Contributions
247 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Will the Minister give way?09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Does that mean the beginning or the end of Q2?09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I have a question for you, Mr Vickers. This is my first Bill Committee and I am trying to understand how everything works. There are six amendments to clause 1, and our task is to…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Perhaps, since I am standing, I will make the other two points I want to make. We have touched on Government amendment 2 already, but I think it is important. I was very pleased…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)First, it is up to each individual to sign up or not; they do so of their own free will. Secondly, this is standard insurance which almost all boards have in the UK and…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is fairly standard on boards today to have directors and officers insurance; indeed, all board members have it. What is the problem with the new people also having D&O…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The hon. Gentleman said that 100% of outflows are monitored, but I am afraid that is not correct. In fact, 100% of the 14,000 storm outflows are monitored—he did not mention…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I rise to explain amendment 22. On 11 July, the Environment Secretary issued a press release on the reform of the water industry that stated: “Water companies will place customers…09 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingMany of us recognise that our drainage network is in disrepair in many places. Much of that stems from the Environment Agency’s main river designation; an enormous amount of…06 Jan 2025HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]We are about a month away from Thames Water signing up for another £3 billion of debt. If that happens, 46% of the bills of every customer in that catchment will be spent on…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I believe that this Bill is disappointing. It almost totally ignores the financials of the companies, and that is the root of the problem. Unless we fix the financials, we will…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Rail Connectivity: OxfordshireJust one small correction: from Oxford to Carterton North is £600 million only—we do not need to build out to Carterton West necessarily; that would just be a nice-to-have—and, of…27 Nov 2024HANSARD Rail Connectivity: OxfordshireWell said—I very much agree. Following on from that, transport is one of the hardest nuts to crack in that decarbonisation agenda. Without a large-scale mass public transport…27 Nov 2024HANSARD Rail Connectivity: OxfordshireI beg to move, That this House has considered railway connectivity between Witney, Carterton, Eynsham and Oxford. I am here to argue the case for bringing back the railway that…27 Nov 2024HANSARDEngagementsQ13. We recognise that Labour is determined to defend the economically disastrous Conservative policies of being outside the customs union and single market. However, does the…27 Nov 2024HANSARD Rail Connectivity: OxfordshireI very much concur. I want to quantify the housing and the scale of what is going on now. Since 2000, the population of Oxfordshire has increased by a quarter. In the 2018 local…27 Nov 2024HANSARD Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) BillI find it more than ludicrous to hear the Tories lecturing Labour about red tape. What the Tories have served up to the country through Brexit and the damage they have done to our…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertMy constituency of Witney has the Windrush, the Evenlode and the Thames, all of which have really impacted constituents today. We have just lost out on some FiPL—farming in…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) BillThe Liberal Democrats would like to see a much more fundamental reform of business rates. Although there are promises of further steps, it is disappointing that our new…25 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsT5. Will the Secretary of State give a clear date by which QR codes will be incorporated into the NHS app at the point of care, thereby making the process faster and safer, as was…19 Nov 2024