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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the chalk stream recovery pack.

The Chalk Stream Recovery Pack was announced by the previous government, but delivery was paused due to the General Election. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector.

Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats.

Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.