Ben Maguire MP: written questions
4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
76 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sewage: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people who fall ill from sewage pollution-related causes in Cornwall.
Answer: We are putting water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act has introduced new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against law breakers and made it...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Nature ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support and (b) protect nature-friendly farming practices in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, foo...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFiresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of bonfires involving non-garden waste materials on (a) the environment and (b) public health.
Answer: Existing laws prevent burning household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. Local authorities may also issue an abatement notice if smoke from bonfires causes a nuisance. We have published further guidance on this issue Reducing air ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of Surfers Against Sewage's publication entitled Water Quality Report 2025, published in April
Answer: This Government is taking significant steps to improve water quality and reform the sector. The Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, closed its public call for evidence in April with over 50,000 responses. An interim report is due in...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: EquipmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the sale of flying ring frisbees.
Answer: No, the Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the sale of flying ring frisbees. This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMarine Recovery Fund and Nature Restoration FundDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to combine the proposed (a) Nature Restoration Fund and (b) Marine Recovery Fund.
Answer: The Marine Recovery Fund is being established as a voluntary mechanism to deliver strategic compensation for offshore wind developers.
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers and Seas and Oceans: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NGOs, (b) non-profit organisations and (c) Surfers Against Sewage on levels of sewage in rivers and seas.
Answer: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including Surfers Against Sewage, on levels of sewage in rivers and seas. As part of our Plan for Change, we are putting water companies under special measures through our land...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether fines received for environmental breaches are hypothecated back into environmental schemes.
Answer: Following the Spending Review, this Government has confirmed that water company fines and penalties will be allocated to projects and programmes across the country which contribute to water quality. Over £100 million in fines levied against water companie...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWater CompaniesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of Water Commission's 2025 interim report findings on (a) dividends and (b) debts of water compan
Answer: The Government is clear that transformative change is needed across the water sector, and will be carefully considering Sir Jon’s preliminary conclusions as outlined in the interim report published on 3 June. The Government will respond to the findings in...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of public waterways polluted by sewage on (a) young children and (b) families.
Answer: The level of sewage in our waterways is unacceptable, that is why this Government has taken practical steps to mitigate this. The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 24 February. The Act will require water companies to publish real-...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: Public Benefit CorporationsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislation to force water companies to become public benefit corporations.
Answer: The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will recommend reforms to reset the water sector regulatory system and is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. It is considering a wide range of areas, includin...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility fees for (a) glass and (b) plastic packaging on small producers
Answer: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector. The Government recognises the importance of prot...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBeaches: North CornwallDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve water quality at beaches in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has recruited two new Water Industry Regulation teams who are increasing regulation of water company sites in Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, undertaking more compliance checks (including unannounced inspections), translat...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMiscanthusDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential environmental merits of including Miscanthus as an incentivised crop under SFI 2026.
Answer: The publication cited has been superseded by the following: Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme: expanded offer for 2024 - GOV.UKCountryside Stewardship Higher Tier: get ready to apply - GOV.UK The moorland offer is designed to help deliver our environme...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the presence of (a) antidepressants, (b) contraceptives and (c) other over-the-counter medications in the water supply.
Answer: Water companies are required by law to assess and manage risks to drinking water quality, including those posed by pharmaceutical substances such as antidepressants, contraceptives and over-the-counter medications. Where a risk is identified, appropriate ...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing higher penalties for the failure of water companies to adequately (a) monitor and (b) report on sew
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Since 1 January 2025, water companies have been required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the dis...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise the failure to prevent dumping of sewage into public waterways by water companies.
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Storm Overflows are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). Where breaches are found, EA will not hesitate to hold companies to account...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWildlife: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish his response to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's 7th Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 relating to marine ma
Answer: We are carefully reviewing the proposals, including for marine mammals, from the 7 Quinquennial Review, taking into account our nature recovery ambitions. The Government has concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) a...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCetaceans and Seals: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) add all resident pinniped species to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (b) protect all pinniped and cetacean
Answer: We continue to consider the evidence for legislative change. This includes the proposals submitted by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to the previous Government for amending the lists of species afforded protection by the Wildlife and Countryside ...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: WalkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a timeline for the (a) planning and (b) development of the nine new national river walks.
Answer: Officials are continuing to scope out the delivery of the nine new national river walks manifesto commitment. Further details will be published in due course.
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: WalkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the selection criteria his Department is using to (a) review and (b) allocate funding for locations for the nine new national river walks.
Answer: Officials are continuing to scope out the delivery of the nine new national river walks manifesto commitment. Further details will be published in due course.
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits when sewage is released by water companies that poses a risk to human health of requiring (a) a physical warning system and (b)
Answer: Under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, local authorities with a designated bathing water must actively disseminate and promptly make available to the public, in the near vicinity of the bathing water, a warning whenever short-term pollution is predicte...
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFishing Gear: SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on setting gill nets in areas frequently used by surfers, swimmers, and paddleboarders
Answer: Decisions on an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on setting gill nets in areas frequently used by surfers, swimmers, and paddleboarders is shared between several bodies. These include Local Authorities which oversee the safet...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFishing GearDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum-distance rule for gill nets.
Answer: Decisions on an assessment 0-6 nautical miles from the shore would be for individual Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, with measures beyond six nautical miles falling to the Marine Management Organisation.
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to enforce the responsibility of water companies to publish accessible real-time data on sewage released into (a) rivers, (b) seas and (c) other publi
Answer: Since 1 January 2025, water companies are required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. The Secretary of State has authorised Ofwat to carry out enforcement action for this duty, in acc...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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