Sewage discharges by United Utilities

Early day motion 172, tabled 7 December 2023 by Jonathan Edwards (Independent). Signed by 13 members.

That this House condemns the regular and large-scale dumping of sewage by United Utilities across the North West of England; notes that recent Freedom of Information requests show that since 2018 raw sewage has been pumped into the North West’s natural environment for a total of 2,219,418 hours; highlights that in 2021 United Utilities recorded the highest number of sewage spillages in English rivers of any water company; believes that United Utilities clearly needs to act to greatly reduce its level of sewage-dumping; is concerned by the suggestion by United Utilities that they will increase customers’ bills as part of a plan to reduce sewage-dumping; and calls on United Utilities to first look to raise any funds required to reduce sewage-dumping by cutting expenditures such as the more than £300 million paid as dividends to shareholders earlier this year.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Independent 3, DUP 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1.