Written questions by Lewis.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring a nationwide presence of offices for the new water regulator in England.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether steps are being taken to provide staff transferring to a new water regulator in England with (a) a single set of terms and conditions, (b) access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme, (c) access to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, (d) job security and (e) protection and support for those with disabilities and other needs.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether there were (a) formal minutes and (b) formal agendas for the meetings held between Ministers and Water company CEOs for the last three months of 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with trade unions on the proposed new water regulator for England.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 107393, where the Minister responded that "there was not a formal working group for the White Paper", to clarify whether her Department intends to issue a correction to the White Paper, which states on page 16 that working groups were set up to inform the development of the White Paper.

The Government’s water White Paper states that we established ‘numerous working groups’ for the purpose of developing the policies behind our extensive reforms, as opposed to a single formal working group for the White Paper. We have clarified this is our response to PQ UIN 107393.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 89500, if she will publish a list of water companies which confirmed the use biobeads.

As Water Minister I have written to water companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is. Letters of response are currently being analysed and will be used for development of our understanding of bio-bead usage across the industry.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper, published on 20 January 2026, how members of the working groups were selected; which (a) people and (b) organisations participated in the working groups; and if she will publish the minutes of the working groups.

A wide range of stakeholders were consulted on reforms through the Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence, which received over 50,000 responses. While there was not a formal working group for the White Paper, ahead of publication the Government also engaged with stakeholders across the water system, including investors, water companies, consumer groups, regulators and environmental groups. The Government will continue to work constructively with interested parties on reforms and consult on specific measures as needed.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the Water Sector Reform White Paper.

The White Paper will be published early this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofwat and (b) the Environment Agency on the biobeads spill in Sussex; and whether Southern Water will be fined for that spill.

Environment Agency (EA) officers have been working with all local partners on the initial and long term clean up strategy and have gathered the necessary evidence from impacted areas. The EA will apply their enforcement and sanctions policy when deciding on an appropriate enforcement response.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the biobeads spill in Sussex.

The Environment Agency (EA) has a dedicated investigations team to establish cause, pathway and impact on the environment of this pollution event. As a live investigation, I am unable to publicly share details that may harm the credibility of any case which the EA may later bring to the courts. But I can tell you that EA officers have been working with all local partners on the initial and long term clean up strategy and have gathered the necessary evidence from impacted areas. I note that Southern Water Services have publicly stated that inspections at their Eastbourne works have found a damaged filter screen.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to stop companies from using biobeads.

Polluting our waterways is unacceptable. It is right that Southern Water has taken responsibility for the incident at Camber Sands, East Sussex, caused by a failure of a screening filter at their Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works. Defra Ministers are in close contact with the Environment Agency, which is now conducting an active investigation into the incident. A decision on the enforcement action will be made in the coming weeks. The sector must step up to deliver improvements for the benefit of customers and the environment, and we are taking decisive action to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. Water companies should take all necessary precautions to ensure all equipment is properly constructed and maintained to prevent the unauthorised or accidental escape of bio-beads from wastewater treatment works into the environment. The Government is looking into developing new standards for infrastructure resilience which, coupled with robust water company planning through Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans and the new statutory Pollution Incident Reduction Plans, will drive investment to improve wastewater assets and reduce pollution into our environment. I have written to Water Companies asking them to explain their use of bio-beads in the water industry and alternatives.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85834 on Water Companies: Criminal Proceedings, if she will confirm the number of live proceedings which are subject to reporting restrictions by the court.

Details about all open enforcement and customer disputes cases with Ofwat are available on the Ofwat website. Information about formal cautions and prosecutions carried out by the EA can be found here.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to publish a list of live legal cases the Government is taking against water companies.

At the conclusion of an investigation into a water company the Environment Agency (EA) will ordinarily be able to disclose the fact of the live prosecution from the point the information has been laid and summons granted. This is subject to any reporting restrictions imposed by the Court. Information about formal cautions and prosecutions carried out by the EA can be found here. For any ongoing criminal investigations into water companies, the EA may be constrained in what it can say in order to ensure that they do not prejudice the ongoing investigations, or any criminal proceedings that may follow. Each investigation would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Details about all open enforcement and customer disputes cases with Ofwat are available on the Ofwat website.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for the publication for the update Greening Government commitments.

I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave on 30 April 2025 to Question 45716.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to monitor the steps water companies are taking to ensure drought preparedness.

Water companies are required to produce drought plans which are a statutory requirement and are expected to be reviewed annually. The Environment Agency (EA) as the regulator request an industry wide annual drought preparedness report every April. This covers companies’ readiness to respond to drought, updates on work it has done to improve its readiness, such as drought permit environmental assessments or training and exercises. In response to the dry weather this year, water companies are ready to or already have implemented communications regarding drought preparedness. In some areas, companies have stepped up their engagement with customers on using water wisely, managing demand and taking efforts to reduce leakages as part of their drought preparation measures. The EA continue to work with water companies to ensure they follow their drought plans. Water companies are continuing to attend the National Drought Group meetings to update regulators and stakeholders on the latest dry weather impacts and drought preparedness this summer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timeline is for establishing water consumer panels.

As announced in July 2024, consumers will gain powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. The Water (Special Measures) Act now provides Ofwat with the power to make rules on company governance, including rules which achieve having arrangements in place for involving consumers in decisions that are likely to have an impact on consumer matters. Ofwat will conduct a consultation this summer that will determine the new rule and allow for the establishment of the panels.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to update the Greening Government Commitments to include commuting.

The government is currently reviewing the Greening Government Commitments to ensure they remain aligned with government priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he had with (a) NGOs and (b) district licensing scheme providers other than Natural England on the potential impact of the inclusion of species in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on (i) protected species and (ii) farming revenues.

In December, we published a working paper on our proposal to establish a Nature Restoration Fund through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We have listened carefully to feedback from the working paper and engagement with the development industry, nature conservation organisations and other stakeholders in developing this legislation. We continue to engage stakeholders and will work with private providers and land managers, including district licensing scheme providers, to ensure competition and innovation in securing impactful and good value for money interventions. We are committed to delivering a win-win for nature and the economy. An Environmental Delivery Plan can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures will outweigh the negative effects of development.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Nature Restoration Fund on district licensing schemes.

In December, we published a working paper on our proposal to establish a Nature Restoration Fund through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We have listened carefully to feedback from the working paper and engagement with the development industry, nature conservation organisations and other stakeholders in developing this legislation. We continue to engage stakeholders and will work with private providers and land managers, including district licensing scheme providers, to ensure competition and innovation in securing impactful and good value for money interventions. We are committed to delivering a win-win for nature and the economy. An Environmental Delivery Plan can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures will outweigh the negative effects of development.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Nature Restoration Fund on the size of populations of (a) great crested newts, (b) bats, (c) dormice and (d) other protected species.

In December, we published a working paper on our proposal to establish a Nature Restoration Fund through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We have listened carefully to feedback from the working paper and engagement with the development industry, nature conservation organisations and other stakeholders in developing this legislation. We continue to engage stakeholders and will work with private providers and land managers, including district licensing scheme providers, to ensure competition and innovation in securing impactful and good value for money interventions. We are committed to delivering a win-win for nature and the economy. An Environmental Delivery Plan can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures will outweigh the negative effects of development.