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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 28 October (HL1706), on what dates the three separate incidents self-reported by United Utilities (UU) mentioned in the question arose; and what assessment they have made of reporting by the BBC that UU failed to report non-compliant sewage discharges into Lake Windermere between January 2021 and September 2023.

The Environment Agency received three self-reported pollution incidents from United Utilities relating to operations at Glebe Road Pumping Station, Windermere. These were reported on 26 January, 29 February and 21 May 2024.

The Environment Agency has launched an investigation into the sewage discharges at this Pumping Station and is examining further evidence received from the company. If United Utilities is found to be in breach of an environmental permit, the Environment Agency will take the appropriate enforcement action up to and including a criminal prosecution.