Conservative MPs have voted down the Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill sponsored by Labour MP and Shadow Environment Secretary, Jim McMahon.
The Bill contained provisions on the monitoring of water quality and a requirement to set targets for the reduction of sewage discharges (90% by the end of 2030). It also provided for financial penalties for sewage discharges and breaches of monitoring requirements under the Bill. The Bill would have required the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for the reduction of sewage discharges from storm overflows, including an economic impact assessment.
The Liberal Democrats also supported the Bill, but instead of backing the Bill, conservative MPs have decided to stick with their current plan to produce legislation on the reduction of storm overflows.
The legally binding targets proposed in legislation by the government include, by:
Mr McMahon said on the rejection of the Bill:
"It is clear that we have a Tory government that has run out of ideas, only regurgitating old announcements that do nothing to end sewage dumping. That is why Labour has brought forward legislation to clean up our water system. Tory MPs have an opportunity to support Labour's Water Quality Bill which will put an end to sewage dumping once and for all. Their constituents will be watching to see if they will put the best interests of our country before their party."
Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, defended the decision and said the Bill was "pointless", and that a plan was already in place. She commented:
"We already have a target for reduction in sewage discharges which we will put into law, we've already consulted to remove caps on financial penalties and we've already undertaken an assessment of sewage discharges – but unlike the opposition we have a credible, costed plan to stop the scourge of sewage."
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