“To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the steps needed to put the maintenance of churches and cathedrals on a sustainable basis.”
Asked by
Bob Blackman
Answering Minister
the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners
Answer from Hansard
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Reed)
My officials and I have regular conversations with Ofwat and other regulators. As the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, last year water companies discharged record levels of sewage into our waterways, which is why the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 gives the regulator tough new powers, including the ability to ban the payment of unfair bonuses to polluting water bosses. The Government have also secured a record £104 billion that will include improvements to more than 3,000 storm overflows and significantly reduce sewage spills over the next five years.