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1058690
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-02-11more like thismore than 2019-02-11
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Water: Pollution Control more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce water pollution from industry. more like this
tabling member constituency Strangford more like this
tabling member printed
Jim Shannon more like this
uin 219438 remove filter
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-18more like thismore than 2019-02-18
answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Water pollution from industry is controlled by permits issued under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2015. In England, these permits are issued by the Environment Agency (EA) and control the levels of pollution in effluent discharges by setting limits on the chemical concentration and volume of the effluent. The limits are set to protect waters from the adverse impacts of pollution and to meet the appropriate environmental standards for river, ground water and bathing water quality. Operators must comply with the permit and it is an offence to breach a permit condition. Enforcement action may be taken dependant on the nature and severity of the offence.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to controlling pollution from discharges using permits, the EA receives around 40,000 water pollution incident reports per year. Most have little or minor impact but there are around 250 incidents per year which are classified as significant or serious. Very few of these are deliberate acts and are caused accidentally after spillage or system failure. Most significant or serious pollution incidents come from the water industry and agriculture. The remainder are spread across other sectors such as transport, retail, manufacturing, domestic and residential or are a result of natural causes.</p><p> </p><p>The EA responds to all serious incidents and follows them up with appropriate action including warning letters, formal caution, civil sanctions and prosecution. In 2014 the sentencing guidelines were revised so that fines are now related to the level of culpability and the company’s turnover. This has seen a steep rise in the value of fines which is now a much greater deterrent to causing pollution.</p><p> </p><p>Working to control discharges through environmental permits and by taking decisive action in response to pollution offences has led to significant reductions in pollution and improvements in water quality over recent years. Plans for continued improvement in this area are included in the Government's 25 Year Environmental Plan.</p>
answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal more like this
answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-18T11:06:26.307Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-18T11:06:26.307Z
answering member
4098
label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey more like this
tabling member
4131
label Biography information for Jim Shannon more like this
171574
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answering body
Department for Energy and Climate Change more like this
answering dept id 63 more like this
answering dept short name Energy and Climate Change more like this
answering dept sort name Energy and Climate Change more like this
hansard heading Members: Correspondence more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 14 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to N Alves Lopes. more like this
tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
tabling member printed
Sir Gerald Kaufman more like this
uin 219438 remove filter
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2015-01-05more like thismore than 2015-01-05
answer text <p>I replied to the rt. hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 22 December 2014. A copy of my reply is attached.</p> more like this
answering member constituency West Suffolk more like this
answering member printed Matthew Hancock more like this
question first answered
less than 2015-01-05T15:25:54.857Zmore like thismore than 2015-01-05T15:25:54.857Z
answering member
4070
label Biography information for Matt Hancock more like this
attachment
1
file name Letter to G Kaufman 22.12.14.pdf more like this
title Letter to G Kaufman 22.12.14 more like this
tabling member
451
label Biography information for Sir Gerald Kaufman more like this