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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on the failure of English water and sewerage companies to meet its requirements for their Pollution Incident Reduction Plans; and whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the Environment Agency's ability to ensure water companies' Pollution Incident Reduction Plans meet those requirements.

The Environment Agency (EA) published guidance on Pollution Incident Reduction Plans in January 2026 and is responsible for the enforcement of non-compliance Defra officials and the EA continue to work together and guidance updates to improve the next round of plans will take place as needed.