Written questions by Stephenson.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to upgrade sewage infrastructure in Mid Bedfordshire constituency in this Parliament.

The Secretary of State and I have secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. There are several schemes at sewage treatment works in the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency that have been or will be completed during Asset Management Period (AMP) 7 (2020 – 2025). This includes a 0.5 mg/l Phosphate limit at Marston Mortaine STW to be delivered by 22/12/2024. A groundwater investigation into water quality at Upper Sundon has been completed. Five other works have also had investigations into storm overflows, flows within the works and storm and flow monitors installed. Other improvements to the infrastructure, including the sewer network and at sewage treatment works will be carried out by Anglian Water through a part of their AMP. We do not have sight of this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sustainable drainage systems in managing flood risk on new housing developments.

Planning policy requires that Sustainable Drainage Systems are included in all new major developments, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The Government is currently assessing how best to implement its ambitions on sustainable drainage, while also being mindful of the cumulative impact of new regulatory burdens on the development sector.