New environment secretary prioritises water and demands sewage plan from chiefs in two weeks

The new secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, Ranil Jayawardena, identified water as a top priority within hours of taking up post last week, and commenced conversations with the industry and its regulators.

On sewage pollution, Jayawardena told the House on 8 September: “The volume of sewage spewed out by water companies is completely unacceptable, and the public have rightly shown their outrage. Yesterday, in my first day in office, I told water chief executives that it is not good enough, and I have instructed them to write to me formally by 21 September with a plan for how they will make significant improvements.

“I also met the Environment Agency (EA) and Ofwat, and I told them that they should use every enforcement power available to them to make sure that there is compliance. I will not hesitate to take further action if I do not see the pace of change that this House expects.” Under the Environment Act, the EA can levy unlimited fines on water firms.

Jayawardena did not move from this position when challenged by shadow secretary of state Jim McMahon on 90 spills at coastal hotspots this summer. McMahon said: "We hear that the secretary of state is satisfied by a telephone call with water bosses, but does he not realise that they are laughing at him? They are laughing at Ofwat, laughing at the EA, laughing at the country, and laughing all the way to the bank. Without tougher penalties to ensure that there is a bottom line, they will not change their behaviour. Does he agree that there must be tougher sanctions, including prison sentences?”

Water also featured in Jayawardena’s initial statement on taking up his new responsibilities. He said: “Earlier this week, the prime minister set out her commitment to get Britain growing. That means backing our thriving British food industry, working for a cleaner environment and maximising the benefits of Brexit. From food security and supporting our farmers to water quality and economic growth for our rural communities, there is much to do, and the Government are determined to deliver."

Jayawardena, minister for international trade since May 2020 and MP for North East Hampshire since 2015, was appointed environment secretary on 6 September.

On 5 September, former environment secretary, George Eustice, laid Defra’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan in Parliament. He commented that the government “will not hesitate” to hold companies to account where discharges are happening illegally, and said the government supported Ofwat’s recent proposals to take enforcement action against companies that don’t link dividend payments to their environmental performance.

One of Eustice’s final acts in post was respond to urgent question from Brighton Pavilion’s Green MP, Caroline Lucas, demanding “a statement on sewage outflows into our beautiful waterways and on our beaches”.