Tories Tried to Hide Sewage Spill Data Before Election

A recent Freedom of Information request by Greenpeace has unveiled that Robbie Moore, the former water minister, instructed the Environment Agency (EA) to withhold key figures regarding raw sewage spills in England. The data revealed that the duration of raw sewage spills doubled to four million hours last year, largely due to wet weather conditions. In the lead-up to the release of this information, internal communications indicated that Moore sought to prevent the publication of these critical figures on the EA's online portal. Emails from Moore's office expressed concerns that releasing the total number of spills and hours would lead to accusations of government cover-ups by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). An EA official highlighted the importance of transparency, arguing that withholding such data could allow pressure groups to disclose the figures, potentially leading to public criticism of the government. Despite these warnings, Moore's directives resulted in the removal of prominent displays of the figures, diminishing their visibility on the portal. Industry experts suggest that the increase in recorded spills may be attributed to enhanced monitoring efforts, estimating that 30,000 to 40,000 additional spills were documented last year. The controversy surrounding the government's handling of sewage spill data has intensified, especially following a statement from the UK information commissioner urging water companies to adopt a more transparent approach. In response to the allegations, an EA spokesperson reaffirmed the agency's commitment to transparency, while Moore has yet to comment on the matter. The situation underscores ongoing concerns regarding the management of sewage discharges and the need for accountability in environmental governance.