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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with South West Water on steps to upgrade the sewage processing facilities on the River Lim.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State and the Welsh Government launched an Independent Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. These wide-ranging recommendations will form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good.

As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment: £104 billion over the next five years. This includes South West Water delivering £749 million of investment over the next five years in storm overflows, continuous water quality monitoring and event duration monitoring.