Contributions
1,563 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)The hon. Member is pre-empting my responses to the next amendments on transparency, which I am just about to turn to. Before we move on from volume, I re-emphasise the point. This…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 ] (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 ] (Second sitting)Thank you, Mr Vickers, for the opportunity to speak about the importance of clause 3. Monitoring and reporting on discharges from sewage outlets provides important transparency…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (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 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 ] (Second sitting)I think that might be really helpful. It has been an interesting but slightly muddled conversation. We were going to produce a factsheet to explain the difference between…09 Jan 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)Regulators can currently impose civil penalties where they are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that an offence has been committed. The civil penalties are imposed by the…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 ] (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 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 2025HANSARDFloodingPart of the reason that we wanted to set up the flood resilience taskforce was to end the siloed working between different Government organisations. It is jointly chaired by me…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI share my hon. Friend’s upset about the fact that this issue is not being taken seriously enough by Southern Water, but having known her for a very long time, I have no doubt…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingAs I outlined earlier, we will ensure that any new homes are resistant to flooding and, importantly, do not contribute to more flooding in other areas—that is incredibly…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingThe right hon. Lady is right that we need a combination of things to deal with flooding. There is a concern around the canal, which I am aware of and am grateful for her…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I am sorry to hear that the experience of the Environment Agency has not been what he expects. I would be more than happy to put…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI thank my hon. Friend for her question and for joining the call that we held with all the different organisations on the Friday. I anticipated that I might be pushed on that…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingHappy new year to everybody in the House. I would like to update the House on the flooding situation in England, and I start by extending my heartfelt sympathy to all the people…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingI share my hon. Friend’s thanks to the Environment Agency. It does an incredible job and was out there working new year’s eve and new year’s day—not celebrating like many of us,…06 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingHearing the news that anybody has lost their life in a flood event is truly devastating, and my sympathies are with the family and loved ones of those victims. My hon. Friend is…06 Jan 2025