To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with United Utilities on the level of sewage released into
the River Severn.
<p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with representatives of the water
industry to discuss a range of issues, including reducing sewage discharges. This
Government will continue to take bold action to tackle sewage pollution and hold all
water companies, including United Utilities, to account for delivery.</p><p>The Government
is clear that the volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is unacceptable.
This is why we launched the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, setting stringent
targets to reduce discharges from storm overflows. This Plan will drive the largest
infrastructure programme in water company history - £60 billion capital investment
over 25 years.</p><p>The River Severn is not a catchment in which United Utilities
operates.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference
to the Fifth Special Report of Session 2022-23 of the Environmental, Food and Rural
Affairs Committee on Species Reintroduction: Government response to the Committee's
Fifth Report, published on 27 October 2023, HC 1931, on what criteria her Department
decides when it is appropriate to support the reintroduction of recently lost former
native species.
<p>The reintroduction of any species in England should follow our published guidance
and Code for Reintroductions, which provides the best practice for assessing the benefits
and impacts of releasing a species into the wild. The appropriateness of a reintroduction
proposal will be highly dependent on the specific circumstances in which it is made,
for example the surrounding environmental conditions, socio-economic circumstances,
or species already present in that location. As such, Natural England assess applications
for release licences on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that any applications align
to the Code.</p>
