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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 10 July (HL16703), whether an individual employee could be held accountable and penalised for providing false data about sewage spills to Ofwat.

Under section 207(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991, it is a criminal offence to knowingly or recklessly provide information under the Act that is false in a material respect.

Proceedings for an offence under section 207(1) can be brought by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A conviction is punishable by a fine.

Proceedings could be taken against an individual or the company.

Ofwat is not a criminal enforcement body, so has no role in bringing proceedings under section 207(1).