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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the requirements under sections 141A to 141D of the Environment Act 2021 for annual reports on storm overflows, when he expects the next reports to be published.

Section 80 of the Environment Act 2021, which came into force in January this year, inserted sections 141A to 141E into the Water Industry Act 1991. Section 141A places a duty on HM Government to publish a plan to reduce sewage discharges and their impact. This plan has now been published, setting strict new targets for water companies that will make sure the ecology of our waterbodies is protected for generations to come. Our plan will require water companies to deliver the largest infrastructure programme in water company history - £56 billion capital investment over 25 years. Under Section 141B HM Government must publish a progress report 3 years following the publication of the Plan, and every 5 years thereafter. The first progress report will be published in 2025.

Section 141C sets out a duty on water companies to publish annual reports on discharges from storm overflows. Water companies are required to publish their annual reports relating to sewage discharge data from 2022 by 1^st April 2023. Under Section 141D the Environment Agency is also required to publish annual reports in relation to the operation of storm overflows in England, by 1^st April each year. The most recent report was published on 31^st March 2022, and updated on the 14^th May 2022. The next report relating to discharge data from 2022 will be published by 1^st April 2023.