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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle sewage discharges by Thames Water into chalk streams in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

There are four wastewater treatment works (WwTW) operated by Thames Water that discharge to chalk streams in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme, improvements have been agreed for the three largest of these WwTWs, which account for over 99% of the effluent flow from these sites, including into chalk streams.

This is part of the Government’s plans to transform the entire water sector, which has already started.

In July, we announced measures including ringfencing vital funding for infrastructure investment and placing customers and the environment at the heart of water company objectives.

In September, the Government introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to Parliament to give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.

I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July, HCWS3.