can also contact enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.