Contributions
1,009 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I agree that it is indeed amazing. I know that all of us on the Labour Benches, and perhaps on the Opposition Benches too, share the public’s anger at what happened to our rivers,…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I will make some progress, if Members do not mind. The commission will review regulation and governance from the bottom up to ensure that we have a robust framework that can…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I hope that Members will allow me to make some progress. I am worried about how much time I am taking, given that so many other Members want to contribute to the debate. The Bill…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I am grateful to my hon. Friend for explaining why her constituents are so angry about the situation, and why the Bill is so necessary as we start to turn the water industry…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]My hon. Friend is right to make that point. We are not just giving the regulators more teeth; we are also giving them more resources to ensure that they can carry out enforcement…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I recognise the point that the hon. Lady is making, and the Water Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (Emma Hardy), will be pleased to…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I pay huge credit to my hon. Friend. She has been such a champion for her communities in Hastings and Rye, demanding the better water services they deserve. The failure to invest…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I am delighted to open the Second Reading debate on the Water (Special Measures) Bill—something I hope the whole House will…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for cleaner water for her constituents, and she is quite right. If millions of pounds had not been diverted unnecessarily and unfairly into…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]That is an important point. Polluted water does not just damage people’s health; it damages the health of local economies as well, and the compensation will extend to businesses…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]Absolutely. My hon. Friend makes some extremely important points. In my speech, I will be coming on to how we intend to ensure the regulator not only has additional powers but…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]There is a process by which any company would go into administration. That situation has not yet arisen with any company. The Government are, of course, closely monitoring the…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]The Conservatives had 14 years to fix the system and they chose to do absolutely nothing. They have left it to the incoming Labour Government to clear up the mess they left…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Storm BertI share the hon. Lady’s concerns about the circumstances in Somerset. I agree with the points that she is making. We have increased the actions available through environmental…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertIt is always wise to follow the advice that is given for people’s safety. We are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department for Transport and other parts of Government…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertI recognise the hon. Gentleman’s point. We will make announcements on FiPL early in the new year.25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertThey say it’s not over till the fat lady sings, but I am not sure that they had the hon. Gentleman in mind when that particular phrase was coined. I am in regular contact with the…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertWith permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to update the House on Storm Bert. The storm brought heavy rain, high winds and snow across the UK over the weekend. The…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertI had the pleasure of visiting the aquadrome, and I am very sad indeed to hear that it has been flooded yet again. My hon. Friend is right to point to the fact that it is not just…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Storm BertYes, the devolved Administrations were represented on the floods resilience taskforce. We want to co-ordinate better with them and to ensure that they are co-ordinating with their…25 Nov 2024