To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the likely effects of the recent raw sewage spillage in the Thames in the Mogden area on river usage and wildlife. (288784)

The Environment Agency measured the chemical quality of the river using a series of water quality monitoring stations located at strategic points along the estuary. Readings taken indicated a significant decline in the oxygen saturation of the river.

Environment Agency officers were deployed to assess the extent of the incident by monitoring the river in the upper reaches to record the impact on fish at low water. Approximately 200 dead fish, mostly flounder, were found around the Kew area. Other inspections did not identify notable amounts of dead fish.

The monitoring network indicated the river returned to a near normal condition by the afternoon of 5 July.