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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of freshwater nature recovery on water pollution and the long-term health of waterways.

The Government recognises that freshwater nature recovery plays a vital role in improving water quality and the long-term health of waterways. Agricultural pollution and surface runoff remain significant pressures, affecting many water bodies in England.

We have set a legally binding target to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering the water environment by 40% by 2038. Measures such as Catchment Sensitive Farming and the Sustainable Farming Incentive support practices that reduce runoff, erosion, and pollutant loss.

Together, these actions reduce pollution at source and support the recovery, resilience and ecological health of freshwater ecosystems.