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Written question asked by Emma Lewell (Labour) on Monday, 23 October 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 October 2023 (named day). It was answered by Rebecca Pow (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 October 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: South Shields

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to collaborate with (a) water companies and (b) scientific experts on future investment in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances remediation for South Shields.

Answer

The Environment Agency (EA) has worked with water companies and their research body, UK Water Industry Research, on the Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP) since 2010. CIP has conducted investigations into PFOS and PFOA, and the CIP3 phase has established their concentrations in sewage works, their catchments and the receiving waters. Based on this work targeted investigations will be conducted in the next phase of CIP, known as CIP4, none of which need to be carried out in South Shields.

In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and Health and Safety Executive to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA). Defra welcomed the RMOA recently published and is working with its partners to develop the recommendations for risk management measures, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
203852
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Finance Pollution Pollution control Water Research Water companies South Shields Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk