Contributions
571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVeterinary Surgeons Act 1966Pet owners have been facing rising vet costs for years, and that is why we are consulting on updating and reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for the first time in 60 years…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Infrastructure: InspectionsThis 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,…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Infrastructure: InspectionsThe 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…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Infrastructure: InspectionsUnder 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…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Infrastructure: InspectionsI 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…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater Infrastructure: InspectionsAs 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…05 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsSince the last oral questions, we have published the animal welfare strategy, set out key reforms to the sustainable farming incentive, hosted the Intergovernmental Science-Policy…05 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Water Minister and I are working closely with water companies across the country, including United Utilities, to drive them to reform their operations and clean up rivers,…05 Feb 2026HANSARDVeterinary Surgeons Act 1966The short answer is yes. I know you also have an interest in this issue, Mr Speaker. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s tireless campaigning on this important issue. The…05 Feb 2026HANSARDVeterinary Surgeons Act 1966The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. I am glad to hear that his wife has had such a profound influence on his cat-loving habits. We need to look at all elements of price…05 Feb 2026HANSARDVeterinary Surgeons Act 1966I thank the shadow Minister for his question and for, I think, his kind words that we were doing something that the Conservatives failed to do for 14 years. He brings great…05 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the right hon. Member for that question. We are committed to banning trophy hunting. It is a manifesto commitment, and we will take it forward.05 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsNice try! We are still negotiating the deal, and the whole purpose of it is to bring down the trade barriers that the right hon. Lady’s Government put up during their botched…05 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI seem to remember that the Conservatives were in power for 14 years, and they did not do what the right hon. Lady has just set out. Her question is for the Treasury, not DEFRA.…05 Feb 2026HANSARDWater White PaperEither myself or the Water Minister would be happy to meet the hon. Member. I heard about the incident of the chips on the beach. In the White Paper we are looking more broadly at…21 Jan 2026HANSARDWater White PaperI am always happy to meet with hon. Friends, as my hon. Friend well knows, but Sir Jon met many stakeholders and members of the public and we had 50,000 responses to the…21 Jan 2026HANSARDWater White PaperThis Government care deeply about mutuals. We have pledged overall to double the number of mutuals. I do not have a problem with mutual ownership. The problem I have is that the…21 Jan 2026HANSARDWater White PaperYes, indeed. The new water regulator, when we are able to legislate for that and set it up, will indeed look at these issues and put consumers at the heart of what it is doing.21 Jan 2026HANSARDWater White PaperWe are absolutely determined to bear down on pollution. We are looking more at the number of incidents and ensuring that we have a better picture of the coverage of storm…21 Jan 2026HANSARDWater White PaperI can promise my hon. Friend that that is exactly what we are going to deliver: a new, more powerful regulator with teeth. I am concerned about the incident that she describes, so…21 Jan 2026