Latest news with #Environment Agency
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Live Scrap Ofwat, major water review recommends
The water regulator should be abolished and replaced with a new single body covering England and Wales, a major review into the sector has urged. Sir Jon Cunliffe, who was tasked with leading the Independent Water Commission, has recommended 88 changes to the industry which he said was 'failing' customers. They included abolishing Ofwat, which oversees how much water companies in England and Wales can charge for services and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which ensures that public water supplies are safe. The report, published on Monday morning, recommended far-reaching changes to the way the water system is regulated as it found the current landscape 'fragmented and overlapping'. It also advised removing the regulatory roles of the Environment Agency and Natural England, which monitor the sector's impact on nature, such as companies illegally dumping sewage into waterways. Sir John also said that previous governments were partly to blame, telling Times Radio 'it's the failure of government to balance out all the different pressures on water'. Steve Reed, the environment secretary, will give a speech this morning promising that 'the failures of the past can never happen again'.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Environment Secretary Steve Reed to face questions on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Update: Date: 08:59 BST Title: And we're off! Content: The guests have all arrived, Kuenssberg is in the studio, and the show is about to begin. We'll bring you the key lines and moments throughout the morning right here, and you can follow along and Watch Live at the top of this page. Update: Date: 08:54 BST Title: Who's on today's show? Content: As we approach 09:00, let's look at today's full guestlist. It's Environment Secretary Steve Reed in the hot seat. He's likely to face questions on water pollution, after the Environment Agency released data showing serious incidents had risen by 60% in the past year - find more details on that in our previous post. Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will also be on the programme. As always, we'll also be hearing from the panel, which today features: Update: Date: 08:41 BST Title: 'Underinvestment and weak regulation' in England's waterways - environment secretary Content: Environment Secretary Steve Reed is likely to be grilled on the state of England's waterways after he pledged to halve the number of times sewage is discharged by water companies by 2030. It comes after data published by the Environment Agency showed 2,801 pollution incidents in England last year, the highest on record. Of these, 75 were considered to pose "serious or persistent" harm to fisheries, drinking water and human health. Reed said families had "watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution". Every year, the Environment Agency records the number of times pollution such as untreated sewage is released from water company sites such as treatment works into the country's waterways. Just three companies – Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water – were responsible for the vast majority of the most serious examples in 2024. The data comes ahead of a landmark review of the water industry, due to be published tomorrow. Update: Date: 08:32 BST Title: The prime minister's authority is in question again Content: Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Who is in charge? You might think the answer should be obvious. "This government should be walking on water, there should be nothing it can't do," a Whitehall insider suggests, given the rows and rows and rows - and yes, rows - of Labour MPs who line up behind the prime minister every Wednesday. But, by booting out a small band of backbenchers this week, Sir Keir Starmer's put the question of his authority back on the table. Answering the question of who is in charge isn't so simple after all. This government has a "backbench they - and we - are surprised to discover they can't control," says one senior official. The financial markets are breathing down its neck, with the country's debts sky high, and for good measure, what a No 10 source describes as a "deep current of instability" around the world. Starmer's next one-to-one meeting with President Donald Trump is a case in point – who knows what he will or won't say alongside the prime minister on Scottish soil next week? No-one in government can be sure how that is going to shake down, although I was very definitively told we will not be seeing Starmer swinging a club with his transatlantic pal. It is, of course, impossible for any administration to be the master of all it surveys. But convincingly displaying authority, inhabiting its power, is a different task. And neither all of Starmer's MPs, nor all of the people inside the government are sure it's being met. Update: Date: 08:21 BST Title: Labour suspends Diane Abbott for second time in two years Content: Labour MP Diane Abbott, the longest-serving female MP in Parliament, has also been suspended from the party this week over comments she made about racism. Labour has launched an investigation into Abbott's defence of a 2023 letter to a newspaper, , externalin which she said people of colour experienced racism "all their lives", which was different from the "prejudice" experienced by Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers. She apologised for those remarks at the time following criticism from Jewish and Traveller groups and was readmitted to the party after a one-year suspension. Asked by the BBC's James Naughtie if she looked back on the whole incident with regret, she said: "No, not at all." In a brief statement issued to BBC Newsnight, Abbott said: "My comments in the interview with James Naughtie were factually correct, as any fair-minded person would accept." Update: Date: 08:12 BST Title: Why did Keir Starmer suspend four Labour MPs this week? Content: Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer suspended four MPs from Labour over repeated breaches of party discipline. Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Rachael Maskell have had the party whip removed, meaning they will sit as independents in the House of Commons. This comes after dozens of Labour MPs - including the now suspended MPs - rebelled against Downing Street's proposed cuts to welfare earlier in the year, forcing the government to pass a watered-down version of its plans this month. The MP for York Central, Maskell, was a key figure in organising the rebellion against the welfare bill - calling them "Dickensian cuts" - and said this was behind her suspension. She told the BBC she had a duty to speak up for those who elected her. "I don't see myself as a rebel," she said. "But I'm not afraid to speak up about whatever is in my constituents' interests." Update: Date: 08:05 BST Title: A busy week in Westminster: A brief overview of the main headlines Content: Update: Date: 08:00 BST Title: Environment secretary to be grilled in jam-packed last show Content: Welcome to our live coverage of this week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. It is a jam-packed programme - the last before the summer break - with Environment Secretary Steve Reed, shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, and Reform UK's Nigel Farage on the show. It's been a busy week in politics so we can expect lively debate on some of these topics: You can watch the show here by clicking Watch Live at the top of the page from 09:00 BST. We'll also be bringing you text updates throughout the programme - so stick with us.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ministers plan to axe toothless water regulator Ofwat as serious sewage leaks rise 60% in a year while bills for homeowners soar
Ministers are planning to axe the toothless water regulator Ofwat after a new report revealed the number of serious pollution incidents caused by water firms rose by 60 per cent in a year. The Environment Agency revealed there were 2,801 sewage leaks, up from 2,174 in 2023, with just three firms behind 81 per cent of the most serious - Thames, Southern and Yorkshire. The agency revealed consistently poor performance from all nine water and sewerage firms in the country despite its expectations for pollution incidents to decrease. Meanwhile, just two companies – Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water – had no serious incidents last year, meeting the Environment Agency's expectations to see a trend to zero serious pollution incidents by 2025. The data comes before the publication of a landmark review of the water industry on Monday, led by Sir John Cunliffe, who will outline his recommendations to the Government on tackling the sector's environmental and financial performance. It also follows a report released by the Public Accounts Committee earlier on Friday, in which the cross-bench group of MPs called the level of pollution 'woeful' and recommended an overhaul of the regulation system. Downing Street said the Government will wait for the final report when asked if there were plans to scrap Ofwat. A No 10 spokesman said: 'We are waiting for Sir Jon Cunliffe's final report next week – you can expect us to set out our response after that on what more we will do to turn the sector around.' Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron said: 'if the Government do not commit to this, it would be a dereliction of their duty and a betrayal of millions of customers across the country. 'But the Government must not stop here, and we will continue to hold them accountable. Britain now needs a new, effective regulator, to stop the sewage scandal once and for all.' Environment Secretary Steve Reed called the figures 'disgraceful' and a 'stark reminder' of how underinvestment and weak regulation have led to sewage polluting England's waterways. 'In just one year, this new Government has banned unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses, brought in jail sentences for pollution, and secured £104 billion to upgrade crumbling sewage pipes – one of the biggest infrastructure investments in history,' he said. 'Next week the Independent Water Commission will recommend changes to strengthen the rules so we can clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.' Every year the Environment Agency records the number of times pollution, including untreated sewage, is released into waterways from water company infrastructure such as pumping stations, pipes and treatment works. The figures, released on Friday, show companies recorded a total of 2,801 incidents, up from 2,174 in 2023. The regulator assesses these incidents into categories, with category 1 (major) and category 2 (significant) considered the most serious in terms of their impact on the environment, such as damage to ecosystems, the loss of wildlife and harm to human health. Last year, 75 category 1 and 2 incidents were recorded, up from 47 the previous year - Thames Water had 33, Southern Water 15 and Yorkshire Water 13. The Environment Agency said it is clear some companies are failing to meet the targets it has set on pollution. It attributed the rise in incidents last year to persistent underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance, and reduced resilience because of the impacts of climate change. But it is understood the agency is still investigating incidents and their causes more closely to understand the major increase from 2023, particularly at Thames, which saw serious incidents double from 14 to 33. An increasing trend in pollution spills from pipes carrying wastewater uphill emerged last year, accounting for 20 per cent of the serious incidents, the watchdog said, adding these affected some protected waters for wildlife and swimming. While water companies report many of the incidents to the Environment Agency themselves, the regulator also carried out more inspections of firms last financial year, reaching more than 4,000. This means it also discovered more non-compliance from firms, with 24 per cent of sites breaching their permits. Alan Lovell, chairman of the Environment Agency, said: 'This report demonstrates continued systemic failure by some companies to meet their environmental targets. 'The water industry must act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond rapidly when it does. 'We have made significant changes to tighten our regulation of the water industry and ensure companies are held to account. With a dedicated larger workforce and increased funding, our officers are uncovering and acting on failures to comply with environmental law.' Under the Water (Special Measures) Act introduced by the Government last year, the watchdog will have greater powers to take swift action against polluting companies. To boost funding for water regulation, the Environment Agency is also consulting on a new levy on the water sector to recover the cost of enforcement activities, while the Environment Department (Defra) last week confirmed a 64 per cent increase in its funding from 2023/24. A Water UK spokesperson said: 'While there have been some improvements, it is clear that the performance of some companies is not good enough. 'This is finally being put right, with a record £104 billion investment over the next five years to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas. 'However, fundamental change to regulation is also needed. We hope that the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission next week will ensure the sector continues to get the investment it needs to drive down pollution incidents.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
System of regulating water firms needs complete overhaul, MPs warn
The system of regulating water companies needs 'a complete overhaul' as the sector hikes customer bills to expand failing infrastructure and tackle pollution, MPs have said. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the Government must act with urgency to strengthen oversight of the sector to rebuild trust and ensure its poor performance improves. In a report released on Tuesday, the committee highlighted how bills are expected to rise at their fastest rate in 20 years while customer trust in the sector is at an all-time low. Years of underinvestment, a growing population and extreme weather caused by climate change have led to intense pressure on England's ageing water system, causing widespread flooding, supply issues, sewage pollution and leakages. Last year 10 companies were unable to generate enough income to cover their interest payments at a time when the sector must invest in environmental measures, cut leaks and build new reservoirs in the coming years to avoid a shortfall of five billion litres by 2050. 'The environmental performance of companies is woeful,' the report said. 'Ofwat and the EA (Environment Agency) have failed to secure industry compliance.' The PAC said reforms to the system of regulation carried out by the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) are needed 'to address the fragmentation of accountability and failure to enforce current environmental standards'. 'There are gaps in critical areas such as oversight of the wastewater network and understanding of the condition of assets,' the report read. 'No-one is taking ultimate responsibility for balancing affordability with long-term needs.' The PAC's inquiry found that 20% of people are struggling to afford their water bills while companies are implementing huge bill increases without explaining why, or how the money will be spent. In response, the group of MPs recommended Ofwat sets clear expectations for companies to explain where customer money is being spent, why bills are rising and what improvements customers can expect for their money, in the next six months. The report also warned that company plans to spend around £12 billion in the next five years to update the antiquated sewage system will only fix around 44% of sewage overflows. And while the Environment Department (Defra) created a £11 million fund for rolling out environmental improvements from water company fines in 2024, the money has not yet been distributed, with the PAC urging the Government to do so by the end of the year. Elsewhere, the committee warned that there appears to be 'no single guiding mind' balancing the need for improvements with the impact on bills. It is therefore calling for the Government to plug the gaps in regulator responsibilities and be explicit on the trade-offs between the need for improvements, water supply needs, and the impact on bills. In terms of financial failings, the PAC is urging Ofwat to review its powers and capabilities to ensure it can act to improve the financial resilience of the sector. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, PAC chairman, said: 'The monumental scale of work required to reverse the fortunes of failing water companies is rivalled only in difficulty by the efforts needed to repair customers' faith in the sector. 'In the face of looming water shortages, steps must be taken immediately if the Government is to set the sector back on the right path. 'Customers are being expected to shoulder the burden of water companies' failings, without being told why or on what their money will be spent. 'It is past time that we had a low risk, low return water sector, from its current farcical state of overly complex, sometimes unregulated companies, and a culture of excessive dividends and borrowing. 'There is also a lot to be done in the regulatory sphere, with a pressing need to improve and streamline the existing regulatory regime. ' More must be done to stem the flow of pollution entering our waterways, as it poses a serious risk to human health and continues to degrade the quality of our lakes and rivers. 'However, regulators are overwhelmed by the number of prosecutions and appear unable to deter companies from acting unlawfully. 'Government must act now to strengthen regulators and support their efforts to hold companies to account.' An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We take our role in protecting environment and regulating the water sector very seriously. 'Our enforcement action has led to over £151 million in fines since 2015 and we are conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. 'We're also modernising our approach to regulating the water sector, with more regulation and enforcement officers, better data and are on track to carry out 10,000 inspections this year.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Crackdown on Stockport reservoir trouble 'hotspot'
New measures are being taken to clampdown on a trouble "hotspot" near a Stockport had raised concerns about unauthorised camping, fishing and anti-social behaviour around Sykes Reservoir in Alexandra Park, of noise disturbances, littering and the abuse of drugs and alcohol were "recurring, disruptive and deeply detrimental to the quality of life for those that live near the reservoir," Councillor Asa Caton a Town Hall meeting on 10 July he brought forward a motion calling for a public space protection order (PSPO), which grants powers to tackle certain anti-social activities or behaviours. The motion stated: "GMP [Greater Manchester Police] and the EA [Environment Agency] have performed joint operational visits recently with limited success." 'Protect residents' Mr Caton said: "We have explored other avenues, we've increased signage, engaged with local angling groups and stepped up patrols, but the problems persist, so a PSPO would give us the legal framework to prohibit overnight fishing and the associated behaviours, with appropriate exemptions and enforcement mechanisms."It would send a clear message that we are listening to our residents and taking action to protect their interests."Dan Oliver, Stockport Council's cabinet member for communities, culture and public protection, said he had already started to arrange a meeting to progress with the PSPO before the motion was brought up at the 10 July, according to the Local Democracy Reporting added council officers had requested more evidence about the need for the order and in the last six weeks had received "a series of reports that will justify" the Manchester Police was approached for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
