Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the change in average household water bills on a family home in England in cash terms between (a) 2025 and (b) 2030; and what proportion of this change is (a) assumed inflation and (b) increases in charges other than inflation.

For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. Ofwat’s final determinations set out in December 2024 that bills in England and Wales will increase by an average £31 (or 36%) per year, before inflation, between 2025 and 2030. Individual bills will vary depending on the circumstances of each household: for instance, metered customers’ bills depend on their water use and non-metered customers’ bills can depend on the rateable value or assessed water use of the property. Government expects water companies to ensure their customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help. Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs – from 4% of customers supported in 2020-25, to 9% by 2030.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the average water usage per household is in volume terms by number of (a) bedrooms and (b) occupants.

This information is publicly available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-resources-2023-2024-analysis-of-the-water-industrys-annual-water-resources-performance/water-resources-2023-2024-analysis-of-the-water-industrys-annual-water-resources-performance

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether he plans to provide (a) guidance and (b) directions on innovative tariffs.

As set out in the previous answer, as the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Independent Water Commission publishes interim findings, published on 3 June 2025, whether consideration of changes to household water tariffs is within scope of the final report of the Commission.

The Commission will report later in 2025 on how to tackle inherited systemic issues in the water sector to help restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health, meet the challenges of the future and contribute to economic growth.

Food and Rural Affairs, which water companies are planning to trial progressive or rising block water tariffs, and to what timetables, according to the latest information held by (a) Ofwat and (b) his Department.

All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030. A list of all current and planned trials is publicly available on Ofwat’s website, which can be found here.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on (a) which water companies are planning to trial seasonal water tariffs and (b) the timetables for those trials.

All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030. A list of all current and planned trials is publicly available on Ofwat’s website, which can be found here.

Food and Rural Affairs, what targets have been set by (a) his Department and (b) Ofwat on rolling out residential water smart meters between 2025 and 2030; and how smart meters are funded.

Smart metering is essential for Government water demand reduction targets. Defra has set out, through its regulators, that it expects water companies to uphold their commitment to halve leakage by 2050, through smart metering as part of the statutory water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038. Water companies have committed to increase metering to around 70% across household customers by 2040. To enable this, Ofwat has set targets on smart meter delivery through Price Control Deliverables in its Price Review 2024. These set out meter communication, connectivity and data completeness standards. Companies are incentivised to meet this target through non-delivery payments (where customers are reimbursed for failure to deliver commitments). The Government expects all newly installed meters to be smart; this includes companies running upgrade programmes for those on older meters. These programmes must have customer support and provide value for money before being approved as part of a company’s Water Resource Management Plan. Companies have social tariff programmes to protect consumers who cannot afford their bills.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) metered and (b) unmetered households can refuse the installation of a water smart meter.

Smart metering is essential for Government water demand reduction targets. Defra has set out, through its regulators, that it expects water companies to uphold their commitment to halve leakage by 2050, through smart metering as part of the statutory water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038. Water companies have committed to increase metering to around 70% across household customers by 2040. To enable this, Ofwat has set targets on smart meter delivery through Price Control Deliverables in its Price Review 2024. These set out meter communication, connectivity and data completeness standards. Companies are incentivised to meet this target through non-delivery payments (where customers are reimbursed for failure to deliver commitments). The Government expects all newly installed meters to be smart; this includes companies running upgrade programmes for those on older meters. These programmes must have customer support and provide value for money before being approved as part of a company’s Water Resource Management Plan. Companies have social tariff programmes to protect consumers who cannot afford their bills.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51132 on Water Charges, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the rollout of (a) progressive water metering or rising block tariffs and (b) seasonal water metering in addition to the planned trials on its guidance entitled Charging guidance to Ofwat, published in January 2016.

The Government supports innovative approaches aiming to make bills more affordable for their customers. Defra are not conducting separate assessments. Ofwat regulates the trials by requiring companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected while these important trials take place.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the timing of the update of the National Policy Statement for Waste Water on sewerage capacity.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure. As indicated in Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill impact assessment, the Bill includes statutory timeframes for relevant National Policy Statements to be updated. Defra owns the National Policy Statement on wastewater, and it will be updated in line with this new statutory requirement. Once updated this will provide developers with heightened certainty enabling a smoother planning process. The National Policy Statement sets out the process for development consent applications for major wastewater infrastructure. These major infrastructure projects fall within the definition of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) as defined in the Planning Act 2008. Sewerage undertakers are required to prepare, publish and maintain Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how the sewerage undertaker intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the status is of Natural England's national landscape areas of outstanding natural beauty proposed designations for (a) the new Yorkshire Wolds, (b) the new Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, (c) extensions in the Surrey Hills and (d) extensions in the Chilterns; and whether changes have been made to the (i) timetable and (ii) target dates since July 2024.

The work considering the Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape and the Surrey Hills National Landscape extension is live and progressing in line with information shared on the project websites. There have been no major changes to timetables since July 2024, timelines are shaped by evidence received through consultation so can be subject to change. We are currently working towards submissions of a Designation Order to the Secretary of State for the Surrey Hills and the Yorkshire Wolds projects. The work on the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Landscape and the Chiltern National Landscape extension has been stopped.

Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities would be affected by Natural England's National Landscape area of outstanding natural beauty proposed designations for (a) the new Yorkshire Wolds, (b) the new Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, (c) extensions in the Surrey Hills and (d) extensions in the Chilterns; and how many hectares would be added.

The Local Authorities affected by the Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape designation are North Yorkshire Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. At present, the proposed new National Landscape covers 465km² (46500ha). The Local Authorities affected by the Surrey Hills extension proposals are Waverley Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Guildford Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Hampshire County Council, Mole Valley District Council, City of London, London Borough of Croydon, Tandridge District Council, London Borough of Bromley, Surrey County Council. The total proposed extension area is currently 129 km²(12900ha). The work on the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Landscape and the Chiltern National Landscape extension has been stopped.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase sewage capacity for new build homes.

Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 on 19 December, setting company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. The £104 billion funding package is the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation and is set to be the second largest private sector investment programme in this parliament. This planned investment will support new home building.Under the Environment Act 2021, a new duty has been created for water companies in England to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans. These explain how a water company intends to improve its drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many days Ministers in his Department have worked in (a) departmental offices and (b) Government hubs outside London since 5 July 2024.

As under the previous Government, Defra does not hold specific information regarding how many days Defra Ministers have worked in departmental offices and Government hubs outside of London since 5 July 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) progressive and (b) rising block metering tariffs on water bills for homes occupied by families with children.

As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including families, with their water bills.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of seasonal water metering tariffs on water bills.

The Government supports innovative approaches aiming to make bills more affordable for their customers. Defra are not conducting separate assessments. Ofwat regulates the trials by requiring companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected while these important trials take place.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he plans to de-designate the Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest to allow housebuilding previously planned for the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

Section 28D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides the legal framework for denotification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). If Natural England’s opinion is that an SSSI (or part of an SSSI) is no longer of special interest e.g. because of natural changes, they can denotify it. The Secretary of State has no role in the de-notification of terrestrial SSSIs. Natural England has no plans to de-notify the site. They report that all but 1 of the 12 special features of Swanscombe Peninsula are in favourable condition.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45683 on Waste Management: Birmingham, if he will publish the (a) advice and (b) assessments provided by the Environment Agency as part of the multi-agency response.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been a core member of the multi-agency response from the outset. This has not required the production of any risk assessments or written advice in connection with the ongoing incident. The EA is committed to the ongoing support to our partners and has confirmed support for the risk assessments and plans produced by Birmingham City Council as part of the multiagency response.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 on Question 47705 on Client Earth, (a) when and (b) how his Department has engaged with Client Earth since July 2024.

The Department engages with Client Earth in a range of ways. Myself and Client Earth attended a United Nations General Assembly event on 25 September 2024. Client Earth participated in an online Collective Intelligence debate as part of our Environmental Improvement Plan review, in March 2025. We responded to Client Earth letters on 7 January, 23 January and 5 February 2025, and to further correspondence to which Client Earth were co-signatories, since July 2024. Client Earth staff also receive Departmental newsletters.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48443 on Water Charges, whether the introduction of (a) progressive and (b) seasonal water metering tariffs would require Government (i) support and (ii) consent.

This Government supports the innovative approaches being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills fairer and more affordable. All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030 and some of them plan to introduce them more widely for additional customers if the trials are successful. Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Information on Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK.