Contributions
1,563 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I thank all hon. Members for their thoughts on this set of amendments. I would also like to pay tribute to all of the citizen scientists—in fact, many Members have paid tribute to…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I am very happy to give a breakdown of the numbers that we have worked out. To reiterate the point I made before the intervention, that is why the Government believe that it is…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I strongly disagree that this amendment weakens the Bill or is retrograde. Instead, it is doing things effectively. If we were to put a six-month deadline in the Bill and rush to…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I understand the hon. Gentleman’s intention, which fits within the bigger picture of how we change the culture and improve trust in the industry. On these specific points, there…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Individuals can already be prosecuted, under section 110 of the Environment Act 1995, for obstructing Environment Agency investigations. However, that legislation does not allow…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Before I start my response to this group, I just want to note that there has been considerable discussion on the monitoring of the volume of discharges during this debate. In the…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I am pleased that we have that on the record. This is an important Bill, and I encourage everyone to attend. I believe, first, that the Lords amendment is duplicative of the work…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman is making, which is that people need to have access, clearly and simply, to as much information as possible. My point is that if we…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Information will be coming out shortly about how each and every Member across the House can contribute to that review. Government amendment 2…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)As I say, I wholeheartedly agree with the intention behind the amendment, but I note that later on we will be discussing the importance of chalk streams as well. The amendment…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I am obviously a bit of a fangirl of Feargal Sharkey, not least because of his musical career before entering the field of environmental campaigning. We do not expect this measure…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I will finish what I am saying. I might answer the hon. Gentleman’s question in my upcoming remarks—who knows? The additional requirement for the rules to be confirmed for…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I thank all hon. Members for their thoughtful contributions during this debate and the careful consideration of the amendments tabled to clause 4. We are in danger of having a bit…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I am desperately searching for a dental analogy. I have already outlined to the hon. Gentleman that we tabled this amendment to protect the independence of Ofwat, protect investor…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Thank you, Mr Vickers, for the opportunity to speak on the importance of clause 5. The clause strengthens the penalty for obstructing the investigations of the Environment Agency,…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Epping Forest for his contribution to the debate. I think the point my hon. Friend, and friend, Baroness Hayman made in the Lords is that we do need…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I have to say that it is slightly disappointing that we do not have a full contingent for such an important Bill Committee, which matters so much to people up and down the…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers, and if I may I will start by wishing everyone a happy new year. I thank members of the Committee for the engagement…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Beaconsfield for proposing amendment 10, which seeks to make it an offence for sewage undertakers to use an emergency overflow in areas used for…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I think the hon. Gentleman is probably moving on to amendment 16 with his point about the speed at which these were being rolled out. We were discussing amendments 13 and 14. That…09 Jan 2025