Govt sewage fund: Spare change for firms who have made billions of pounds 

EMBARGO: 00:01 Tuesday 9th April

Responding to the government announcing a new £11m fund in the wake of the sewage crisis, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

"This is spare change for these water firms, who have made billions of pounds under this Conservative government's watch. Frankly, this is an insultingly small amount and a slap in the face for communities blighted by the sewage scandal. 

"Last year alone greedy water company executives paid themselves double the amount of this new fund. 

"Nobody is going to be fooled by this desperate attempt from Conservative Ministers, who have sat idly by whilst water firms commit environmental destruction."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Crackdown on water companies sees millions of pounds worth of fines pumped back into local water projects

• Environment Secretary opens Water Restoration Fund for applications.
• Up to £11 million from water company fines and penalties will be reinvested to directly improve the water environment.
• Fund will benefit local areas where water companies have been issued with fines or penalties.

Up to £11 million in water company fines and penalties will be reinvested back into a new Water Restoration Fund (WRF), Environment Secretary Steve Barclay announced today (Tuesday 9th April).