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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many rivers in England his Department has assessed as having a poor (a) ecological and (b) chemical status; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that those rivers are safe for public use.

The Environment Agency's most recent water body classification results taken in 2019 can be found at:

https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/England/classifications.

The Government remains committed to bringing at least three quarters of our water to as close as possible to its natural state as soon as is practicable, supported by at least one legally binding water target in the Environment Act.

Rivers are currently managed for ecological quality rather than public health (bacterial) standards. Where a site is designated as a bathing water, these waters are managed to protect the public’s health. The Environment Agency will regularly take samples from these waters to measure bacteria levels and will assess what action is needed to improve water quality to meet the standards set by the Bathing Water Regulations.