Sewage: Budget means almost £500 million less to tackle the sewage crisis

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New analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the department responsible for dealing with the sewage crisis is about to have their day-to-day budget slashed in the wake of the Autumn Statement. 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is facing a real-terms cut to its day-to-day spending of 10.6% over the next two years, equating to a staggering £496.8 million.

Water companies have dumped sewage 775,568 times for over 5.7 million hours over the last two years. Meanwhile water company bosses have paid themselves £51.1 million in remuneration including £30.6 million in bonuses.

Under Conservative plans water companies will be permitted to continue to dump sewage until 2050 and bill payers will see hikes to pay for it. 

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, Tim Farron MP said:

“Whilst banks are being unjustly rewarded with slashed taxes, the department which is supposed to deal with the sewage crisis is getting their budgets slashed. Frankly, the whole thing stinks. 

“This budget cut gives a licence for companies to pump sewage into our precious rivers and Britain’s treasured coastlines. 

“Funding to stop sewage poisoning in our waterways should be protected at all costs. We have otters being poisoned and children getting ill because water companies dump sewage where they want. All whilst they make multi-million pound profits and pay their execs eye-watering bonuses. 

“This Government’s priorities are all wrong. They put big banks and water companies over wildlife and children’s health.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

1. First reported in The Guardian 

2. DEFRA’s resource budget is facing a 10.8% real terms cut to its day-to-day spending over the next two years.

3. In real terms, DEFRA’s budget for 2022-23 is £4.6 billion and is expected to drop to £4.3 billion in 2023-24 and to £4.1 billion in 2024-25.

4. This means compared to 2022-23 DEFRA is facing a cut in real terms of nearly £500 million (£496.8 million).