1-20 of 294 results for subject:"River Mersey"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.321 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.003 seconds
- Search query
- subject:"River Mersey"
- We searched for
- subject_t:"River Mersey" OR subject_ses:12531
Type
House
Session
More
Year
Department
More
Member
More
Primary member
More
Answering member
More
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the health of the River Mersey.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the health of the River Mersey.
River ecological health status is based on Cycle 3 classifications in the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), which were classified in 2019, partially updated in 2022, and again partially updated in 2025. The 2019 and 2022 classifications are publicly available, and the 2025 classifications are being readied for publication this Summer. Alongside this, the Environment Agency is currently reviewing all river classifications, reasons for failure, waterbody-level measures and river basin plan objectives, preparing for the December 2027 publication of Cycle 4. Cycle 4 baseline classifications are expected in 2028.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the levels of sewage inflow into the River Mersey.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the levels of sewage inflow into the River Mersey.
The Environment Agency’s 2025-2030 Water Industry National Environment Programme is assessing risks from storm overflows in the Mersey catchment. The programme requires United Utilities to investigate the impact of over 450 storm overflows and to complete three investigations aimed at developing a catchment scale approach to reducing sewage discharges.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on levels of trifluoroacetic acid in the River Mersey.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on levels of trifluoroacetic acid in the River Mersey.
The EA continues to evaluate scientific evidence, develop new testing methodologies for TFA, and refine its monitoring approach. Future recommendations may involve expanded data collection and updated regulation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2024 to Question 17003 on River Mersey: Water, when he expects the Environment Agency's national programmes report on its investigation into chemical failures and historic sources of chemicals across the Mersey...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2024 to Question 17003 on River Mersey: Water, when he expects the Environment Agency's national programmes report on its investigation into chemical failures and historic sources of chemicals across the Mersey...
I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 4 March 2024, UIN 17003. The Environment Agency’s national programmes investigating persistent chemical failures and historic sources of chemicals across England are on-going, and there are therefore no plans to publish a specific report on the Mersey.
In 2025, the Water Framework Directive classifications for the water bodies in the Mersey catchment will be subject to a new assessment and published. Data informing the current classifications is available on Gov.uk at https://environment.data.gov.uk/water-quality/view/landing.
As stated in the original response, the Environment Agency has national programmes investigating persistent chemical failures and historic sources of chemicals across England. These programmes are on-going, and there are therefore no plans to publish a specific report on the Mersey. In 2025, the Water Framework Directive classifications for the water bodies in the Mersey catchment will be subject to a new assessment and published. Data informing the current classifications is available on Gov.uk.
In the past, flooding from the Lady brook and Micker brook, which run through Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Cheadle to join the River Mersey, has caused devastation to homes and families. Does my hon. Friend agree that joint working across the region is part of the solution? Will he continue his support for the upper Mersey catchment partnership working?
In the past, flooding from the Lady brook and Micker brook, which run through Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Cheadle to join the River Mersey, has caused devastation to homes and families. Does my hon. Friend agree that joint working across the region is part of the solution? Will he continue his support for the upper Mersey catchment partnership working?
My hon. Friend has raised that specific case with me before. I am more than happy to meet her to have those conversations at speed, because I know just how valuable projects such as flood alleviation schemes are to her constituents in better protecting more homes.
My hon. Friend has raised that specific case with me before. I am more than happy to meet her to have those conversations at speed, because I know just how valuable projects such as flood alleviation schemes are to her constituents in better protecting more homes.
My hon. Friend has raised that specific case with me before. I am more than happy to meet her to have those conversations at speed, because I know just how valuable projects such as flood alleviation schemes are to her constituents in better protecting more homes.
In the past, flooding from the Lady brook and Micker brook, which run through Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme and Cheadle to join the River Mersey, has caused devastation to homes and families. Does my hon. Friend agree that joint working across the region is part of the solution? Will he continue his support for the upper Mersey catchment partnership working?
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of water in the River Mersey.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of water in the River Mersey.
We are committed to continue to improving water quality and are delivering the record investment, the stronger regulation and the tougher enforcement to improve our water for our own health, for nature and the economy. For example, on 20 February we announced plans to more than quadruple Environment Agency (EA) water company inspections, strengthening oversight, reducing the reliance on self-monitoring.
The EA has been working with United Utilities in Stockport and in the upstream catchments of the River Tame and River Goyt. Within the current investment programme (2020-2025) there are improvements due to be completed at 2 storm overflows and at 6 of the wastewater treatment works in the upstream catchments. EA has also been working with United Utilities on their investment programme for 2025-2030.
The EA also have national programmes investigating persistent chemical failures and historic sources of chemicals across the Mersey catchment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in the River Mersey.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in the River Mersey.
We are working to assess levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurring in the environment, their sources, and their potential risks to inform policy and regulatory approaches. This includes the Environment Agency’s monitoring of PFAS levels in the River Mersey as part of a national programme of PFAS monitoring. We are committed to protecting human health and the environment.
Following a ban on specific PFAS chemicals more than a decade ago (notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) we have seen a decline in the level of these chemicals in our rivers.
We have welcomed the Health and Safety Executive’s publication of the PFAS Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA). We have accepted the RMOA’s recommendations, which include work under UK REACH to reduce PFAS emissions by considering restrictions. This will begin by considering a restriction on PFAS in fire-fighting foams.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 9694 on River Mersey: Pollution, how many of the 56 pollution discharges in the River Mersey resulted in action being taken in line with the Environment Agency’s Enforcement...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 9694 on River Mersey: Pollution, how many of the 56 pollution discharges in the River Mersey resulted in action being taken in line with the Environment Agency’s Enforcement...
Following the 56 pollution discharges into the River Mersey, in line with its enforcement and sanctions policy, the Environment Agency has taken action 24 times. Five pollution occurrences resulted in warning letters, 17 resulted in site warnings and two instances resulted in advice and guidance being issued.
After initial enquiries, the Environment Agency took no further action in 12 instances where no offence was deemed to have been committed, in eight instances that had no impact on water quality and in two instances where, following its enforcement and sanctions policy, further action was deemed not to be in the public interest.
There were 10 instances where a polluter could not be identified, so further action could not be taken.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to remedy metal contamination of bed sediments in the Upper Mersey catchment that result from (a) industry and (b) urban development.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to remedy metal contamination of bed sediments in the Upper Mersey catchment that result from (a) industry and (b) urban development.
There are six existing voluntary mine-water treatment schemes to prevent metals from abandoned coal mine discharges entering watercourses within the Mersey Catchment, and there are currently two other prospective schemes in the National Mine-water Ranking Scheme.
There are no identified polluting metal mine discharges within the catchment of the River Mersey, and consequently no proposed schemes under that process.
Other sources of metals in river sediments are many and varied (mostly from historical industries and waste activities), but the Environment Agency (EA) only has a role in controlling discharges from current regulated activities (effluent discharges, waste management activities, landfill etc) and has no regulatory remit or resource to specifically extract metals from river sediments that have been affected by historical activities.
EA duties include regular and routine water quality monitoring on controlled waters (rivers, lakes, groundwater etc).
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pollutant discharges into the River Mersey have been reported to the Environment Agency in each of the past five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pollutant discharges into the River Mersey have been reported to the Environment Agency in each of the past five years.
There have been 56 pollution discharges to the River Mersey that have been substantiated by the Environment Agency in the last five years. In 2019 there were 15 reported incidents, in 2020 eight reported incidents, in 2021 five reported incidents, in 2022 ten reported incidents and in 2023 18 reported incidents.
In all instances where a polluter was identified, action was taken in line with the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanctions policy.
Motion that this House has considered tidal range energy generation. Agreed to on question.
Motion that this House has considered tidal range energy generation. Agreed to on question.
I beg to move,
That this House has considered tidal range energy generation.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Caroline.
The UK, more than any other country in the world, is uniquely positioned to harness the power of its tides. Ten per cent of the world’s tidal resources, and...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered tidal range energy generation.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Caroline.
The UK, more than any other country in the world, is uniquely positioned to harness the power of its tides. Ten per cent of the world’s tidal resources, and...
I support the hon. Gentleman in bringing forward this issue, which is really important for my constituency of Strangford. He has given the example of Swansea. Strangford lough
has obvious potential for a tidal stream, which is why there was a trial there in 2008 with SeaGen. I was a...
I support the hon. Gentleman in bringing forward this issue, which is really important for my constituency of Strangford. He has given the example of Swansea. Strangford lough
has obvious potential for a tidal stream, which is why there was a trial there in 2008 with SeaGen. I was a...
Yes, I do. There are more examples of tidal energy to come. If the Government take cognisance of the points being made in today’s debate, hopefully some progress can be made.
The former Secretary of State’s decision was met with incredulity by many figures in the industry, coming as it did...
Yes, I do. There are more examples of tidal energy to come. If the Government take cognisance of the points being made in today’s debate, hopefully some progress can be made.
The former Secretary of State’s decision was met with incredulity by many figures in the industry, coming as it did...
I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Margaret Greenwood) first and then my right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell).
I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Margaret Greenwood) first and then my right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell).
I thank my two colleagues for their interventions; I totally agree with their contributions. I hope that after today we will see more movements in tidal power. I do not want the Minister to believe that I am under any illusions about the up-front costs of tidal range generation. They...
I thank my two colleagues for their interventions; I totally agree with their contributions. I hope that after today we will see more movements in tidal power. I do not want the Minister to believe that I am under any illusions about the up-front costs of tidal range generation. They...
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way and for his excellent speech. He is right to say that, although the up-front costs of developing tidal schemes can be expensive, the lifetime costs per year are absolutely not. We are in an election year and there is a...
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way and for his excellent speech. He is right to say that, although the up-front costs of developing tidal schemes can be expensive, the lifetime costs per year are absolutely not. We are in an election year and there is a...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. He makes a great point. As I have said, right down the west coast there is a need for tidal power, which I hope we can generate. I know it is an election year, but this matter is cross-party and not about...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. He makes a great point. As I have said, right down the west coast there is a need for tidal power, which I hope we can generate. I know it is an election year, but this matter is cross-party and not about...