asked Her Majesty's Government:What new steps they will take to promote the use of new technologies for producing energy and fuel from sewage treatment separation and processing, including sludge conversion, hydrogen output and microbial fuel cells in inorganic residues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What new steps they will take to promote the use of new technologies for producing energy and fuel from sewage treatment separation and processing, including sludge conversion, hydrogen output and microbial fuel cells in inorganic residues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will propose changes to European Union bathing water directives 76/160/EEC and 2006/7/EC to increase the protection to the public from sewage pollution on United Kingdom beaches.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will propose changes to European Union bathing water directives 76/160/EEC and 2006/7/EC to increase the protection to the public from sewage pollution on United Kingdom beaches.

SI 2007/2457. (Negative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 1 October 2007.

SI 2007/2457. (Negative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 1 October 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 10 November 2003 (WA 172), whether Belgium now meets its obligation under the urban waste water treatment directive to collect and treat urban waste water from Brussels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 10 November 2003 (WA 172), whether Belgium now meets its obligation under the urban waste water treatment directive to collect and treat urban waste water from Brussels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency collects on discharges of sewage into rivers; which rivers are monitored; and what data are collected in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency collects on discharges of sewage into rivers; which rivers are monitored; and what data are collected in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has had discussions with water companies on using sewage for energy production.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has had discussions with water companies on using sewage for energy production.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at what locations Northumbrian Water has applied to stop UV disinfection of sewage outside the bathing season; what the duration of the bathing season in the UK is; and when he expects the Environment Agency to decide on...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at what locations Northumbrian Water has applied to stop UV disinfection of sewage outside the bathing season; what the duration of the bathing season in the UK is; and when he expects the Environment Agency to decide on...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) supported into energy production through (i) fermentation, (ii) microbrial fuel cells, (iii) anaerobic digestion, (iv) gasification and (v) pyrolysis of sewage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) supported into energy production through (i) fermentation, (ii) microbrial fuel cells, (iii) anaerobic digestion, (iv) gasification and (v) pyrolysis of sewage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives are in place to encourage water companies to invest in energy production from sewage waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives are in place to encourage water companies to invest in energy production from sewage waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that the spillage of raw sewage on to the main Londonderry to Limavady road close to BallyKelly Primary School will not recur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that the spillage of raw sewage on to the main Londonderry to Limavady road close to BallyKelly Primary School will not recur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that back-up pumps are available in circumstances where primary sewage pumps fail and effluent is discharged into rivers, watercourses or the open sea; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that back-up pumps are available in circumstances where primary sewage pumps fail and effluent is discharged into rivers, watercourses or the open sea; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of sewer flooding where raw sewage has contaminated homes and property occurred in (a) England, (b) each English region and (c) each county in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of sewer flooding where raw sewage has contaminated homes and property occurred in (a) England, (b) each English region and (c) each county in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in each (a) council district and (b) parliamentary constituency had septic tank emptying agreements with Northern Ireland Water before 31 March 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in each (a) council district and (b) parliamentary constituency had septic tank emptying agreements with Northern Ireland Water before 31 March 2007.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water bills in the south-west.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on water bills in the south-west.

I want to follow up the point made by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy). At our last meeting with Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister promised that he would help to lead a joint meeting with the Treasury, because co-operation from...

I want to follow up the point made by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy). At our last meeting with Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister promised that he would help to lead a joint meeting with the Treasury, because co-operation from...

The hon. Lady advised me of her intent as well. The average bill that landed on doormats in the south-west in the past few weeks was £483, while the average metered bill was £378—well above the national average. For low-income families and the disabled, who may use quite high levels...

The hon. Lady advised me of her intent as well. The average bill that landed on doormats in the south-west in the past few weeks was £483, while the average metered bill was £378—well above the national average. For low-income families and the disabled, who may use quite high levels...

I did.

I did.

Thank you for those comments, Sir Nicholas. I have indeed had approaches from two Labour Members, and I think that some of my colleagues may also wish to speak, but they should let you know if that is the case. I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue, although, unfortunately,...

Thank you for those comments, Sir Nicholas. I have indeed had approaches from two Labour Members, and I think that some of my colleagues may also wish to speak, but they should let you know if that is the case. I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue, although, unfortunately,...

I did advise—

I did advise—

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. Does he agree that it is important that all Ministers, not only those with responsibility for water, should understand that there will be no possibility of successfully concluding the mission to end child poverty unless something is done about our high...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. Does he agree that it is important that all Ministers, not only those with responsibility for water, should understand that there will be no possibility of successfully concluding the mission to end child poverty unless something is done about our high...