Written questions by Gardiner.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish the response to the MMO's Stage 3 marine protected areas consultation.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish baseline data for the extent of degraded ecosystems in terrestrial, inland waters and the marine environments in the UK in line with Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made in delivering Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity framework.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, to list the meetings she and her ministers have had with the NFFO since 9 June 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she agrees with Recommendation 46 of the Independent Water Commission.

Our White Paper commits to taking forward Recommendation 46 of the IWC. We will make it easier for a company’s owners to change their ownership model, by ensuring the new regulator has a transparent process to assess whether an ownership change should go ...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of the inclusion of Recommendation 46 of the Independent Water Commission in full in the Water White Paper.

Our White Paper commits to taking forward Recommendation 46 of the IWC. We will make it easier for a company’s owners to change their ownership model, by ensuring the new regulator has a transparent process to assess whether an ownership change should go ...

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the NAO on the use of the Special Administration Regime in the water sector.

The UK Government and the National Audit Office regularly engage in discussions on economic issues as part of ongoing stakeholder relations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to designate bathing water status to the 2,487 recreationally-used freshwater sites identified by the Environment Agency which currently do not have such s

The Government designates bathing waters following a public application and consultation process. This means the process is driven by individuals and groups with direct ties to sites highly popular with bathers, who best understand how they are used and v...

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her department has had with the ONS regarding the use of the Special Administration Regime in the water sector.

The UK Statistics Authority (which includes the ONS) is a Non Ministerial Department sponsored by the Cabinet Office. At present, DEFRA has not had discussions with the ONS regarding the use of SAR in the water sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on operator self-monitoring.

We are putting an end to Operator Self-Monitoring and ensuring the public have confidence in the data that is produced from water company assets. We will implement an Open Monitoring approach so everyone can see what is happening, with clear, accessible d...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 128631 to Question 27 April 2026, if she will list the 37 prosecutions by the (a) name of the water and/or sewage company prosecuted, (b) date of prosecution, (c) date of the offence for which they were prosecuted, (d) financial penalty imposed, and (e) date on which the financial penalty was received from the company.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2026 to Question 128631, how many of the 5 prosecutions related to offences which took place after 27 March 2020 were for sewage discharge offences.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the principal statutory duties are of Thames Water Utilities Limited's licence.

Under section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 a water company has the duty to ensure the supply of water within its area of appointment and to develop and maintain an efficient and economical supply system for that purpose, as well as to ensure arrangements have been made for maintaining, improving and extending its water mains and other pipes. In addition, under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, a water company that also holds a sewerage appointment has the duty to effectually deal with the contents of sewers and provide the necessary infrastructure for that purpose. All water and sewerage companies have the same statutory duties.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April to Question 127788 on Water Companies: Prosecutions, of the 37 completed prosecutions against Water and Sewerage Companies since 27 March 2020, how many of these prosecutions were for offences that took place before 27 March 2020.

Of the 37 prosecutions since 27 March 2020, 32 prosecutions were for offences that took place before 27 March 2020, and 5 prosecutions were for offences that took place after 27 March 2020.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to answer Written Parliamentary Question UIN 123113.

Written Parliamentary Question UIN 123113 was answered on 16 April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to answer Written Parliamentary Question UIN 124051.

Written Parliamentary Question UIN 124051 was answered on 28 April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions the Environment Agency has completed against Water and Sewerage Companies for offences that have taken place since 27 March 2020.

Since 27 March 2020, there have been 37 completed prosecutions against Water and Sewerage Companies. A water quality prosecution is any criminal proceedings relating to a failure to properly manage water or sewage treatment.

Food and Rural Affairs, since 27 March 2020, how many offences relating to discharge of sewage from a water company asset have the Environment Agency prosecuted.

Since 27 March 2020, there have been 37 completed prosecutions against Water and Sewerage Companies. A water quality prosecution is any criminal proceedings relating to a failure to properly manage water or sewage treatment.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of to Question 122633, on Water Companies: Repairs and Maintenance, whether her Department will publish the initial cost information on ending operator self-monitoring that has been provided by the Environment Agency.

The Government has committed to ending Operator Self Monitoring. The Environment Agency has provided early, high‑level indicative cost estimates to support the Department’s initial exploration of options for future monitoring arrangements. These figures were produced to give a broad sense of potential scale only. Further work is now underway to develop and refine the policy options and to produce more detailed and robust costings.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the most recent advice that FTI Consulting have given the Department on placing Thames Water into a Special Administration Regime.

Any advice received from FTI Consulting in this context would be commercially sensitive, and it would not be appropriate to publish it.