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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has met Southern Water to discuss sewage discharge since taking office.

The Secretary of State and his ministerial team hold regular discussions with representatives of the water industry to discuss a range of issues, including reducing sewage discharges and performance issues.

The Government is clear that the volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is unacceptable. This is why we launched the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, setting stringent targets to reduce discharges from storm overflows. This Plan will drive the largest infrastructure programme in water company history - £60bn capital investment over 25 years.

On 11 December 2023, the Secretary of State wrote to water companies requesting plans to accelerate action on storm overflows over the next 12 months. This government will continue to take bold action to tackle sewage pollution and hold all water companies, including Southern Water, to account for delivery.