01 Aug 2018

This Commons Library Briefing Paper examines water quality in the UK, including EU requirements and potential impacts of Brexit. It sets out some key facts and figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, explains how water quality is measured and discusses action being taken by the Government to manage and improve water quality. Water […]

27 Jun 2018

‘The Environment Agency has launched a major new consultation on the proposed work programme, timetable and process for working together to review and update the river basin management plans in 2021. Working Together is the first consultation in the process which sets out the steps and consultation measures to be taken, the proposed timetable and […]

25 Jun 2018

Mr. Gove hasn’t been shy in coming to the Environmental Audit Committee to explain the Government’s developing views on the environment and 25 year plan. This 5 page letter has a lot of detail not least on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) targets. The letter provides further information in response to his appearance before the […]

14 Mar 2018

Microplastic contamination of the oceans is one of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. The terrestrial component of the global microplastic budget is not well understood because sources, stores and fluxes are poorly quantified. We report catchment-wide patterns of microplastic contamination, classified by type, size and density, in channel bed sediments at 40 sites across […]

08 Feb 2018

Summary Aquatic invertebrate populations represent an important part of the UK’s biodiversity, they provide valuable ecosystem services, recycling organic matter and keeping rivers clean. In addition they provide essential food for fish and birds. Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides with three main applications in the UK, firstly as a seed coating for field crops, secondly […]

06 Dec 2017

Giving evidence last week to a Parliamentary Inquiry, Environment Agency chief James Bevan admitted that England will miss its already deferred water quality targets out to 2027. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee took evidence on Wednesday 21 November on the work of the Environment Agency. The EA is the main public body for […]