Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of river flows in Surrey and West Sussex; and if she will make a statement. [90207]

Richard Benyon MP; Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries:The Environment Agency continuously monitors river flows of the major rivers in Surrey and West Sussex. River flows are compared to long term averages, mapped and summarised in monthly Water Situation Reports on the Environment Agency's website:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

The last 15 months in Surrey and West Sussex have been the driest since 1996. However, despite the impact of rain in December, the Rivers Ouse, Adur, Cuckmere and Arun in Sussex and the Mole and Wey in Surrey are either "low" or "notably low" when compared to average flows for this time of year. Low river flows can affect water supplies, business and the environment. The Environment Agency continues to work closely with local communities and the water supply companies to minimise the impact.

The Environment Agency completed a detailed screening of water abstractions in West Sussex and Surrey, as part of the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction initiative. This did not highlight any significant issues, and there is no evidence that unsustainable abstraction is an issue affecting river flows in West Sussex and Surrey. The current low flows being measured and reported by the Environment Agency on their website are caused by the period of significantly dry weather we have been experiencing in the South East.

More broadly the Environment Agency is taking action to investigate and identify solutions to unsustainable abstraction. On 8 December 2011, I launched a new approach to water management as set out in Water for Life, the Water White Paper. In particular it includes a package of measures to help us do this more efficiently and promote increased trading of abstraction licences to support economic growth.