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1,962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWater BillsIt is important that every water company does everything it can to support vulnerable customers. Like all businesses, some are better than others. We are working with water…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsClearly, it is important that we protect the most vulnerable. We expect water companies to put robust support in place to address water poverty. My noble friend mentioned…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsThe noble Lord is right that people need water to be healthy. We have the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which has a very high rating. The issues we had last year around E. coli…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsI do not have the figures to hand for the level of bad debt, but I am, of course, very happy to provide them to the noble Baroness and share them in writing.09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsI assure the noble Baroness that Defra is regularly in contact with the Treasury about all issues such as this, particularly about how to support people going forward. Many of the…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsMy noble friend makes some extremely important points. Citizens Advice does an important service in supporting vulnerable people. Water companies should work with all charities,…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsWe are working very closely with water companies in order to ensure that consumers do not have extra charges placed upon them and that anything the water company wants to do…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater BillsMy Lords, nobody wants to see bills rise, so the Government are committed to tackling water poverty and holding the water sector accountable for its commitment to end water…09 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI am sure the noble Baroness is aware that one thing we have been looking at as a Government is more devolution to local areas. As part of that, it is important that we look at…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingThe quality of soils is incredibly important, for all sorts of reasons, but the noble Baroness is correct that when you have better soil it holds more water. Grants are available…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingIf a planning application has been approved in a flooding area, I would expect it to have been granted alongside mitigation measures that the developer would have had to provide…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingThe noble Baroness asks what we are looking at beyond flood defences—the actual physical barriers. There was quite a discussion during the Water (Special Measures) Bill about…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingClearly, the Environment Agency does important work here. Of course, monitoring needs to be effective: otherwise, what is the point in doing the work? The Environment Agency…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI am very grateful to the right reverend Prelate for mentioning that we are producing the food strategy. It will be incredibly important if we are to have proper food security…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingClearly, drainage is an important part of managing any kind of flood risk. If the water cannot go through the drains, it will sit on the surface and cause problems. It is always…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI am hoping that we will see it very soon. The target we are working to is that we are hoping to see it some time later this month.07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingClearly, we have planning legislation coming forward. One thing we are doing in Defra is working closely with MHCLG around the future development of planning, particularly as we…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingThe noble Lord asks an important question, because future resilience is going to be critical, particularly as we will have more incidents such as this due to climate change. That…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI am not aware of the specific incident the noble Lord referred to but if he would like to share the details with me, I would be happy to take a look at it. It is important that…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingMy Lords, I join the noble Lord, Lord Roborough, and the noble Baroness, Lady Humphreys, in thanking all the people who responded and supported local communities during these…07 Jan 2025