Question follow-through · 21896
Sewage: Waste Disposal
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing penalties for water companies that discharge sewage into (a) watercourses and (b) coastal waters.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Tabled
- 3 Jan 2025
- Target answer date
- 7 Jan 2025
- Answer
- 16 Jan 2025 · 13 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Environment and energy
- Floods: Housing · 21 Feb 2025
- Rivers: Environment Protection · 21 Feb 2025
- Environmental Land Management Schemes · 21 Feb 2025
- Sewers · 21 Feb 2025
- Rivers: Newbury · 10 Mar 2025
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Votes on this topic
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5 · 1 Jul 2026
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4 · 1 Jul 2026
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2 · 1 Jul 2026
These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.
Recorded timeline
3 Jan 2025
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing penalties for water companies that discharge sewage into (a) watercourses and (b) coastal waters.
7 Jan 2025
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
16 Jan 2025
Answer published
For too long, water companies have pumped record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. The Water (Special Measures) Bill will deliver on the Government’s commitment to put water companies under special measures. It will drive meaningful improv...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Floods: Housing
21 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of new GIS flood mapping on housebuilders' ability to secure affordable insurance for new homes.
Rivers: Environment Protection
21 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on the Chalk Stream Recovery Plan.
Environmental Land Management Schemes
21 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to implement the Environmental Land Management scheme options.
Sewers
21 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 will be implemented.
Rivers: Newbury
10 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2025 to Question 32541 on the Chalk Stream Recovery Plan, whether any of the chalk stream projects in receipt of funding from the Government's Wat
Water Charges: Newbury
10 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people in Newbury constituency with the cost of their water bills.
Water Companies: Enforcement
10 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take with (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Ofwat to ensure water companies comply with the terms of their permits.
Manure: Testing
1 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers with slurry testing to ensure correct pH levels are maintained.
Manure: Testing
1 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers with slurry testing to ensure correct pH levels are maintained.
Inland Waterways: Newbury
1 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with water companies to (a) reduce discharge levels and (b) improve water quality in local waterways in Newbury constituency.
Countryside Stewardship Scheme: Finance
7 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for announcing future funding arrangements for the Stewardship Scheme.
Flood Control: Finance
10 Jun 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for flood defence protections.