BERKSHIRE MPs last week voted on an amendment to a bill that would have placed a legal duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers.

The amendment came from the House of Lords and was one of several voted on by MPs On Wednesday, October 20.

READ MORE: Major rail disruption after person hit by train between Berkshire and London

MPs voted to remove a Lords amendment by 264 votes to 204.

Here’s how Berkshire MPs voted

Bracknell

James Sunderland (Conservative) - for the removal of the amendment

Reading East

Matt Rodda (Labour) - against the removal of the amendment

Reading West

Alok Sharma (Conservative) - No vote recorded

READ MORE: Berkshire couple scoop TV show quiz jackpot

Slough

Tan Dhesi (Labour) - against the removal of the amendment

Windsor

Adam Afriyie (Conservative) - for the removal of the amendment

Maidenhead

Theresa May (Conservative) - for the removal of the amendment

Newbury

Laura Farris (Conservative) - for the removal of the amendment

Conservative MP Philip Dunne (Ludlow) voted to keep the amendment agreed in the House of Lords, which would place a legal duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers.

Mr Dunne, who chairs the environmental audit committee, said: "I didn't come into politics to stand up and talk about crap. And I'm not going to talk or use that word again, but I find myself having become something of an expert on dealing with effluent, human effluent, in this country.

READ MORE: Three puppies found cold and wet after being abandoned

"It's not a particularly comfortable place for me and I don't want to have to do it for the rest of my life, but at the moment, I'm finding that there is a great deal of interest, inside and outside this place, on how do we ensure that we do not treat the arteries of nature, which is what our rivers are, as the cesspit of humanity."

He went on: "We do need to ensure that water companies feel that statute is there to compel them to pay attention to this issue."

Conservative Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) said she understands why the Government cannot commit to the Lords' amendment at this stage, adding: "It's my opinion and it is only my opinion that if this is put on the face of the Bill, water companies will then be compelled to say 'well Government, you've put this on the face of the Bill, therefore you have to pay for all of this infrastructure upgrade.

"So therefore, we have to end up putting it up taxes to pay for this, or put up bills to pay for this and I think that is a conversation that has to be done down the line and I don't think it's right to compel the Government to do this at this time. And that is why, and that's the only reason why I am supporting the Government on this matter."

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) said he is deeply concerned about the quality of the water in Windermere.

He told the House of Commons: "The largest lake in England, and indeed, the heart of British tourism industry, second-most visited place outside of London. But we have untreated sewage going into Windermere lake, the equivalent of 71 full days in 2020.

"This is the place with 20 million visitors every year. I don't want reports, I want action. I don't want there to be an overview taken, I would like the United Utilities, and others, that contribute to the pollution of our largest lake to be prosecuted and to be mandated to take immediate action."

MPs voted to remove a Lords amendment which aimed to clean up rivers by placing a new duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers.