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Written question asked by Andrew Snowden (Conservative) on Monday, 15 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Water: Safety Measures

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve safety measures at (a) coastal piers and (b) other locations identified as presenting a heightened drowning risk.

Answer

Water safety and drowning prevention is a shared responsibility across government and partners, including local authorities, emergency services, regulators and asset owners.

As the two largest navigation authorities, both the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency (EA) undertake public safety risk assessments to determine where on their waterways the provision of public rescue equipment would be most beneficial. Additionally, the EA shares safety advice around its assets and supports campaigns by leading experts such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) and Royal Life Saving Society. The Canal and River Trust, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and others run their own water safety campaigns across multiple channels. Defra and its ministers amplify water safety messaging by resharing content from the EA and partners on social media.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10040
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Water Safety measures
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk