Water Infrastructure: Inspections

4. What steps she is taking to improve the inspection of water infrastructure.

13. What steps she is taking to improve the inspection of water infrastructure.

This Government are overhauling the regulatory system to deliver better outcomes for consumers and the environment. In our water White Paper, we set out plans for a more powerful, integrated regulator with real teeth, introducing MOT-style checks on pipes, pumps and other water infrastructure. Last year alone, the Environment Agency has ramped up enforcement, more than doubling inspections of water company assets.

Affinity Water and Severn Trent are opening their consultation next week on the Grand Union canal transfer scheme. The project will see 53 megalitres of treated water a day pumped into the canal in Atherstone in my constituency to be extracted in the south-east. Residents in Atherstone are concerned about the noise, damage to the environment and disruption that the scheme could create. Can the Minister reassure my constituents that she will work with the water companies involved to ensure that disruption is minimal and the treated water is safe, and will she meet my constituents to hear their concerns?

The Grand Union canal transfer scheme will strengthen the nation’s long-term water resilience and water security. I have listened carefully to what my hon. Friend said about her constituents’ concerns, and either myself or the Water Minister will be very happy to meet her to discuss them further.

My constituents are plagued with endless disruption and roadworks from Thames Water, which is leading to disruption for motorists, delays in public transport and, in some cases, serious safety concerns for cyclists. Does the Secretary of State agree that such infrastructure works should be properly monitored and inspected so that they are carried out effectively and efficiently—and, frankly, so that our constituents can see some benefit at the end of the disruption?

Under the last Government, we saw water infrastructure crumbling, but this Government are getting a grip of the water system. We are moving away from the “fix on failure” system that we inherited to one that includes proper maintenance and resilience standards to get ahead of problems. I hope that will mean less emergency work, and therefore less disruption for my hon. Friend’s constituents.

It is lovely to see the Secretary of State; the last time I saw her was in the Strangers Bar, when she was pulling a pint of Rebellion Overthrow—I can’t imagine why that stuck in my mind!

The River Thames scheme has been in abeyance, essentially—in mid-project review—since May last year. Will the Secretary of State please knock some heads together at both the Environment Agency and Surrey county council, and get them to say something about what is happening at the River Thames scheme?

I am slightly put off by the hon. Gentleman’s reference to my brewery—although I thank him for putting on the record that I did indeed succeed in getting Rebellion brewery on tap in the Strangers Bar. I did enjoy pulling that pint, as he witnessed with his own eyes! The Water Minister or I would be glad to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss the more substantive, serious issue that he raised.

During Prime Minister’s questions on 17 December, the Prime Minister promised me a meeting with the Water Minister to discuss the scourge of constant sewage dumping in my constituency and the Lowermoor water poisoning scandal. I have followed up repeatedly, including a visit to No. 10 just last week to speak with the PM’s team, who assured me that they would chase up that meeting as soon as possible—I appreciate that they may be somewhat busy at the moment—and agreed that the delay was unacceptable. The Water Minister is still yet to respond to me, so can I ask the Secretary of State when this vital meeting will take place?

As the hon. Gentleman may be aware, the Water Minister was on bereavement leave for some time in January. She has received briefings about the situation, and would be happy to meet him to discuss this serious issue in his constituency.