Duncan Baker votes AGAINST law to criminalise water companies for sewage spills

A Liberal Democrat amendment in Parliament would have seen water companies in court for worst sewage offences. While the Environment Agency backs calls for water company bosses to face criminal action Conservative MPs vote down “justice for swimmers, wildlife and our natural environment.”

The new law, opposed by Conservative MPs, would have created criminal offences for failing to meet pollution performance commitment levels, ensuring the polluting firms would go to court and face punishments including fines. 

The Environment Agency has previously called on water company Chief Executives and board members to face criminal charges, including court imposed fines. 

Despite cross-party support for the amendment, over 250 Conservative MPs voted against it. 

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for North Norfolk, Steff Aquarone:

“It beggars belief! I can't believe that, yet again, Duncan Baker has turned up in Westminster and voted against the interests of North Norfolk.

“Sewage dumping is a national scandal which has blighted our own communities. Water companies should have their day in court for their environmental vandalism. 

“This law would have delivered real justice. Yet Conservative MPs like Duncan Baker shamelessly opposed. They simply don’t care about our special environment and North Norfolk's reliance on economic tourism. 

“Our community needs a new MP who will actually get tough on water firms. At the next General Election, I will pledge to stand up for our environment and vote to get a grip on polluting companies.”

Note

Full list of how MPs voted: https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1817#noes

Amendment from Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron:

“Offence of failing to meet pollution performance commitment levels

A water or water and sewerage company “C” commits an offence where C has – 

• failed to meet its pollution performance commitment level for three consecutive years; or
• experienced an increase in –
• total pollution incidents per 10,000km2, or
• serious pollution incidents
• for three consecutive years.

For the purposes of this section –

• “water or water and sewerage company” means companies which are responsible for the provision of water, or water and sewerage, services and which are regulated by Ofwat and the Environment Agency;
• “pollution performance commitment level” means the level of performance on pollution that the company has committed to deliver, and which is reported against by Ofwat in its annual water company performance report;
• “total pollution incidents per 10,000km2” and “serious pollution incidents” mean the relevant figures under those headings reported by the Environment Agency in its annual environmental performance report.

If guilty of an offence under this section, C is liable –

• on summary conviction, to a fine;
• on conviction on indictment, to a fine.