Defra is engaging with water companies and regulators on management of PFAS in the water environment. In February 2026, the Government unveiled a new plan to better protect the nation and environment from the risks posed by PFAS.  The PFAS Plan is a cross-government, science-led plan to understand impacts of PFAS on public health and the environment, with coordinated actions to minimise risks. The plan sets out the government’s overall approach to this issue. The Government will use Defra is using the plan as a platform to engage further with industry, other bodies, and the public on PFAS. In doing so, Defra hopes to develop a collective set of actions and initiatives to address this shared challenge and welcomes ideas and engagement on PFAS.

The Government is committed to urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

Water company Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) show how water companies can close the predicted water supply demand gap by:

• Managing demand (including leakage reduction and meeting the statutory demand target) – about two thirds of the gap
• Increased water resources infrastructure - about a third of the gap.

In the Water White Paper, we set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, ensuring all companies make forward-looking long-term assessments of their systems.

Quantifying how much aid has entered into Gaza is difficult, due to the complex operating environment and limited real-time data, as well as the Government of Israel's restrictions on humanitarian workers and monitors. However, as we have consistently made clear in recent months, there is still not enough aid getting into Gaza, and it is unacceptable that critical water and sanitation infrastructure remains destroyed. We therefore continue to urge the Government of Israel to remove arbitrary restrictions and take steps to improve living conditions, in line with the commitments it made in the 20-point peace plan.

The UK Government aims to increase economic opportunity and boost resilience in underserved and underdeveloped regions. This includes supporting companies operating in secondary cities, rural supply chains, connective market infrastructure and trade opportunities to create jobs, boost incomes and mitigate economic displacement. We are supporting the transition to climate-resilient communities, economies and ecosystems, promoting climate‑resilient agricultural practices and healthy food systems whilst safeguarding and sustaining nature, including forests, oceans and coastal, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is also supporting the World Bank and other multilateral development banks to improve sustainable access to safe water supplies at scale. The World Bank alone aims to reach 250 million people with improved water supply and sanitation services by 2030.

Overall, as set out in our International Climate Finance Strategy 2026, we will deploy around £6 billion of Official Development Assistance alongside £6.7 billion of wider public finance to mobilise private capital at scale and drive systemic transformation across energy, resilience and nature outcomes. More information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a3964dc0bea238415c9a417/ICF4-strategy-2026.pdf.

The department takes the health and wellbeing of both pupils and staff very seriously. All schools need to be safe, well-maintained, and compliant with all relevant regulations. This is the responsibility of those running our schools, which includes local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary aided school bodies.

All schools must ensure their water supply meets the requirements of either the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 or the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, for maintained schools and academies respectively.

These Regulations set strict requirements that schools must provide suitable drinking water facilities and that they are clearly labelled and readily accessible at all times when schools are in use. The Water Supply Regulations 2016 requires water to be wholesome at the point of consumption and the School Premises Regulations reinforces this requirement.

It is estimated that access to safely managed water services in Sub-Saharan Africa increased from 30 per cent in 2020 to 32 per cent in 2024, supported by overseas development assistance from the UK, other individual countries, and multilateral organisations, as well as the vital work of many NGOs.

At the same time, the population in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 1,094 billion to 1,391 billion. This means that an estimated 117 million additional people gained access to safely managed drinking water services over this period.

Local planning authorities and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the impact of onshore oil and gas developments on housing and drinking water respectively.

The North Sea Transition Authority regulates exploration and development licensing for England’s onshore oil and gas resources on behalf of the Secretary of State. Licence holders require further consents and permits before any operations take place.

My hon. Friend raises a hugely important point. It was outrageous that those residents had to wait such a long time for water. We are putting customers first by more than doubling the compensation that they receive for water company failings, such as supply interruptions, low pressure, sewer flooding and meter company issues. It is because of changes under this Government that, for the first time, customers will receive compensation for boil notices. The recent incident in Tunbridge Wells is the first time that boil notice compensation has been issued. The changes will rightly increase the amount of compensation that customers receive. We are clear that, under this Government, customers come first, and we are going even further by introducing a water ombudsman as part our wider reforms.

Many constituents, including my own, were shocked to see that 24,000 homes and businesses in the south-east were without drinking water for two weeks. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that residents get the compensation that they deserve?

Drinking water is supplied to every floor in Tothill Street in a tea station which has a sink and a zip tap. Each zip tap provides instant boiling as well as chilled drinking water.

Faults have been reported on some zip taps in Tothill Street and repairs have been sought as quickly as possible. There is currently an outstanding fault on the First Floor which requires the zip tap to be replaced. Drinking water remains available through the sink taps which meets the requirements in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and related guidance.