Eustice defends ‘utter failure’ of efforts to cut raw sewage discharges in England

Beaches across England have been under pollution alerts after the dumping of raw sewage by water companies. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The environment secretary, George Eustice, insisted the government was tackling the millions of hours of raw sewage discharges into rivers and seas in England as MPs demanded answers to a summer of water companies dumping effluent into holiday swimming spots.

Caroline Lucas, the Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Literal shit is being pumped into our rivers and seas. The state of our water network is a national scandal and the government has utterly failed to take action.”