A Conservative spokesperson said:
“It was the Conservative government that took this country's
first major steps to transform our infrastructure and ensure
safer, cleaner waters.
“Thanks to our Storm Overflows Reduction plan, storm overflow
monitoring had increased to 100 per cent when we left office, 93
per cent higher than when Labour last left office. We were honest
about the costs of cleaning up our waters, and it is a fact that
dividends and bonuses from water companies are not sufficient.
“On the other hand, now in government, and realising their sums
simply don't add up, Labour has no clear plan to
tackle the issue.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
-
The last Conservative government requiring water
companies to invest £56 billion into environmental improvements
as part of our plan to stop discharges.
We set out conditions requiring Ofwat to
incentivise water companies to invest to reduce the use of
storm overflows – between 2020 and 2025, water companies will
invest £7.1 billion for environmental improvements in England,
as well as £56 billion through the Storm Overflows Discharge
Reduction Plan over 25 years
(DEFRA, News Story, 26
October 2021, link).
-
The last Conservative government delivered on our
ambitious pledge to ensure 100 per cent of storm overflows are
monitored, completing our plan to drive up monitoring as we
clean up our waterways. When Labour left office in
2010 only 7 per cent of storm overflows were being monitored –
we ensured 100 per cent of overflows are now monitored (DEFRA,
News Story, 30 December 2023, link).
