Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1718432

registered interest
date	15/05/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence given by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Water and Rural Growth) to the Environmental Audit Committee on 15 May 2024, which designated bathing water location was tested three times more than was statutorily necessary.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	26423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>There are currently 451 designated bathing waters in England and the Environment Agency takes over 7,000 bathing water samples each year. The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 require designated bathing waters to be sampled at least 5 times per bathing season. This year, all bathing waters in England will be sampled more than this statutory minimum. The table below summarises the number of sites at each planned sampling frequency for the 2024 bathing season.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Number of planned samples per season</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of sites</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>236</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>109</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>106</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 23/05/2024 13:18:50 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1717136

registered interest
date	10/05/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to announce his decision on bathing water designation; and for what reason this announcement has been delayed.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	25649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>The summary of responses and government response to the consultation on 27 proposed bathing water sites was published on GOV.UK on 13 May: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fconsultations%2Fbathing-waters-proposed-designation-of-27-new-bathing-waters-in-england&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C404196442f8d414e022208dc740b11cf%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638512838087285306%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Vr%2FBR3pGmcHwTJxF3EbcL7QGsmdU38l%2BbDKSYePi3yQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Bathing waters: proposed designation of 27 new bathing waters in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. The newly designated sites will be added to the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fbathing-waters-list-of-designated-waters-in-england&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C404196442f8d414e022208dc740b11cf%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638512838087297379%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=F3lf7s%2FxwmaS%2FRNag6rLO44Ca0DsOqSWdKPeR50PKSU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">list of bathing waters</a> with effect from the 2024 bathing season. Defra received 10,962 responses to the consultation on designating these sites, and ensured the confirmation of designations was made before the start of the bathing season, which begins on 15 May.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 20/05/2024 10:11:39 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1700087

registered interest
date	12/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the list of successful new bathing water sites following the consultation which closed on 10 March.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	20954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Defra plans to publish the outcomes of the consultation on the designation of 27 proposed bathing sites by the start of the 2024 bathing season, which begins on 15 May.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 23/04/2024 12:47:59 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1700144

registered interest
date	12/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the guidance entitled Designate a bathing water: guidance on how to apply, published on 3 July 2023.
tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
uin	21035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The updated bathing water guidance for England, published in July 2023, makes applying for bathing water designation clearer and more streamlined for applicants.</p><p>The main changes to the designation guidance were:</p><ul><ul><li>There must be at least 100 bathers a day at the site during the bathing season.</li><li>Applicants must carry out user surveys on two days during the bathing season (15 May-30 September) to provide evidence of this.</li><li>There must be access to toilet facilities within a short distance of up to 500m of the proposed bathing water site.</li><li>Clearer guidance on seeking local views on proposals to designate sites as bathing waters.</li><li>The introduction of an application form to make it easier for people to prepare their applications.</li></ul></ul><p> </p><p>Defra engages with a range of stakeholders on bathing waters and welcomes views on the application guidance.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 23/04/2024 16:03:49 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1677155

registered interest
date	11/12/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many inland bathing water site applications were received in 2022; and how many and what proportion of those applications were accepted.
tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
uin	6307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>In 2022 Defra received 16 bathing water applications for inland sites. Three of these sites were designated as bathing waters: Rutland Water Whitwell Creek, Rutland Water Sykes Lane and an area of the River Deben Estuary at Waldringfield, Suffolk.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 19/12/2023 12:01:01 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1660564

registered interest
date	13/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to extend the period of testing bathing water sites to 52 weeks a year.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	199386
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra will continue to reflect on changes in how and where people use bathing waters, including new evidence where it exists around when and where people use bathing waters, to feed into future bathing water policy development.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/09/2023 09:36:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1660569

registered interest
date	13/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to introduce real-time water quality monitoring stations in designated bathing water locations.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	199387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2023 answer text <p>During the bathing water season (May to September) the Environment Agency regularly monitors the bathing water quality at every designated site, resulting in the annual classifications. Alongside this the Environment Agency also issues daily pollution risk forecasts and warnings throughout the bathing water season, advising when there is likely to be reduced water quality. Defra will continue to reflect on changes in how and where people use bathing waters, including new evidence and technologies where these exist, to feed into future bathing water policy development.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Environment Act 2021, the Government will require sewerage undertakers wholly or mainly in England to report on discharges from storm overflows in near-real time by spring 2025. Furthermore, in April, we also launched our consultation on Continuous Water Quality Monitoring and Event Duration Monitoring. This outlines the Government’s proposals to enhance the monitoring of storm overflow and final effluent discharges. The Government’s response to this consultation was issued on 14 September 2023. Water companies are now taking forward plans to implement this programme from 2025.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/09/2023 10:18:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1660570

registered interest
date	13/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the adequacy of the number of designated bathing water locations classified as excellent in England.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	199388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2023 answer text <p>The number of bathing waters in England meeting the ‘excellent’ (highest) standard in 2022 was 72.1%, which is the highest since new more stringent standards were introduced in 2015.</p><p> </p><p>This is an increase of nearly 21 percentage points compared to 2010, when only 51.3% of bathing waters met the highest standard then in force. The Environment Agency works closely with local stakeholders at all designated bathing waters to drive water quality improvements.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/09/2023 10:14:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1611905

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for inland bathing water sites were submitted last year; and how many and what proportion of those applications were successful.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	181448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2023 answer text <p>In 2022 my department received 16 bathing water applications for inland sites. 3 of these sites have been designated as bathing waters: Sykes Lane Bathing Beach, Rutland Water, Whitwell Creek, Rutland Water and an area of the River Deben Estuary at Waldringfield, Suffolk.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 27/04/2023 14:41:38 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1611907

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Swimming
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has a target for the number of designated inland bathing water sites in England.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	181450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2023 answer text <p>Defra does not have a target for the number of designated inland bathing water sites in England. However, the department welcomes applications for designation of both coastal waters and inland waters such as rivers. Anyone can apply, including local authorities, groups and individuals. Defra encourages applications by writing annually to the chief executive of every local authority in England and other key stakeholders such as swimming associations. <br> <br> Our aim is to ensure the bathing waters application guidance is as clear as possible for applicants, and we will provide further information on any updates in due course.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 10/05/2023 16:31:01 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord