Contributions
1,483 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSewage PollutionI understand that my right honourable friend, the new Secretary of State, Ranil Jayawardena, has met representatives of water companies today, on his first day in office. If it…07 Sept 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionMy noble friend will be pleased to know that we are undertaking a review of the case for implementing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act. We will report on this in…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionI refer the noble Lord to my earlier Answer: the independent Sentencing Council has agreed to review guidelines to ensure that the sanctions we apply to water companies are…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionStrangely, no. The investment that water companies put into our water infrastructure is agreed with Ofwat. They cannot go away from that in their five-year plan. If the noble…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionThe Environment Agency is part of Defra, so absolutely I agree with what the chair of the Environment Agency said in relation to a report that was published on Thursday. I shall…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionThe fines, which have amounted to record sums in recent years, can be paid out of water companies’ income only and cannot be downloaded on to the customer. The Government have…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionI thank my noble friend. She makes very good points. The independent Sentencing Council review will, I hope, tackle her first point. I entirely agree about the problems imposed on…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionI would hate any noble Lord to be under the impression that our attempts to resolve this problem start here. We have record levels of investment in our water infrastructure.…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionI will have a look at the lexicon we use. The real problem is illegal storm overflows. There have been overflows from our sewage systems into our rivers for centuries. It has…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionOfwat is the main regulator in this area, as well as the Environment Agency. The Government give very clear directions to Ofwat. In our strategic policy statement for Ofwat, we…19 Jul 2022HANSARDWater Companies: Environmental PollutionMy Lords, the law currently allows Ofwat to issue fines of up to 10% of annual turnover and the Environment Agency to prosecute water companies and their directors, leading to…19 Jul 2022HANSARDClean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL]I absolutely accept the point the noble Baroness makes. There is conflicting advice here and I am very happy to share all the advice the Government receive to make sure that, as…08 Jul 2022HANSARDClean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank all noble Lords across the House who have participated in today’s debate, particularly the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, for raising this important…08 Jul 2022HANSARDHousehold Waste RecyclingMy Lords, the words “above”, “pay” and “grade” come to mind. There is constitutional precedent on this, of course; I am sure that that is what will be applied.07 Jul 2022HANSARDHousehold Waste RecyclingMe again, I am afraid. Through our resources and waste strategy and our landmark Environment Act, we will transform our waste system. We are introducing consistent recycling…07 Jul 2022HANSARDHousehold Waste RecyclingThere is improving technology in this area. Robotics and artificial intelligence are identifying waste in a way that we were not able to do before so we are able to divert yet…07 Jul 2022HANSARDFood Strategy White PaperI will take that point to colleagues in the Department for Education. There are very strict guidelines on the nutritional value in school meals and we want to make sure that local…07 Jul 2022HANSARDFood Strategy White PaperI have a long list here, but I would get in trouble if I read it out. It is all the elements of the Dimbleby report that the Government are taking forward. The noble Baroness is…07 Jul 2022HANSARDFood Strategy White PaperMy department has overall responsibility for that, working with other departments. The noble Baroness is right: this is not something government can just mandate. We have an…07 Jul 2022HANSARDFood Strategy White PaperThe noble Baroness speaks on a point that affects many people across these islands. I will take her point and relay it to the relevant Minister in the Department of Health,…07 Jul 2022