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

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to enabling courts to fine individual board members of water companies that persistently pollute rivers and coastal waters.

As set out in Reg 41 Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, the courts do have power to fine directors and other officers of companies which are convicted of polluting rivers and coastal waters, where it can be proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of such officer or attributable to their neglect. The Environment Agency can and does prosecute company directors and other senior officers where the necessary evidence can be obtained to meet that test.