Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential economic contribution of recreational paddlesport to local economies; and what steps she is taking to protect access to waterways used by paddlers in the Clean Water Bill.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including taking part in paddlesport.

We know our waterways are vital for keeping the country active, which is why we are committed to protecting them so they remain clean, safe, and accessible for everyone.

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system. Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper. Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

The Government also recently designated 13 new bathing waters, including six river sites. Designated bathing waters are regularly monitored during the bathing season, and water quality results are published on the Swimfo website. This helps to protect public health, allowing individuals to make more informed decisions about when and where to enter the water.