Thank you for contacting me about the Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill.

I have three major rivers, the Teme, the Severn and the Avon as well as many smaller waterways and I am acutely aware of the importance of protecting them and preserving the health of those who use them.

Over recent years around £25 billion has been invested to reduce pollution from sewage since water privatisation, covering improvements in sewage treatment and overflows. I also know that in England, between 2015 and 2020, water companies are investing over £3 billion to improve their sewerage infrastructure.

I am aware that sources of pollution identified in a few certain instances of poor water quality ranged from sewer misconnections to sea birds, dogs, run-off from urban and agricultural land, as well as sewage from combined sewer overflows and septic tanks. I am pleased that the Environment Agency is working with its partners to look for solutions to these problems.

I am committed to the environmental ambitions that the Government has already outlined, and as a member of the Conservative Environment Network, I am happy to be one of the Bill’s many co-sponsors.