Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alison Griffiths this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–18 of 18 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for establishing a statutory Water Ombudsman; what assessment she has made of the powers required to provide effective redress to customers; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of an Ombudsman on access to redress for customers served by water companies operating in coastal communities, including Southern Water.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish an implementation plan for the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission setting out whether each recommendation (a) has been accepted, rejected and remains under consideration and (b) requires primary legislation, secondary legislation, regulatory action and non-legislative departmental action; and if she will set an indicative timetable for implementation of each recommendation accepted.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable she has set for introducing primary legislation to reform the regulation of the water sector; and whether she plans to publish (i) draft clauses and (ii) a policy paper setting out how that legislation will provide for the (a) establishment of a single integrated water regulator, (b) transfer of functions from existing regulators and (c) commencement of the new regulatory framework.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what transitional governance arrangements she plans to put in place before the establishment of a single integrated water regulator; which body will be responsible during that transition for coordinating functions exercised by Ofwat, the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Consumer Council for Water; and whether she plans to publish a transition plan.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable she has set for ending operator self-monitoring by water companies; what assessment she has made of the additional data, staffing, laboratory, digital and enforcement capacity required by regulators to replace operator self-monitoring; and whether she plans to publish that assessment.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current frequency of bathing water testing at designated bathing sites in West Sussex.
The bathing water regulations require a minimum of monthly sampling during the bathing season. The Environment Agency exceeds this requirement by sampling all designated bathing waters at least fortnightly, with more frequent sampling undertaken where app...
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Southern Water on improving bathing water quality at coastal sites in West Sussex.
Recent discussions by Defra and its Arms Length Bodies with Southern Water have focused on improving bathing water quality at priority coastal sites in West Sussex, particularly those classified as ‘poor’ or ‘at risk’. The Environment Agency, Southern Wat...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to review how bathing water quality information and sewage discharge data are communicated to the public in real time.
The Government is committed to improving the transparency and accessibility of data. Water companies must publish data on storm overflow discharges within one hour of discharges beginning. Water companies will provide equivalent coverage for 50% of emerge...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current four-year rolling bathing water classification model.
Bathing water classifications are based on multiple years of monitoring data to provide a robust and reliable assessment of water quality. This approach for annual classifications helps smooth short-term variability in water quality and supports the ident...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered introducing year-round bathing water quality monitoring at designated bathing waters.
The Environment Agency monitors bathing waters during the annual bathing water season which runs from 15 May-30 September. In November 2025 the Government amended the Bathing Water Regulations (2013) to provide the opportunity for flexible, site‑specific ...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the condition and remaining operational lifespan of pumping, outfall, and other flood risk management assets for which it is responsible in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency; and what plans are in place to refurbish or replace those assets where required.
Over the last 5 years, the Environment Agency has inspected all the flood risk assets it operates and maintains across the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton area. Each year the Environment Agency delivers an asset reconditioning programme whereby assets rated poor or worse are prioritised for repair or replacement when funding is available. Priority is given to assets that protect the most properties, and assessments are made on decommissioning assets where they no longer provide a flood risk benefit.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the enforcement powers available to the Environment Agency to ensure effective oversight of the maintenance of privately owned watercourses in high flood risk areas; and what steps she is taking to review those powers.
Defra has examined the statutory powers and responsibilities for mapping, monitoring, inspecting and maintaining all flood and coastal erosion risk assets, including those owned by third parties. This review which also considered enforcement powers, including under the Water Resources Act 1991, will be published soon. We expect all asset owners, risk management authorities, public and community bodies, private organisations and riparian owners to invest in maintenance and make timely repairs. The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on riparian owners Owning a watercourse.
Food and Rural Affairs, what watercourse maintenance and channel clearance works the Environment Agency carried out on the Aldingbourne Rife in the last 24 months; and what further works are planned in 2026–27.
The Environment Agency has invested over £735,000 in the past two years on routine vegetation clearance and channel maintenance across the Aldingbourne Rife and connected watercourses. Each May the Environment Agency inspects the channel, followed by machine and hand‑cutting works through summer and autumn as needed. Flood risk assets, including the Bognor Regis sea wall, ramps and flood gates and Felpham Pumping station, are routinely checked throughout the year and debris screens are cleared whenever needed, 24/7, especially before and during rainfall events. This pattern of routine maintenance and operational checks will continue in 2026-2027.
Food and Rural Affairs, how much flood risk management funding has been allocated to Environment Agency projects affecting the Aldingbourne Rife catchment in each of the last five financial years; and what funding is planned for each of 2026–27 and 2027–28.
The Environment Agency has invested over £735,000 in the past two years on routine vegetation clearance and channel maintenance across the Aldingbourne Rife and connected watercourses. Each May the Environment Agency inspects the channel, followed by machine and hand‑cutting works through summer and autumn as needed. Flood risk assets, including the Bognor Regis sea wall, ramps and flood gates and Felpham Pumping station, are routinely checked throughout the year and debris screens are cleared whenever needed, 24/7, especially before and during rainfall events. This pattern of routine maintenance and operational checks will continue in 2026-2027.
Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance the Environment Agency provides to local planning authorities on assessing the cumulative impact of development on surface water flood risk and drainage capacity in low-lying coastal areas.
Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) are the lead authority for managing surface water flooding. LLFAs are statutory consultees on major development, providing expert advice to local planning authorities. The Environment Agency (EA) has a strategic overview for all sources of flooding. In December 2024 the EA published its updated National Assessment of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk in England. This included an updated assessment of surface water flood risk. The EA also supports consideration of surface water flood risk in decision making for new developments through the Flood Map for Planning and Check your long term flood risk services. The EA is supporting implementation of the Government’s new flood and coastal erosion risk management funding policy, which made several improvements to aid investment in managing surface water flooding. The EA has produced guidance explaining how the new policy will work in practice.
Food and Rural Affairs, what standards or frameworks are used to assess when ongoing environmental monitoring is required following the release of plastics, foam, or other persistent materials into the marine environment.
The National Contingency Plan (NCP) has been developed to ensure there is a timely, measured and effective response to incidents of, and impact from, marine pollution, arising from both marine and terrestrial sources. The NCP sets out the role of the Environment Group, who provide public health and environmental advice to all response units with a role in responding to a significant maritime pollution incident. The Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring group (PREMIAM) is a UK-wide collaborative initiative, coordinated by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), focused on improving post-spill monitoring and response for oil and chemical incidents in the marine environment by developing guidelines, integrating Government agencies, and building a network of experts and service providers. In the event of a significant pollution incident the PREMIAM Monitoring Coordination Cell (PMCC) is stood up. The PMCC is the group responsible for the overall conduct and integrated coordination of monitoring and impact assessment activities following a significant marine incident, ensuring these activities are in line with the PREMIAM post-spill monitoring guidelines. In England the PMCC is chaired by Cefas.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to provide an Answer to Question 25490 tabled by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton on 21 January 2025.
An answer to Question 25490 was published on 24 February 2025. I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day.
All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and appropriate Codes of Practice. Where an employee feels they may have been unfairly dismissed, appropriate internal appeal routes may be instigated. Where an employee is unable to solve a problem internally, they may be able to go to an employment tribunal to claim unfair dismissal, as set out in legislation. This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with proposals in the Employment Rights Bill.