- by Karma Loveday
Parliament: microplastics, cooperatives and flood insurance and tax
Microplastics and wastewater treatment:
Responding to a written question from Conservative MP Anne Main, on what assessment the government has made of the contribution of wastewater treatment plants to tackling the problem of micro plastics, water minister Therese Coffey said: “The Environment Agency is currently working with the water industry and leading academics in the field to investigate the quantities, sources and types of micro-plastics entering the environment via sewage and sewage sludge.
This work is being carried out as part of the water industry investment planning process and will inform future consideration of measures to reduce micro-plastics at source and the potential for plastic capture technology at water company waste water treatment plants.”
Water cooperatives: Energy minister Claire Perry told Labour MP Dan Jarvis in a written answer that the government has not assessed the potential merits of the use of a cooperative model of ownership for gas and water providers.
Flood Re: Water minister, Therese Coffey, provided answers to oral questions from MPs on the Flood Re scheme to provide affordable flood insurance for people living in high flood risk areas.
Tax havens: Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Baroness Randerson enquired whether the government has considered introducing rules on the use of offshore tax havens to Train Operating Companies, equivalent to those being considered in relation to water companies. She was told the franchises require compliance with general tax rules.