Defra has published an outline of a proposed new National Flood Emergency Framework. This fulfils a commitment made by Hilary Benn on 25 June 2008, following the publication of Sir Michael Pitt's final independent report into the summer 2007 floods.

Ofwat has written to the water and wastewater companies setting outs its guidance on how it expects each company to design its public sewerage system to deliver best value for consumers over the long term.

Water companies would face targets to help customers save more than 23 million litres of water a day (Ml/d), under new proposals published by Ofwat.

Ofwat has launched a consultation into the regulatory issues arising from the change of ownership of Yorkshire Water.

Ministers have banned damaging types of fishing in 60 square nautical miles of sea off the South West coast to protect threatened sea life

Details of how the proposed Floods and Water Bill would ensure the country is better prepared to deal with surface water flooding in the future, will today be outlined by Environment Minister Phil Woolas.

New targets to improve the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the UK's construction sector were unveiled by the Government and industry yesterday.

Nearly 12 months on since unprecedented rainfall led to widespread flooding in England and parts of Wales, the Environment Agency has completed 34 flood defences to increase protection to more than 30,000 homes and signed up 73,000 more people to its free flood warning service.