Written questions by Jopp.

Food and Rural Affairs, where the River Thames Scheme is on the Environment Agency's register.

Taking the register referred to as meaning a risk register, the River Thames Scheme is managed as part of the Environment Agency’s (EA’s) capital FCRM Investment programme and is therefore captured within the wider programme-level corporate risk register, rather than as an individual project risk. FCRM Investment programme risks are overseen and managed through the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) assurance framework, ensuring consistent oversight and mitigation across all major schemes. The approach focuses on managing uncertainty and delivery risk collectively to ensure the programme remains within acceptable risk tolerance while maintaining delivery confidence and value for money. The EA’s risk management framework follows standards set out in the UK Government ‘Orange Book’.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on the River Thames Scheme.

The River Thames Scheme is a proposed flood risk management project being developed by the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council. It is a landscape-based project designed to reduce flood risk to over 11,000 homes and businesses, while also creating new green open spaces and sustainable travel routes. The River Thames Scheme is currently in mid project review. This review is to ensure that the scheme remains efficient, cost-effective and aligned with long-term goals; and to ensure the project delivers flood risk benefits in a robust and sustainable manner.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the water quality of water from places with floating solar panels on the source.

Defra has made no such assessment. The Government takes the quality of all of our waterways very seriously; cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas is a top Government priority and that is why we have commissioned an independent review to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 36002 on Solar Power: Reservoirs, which legislation could impact what can and cannot be done regarding installing solar panels on a reservoir.

While Defra is responsible for policy on water, including on reservoirs, it is not responsible for the legislation that is likely to apply concerning the installation of solar panels on a reservoir.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of floating solar panels on reservoirs on the Environment Agency's risk designation for such reservoirs.

When considering the risk designation of reservoirs, the Environment Agency looks at the volume of water that could be stored by the reservoir, along with the potential loss of life that could occur should there be an uncontrolled release of that water. The use of the reservoir for things such as solar panels does not affect the risk designation. If solar panels were to be installed on a reservoir, the Environment Agency would recommend that a qualified Panel Engineer is consulted to assess any associated reservoir safety risk. It is worth noting that there is other legislation that may apply which could impact on what can and cannot be done.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to reinstate dredging to increase river capacity.

Where watercourse maintenance is the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA), it focuses its efforts on those activities which will achieve the greatest benefit in terms of protecting people and property from flooding. This includes dredging, which the EA will undertake an assessment of, working in close consultation with local communities. For many locations, there are more effective ways to protect land and communities from floods as part of a catchment-based approach.