Contributions
126 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHigher Education FundingMy Lords, I declare an interest as a former chairman of King’s College London, where my neighbour on these Benches is a distinguished professor. It is surely clear to everyone—it…12 Sept 2024HANSARDWild Atlantic SalmonMy Lords, I declare an interest in that one of my children owns a stretch of a small salmon river in south-west Scotland, where I have fished all my life. In the very short time…12 Sept 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I start by congratulating the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on his first public statement. He said that we have “record levels of sewage…18 Jul 2024HANSARDSewage Pollution: Lakes and RiversMy Lords, I think the Minister just said that there is 100% monitoring of storm overflows, but my understanding is that, whereas the quality of water coming into the rivers from…30 Apr 2024HANSARDEconomic Growth (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2024This statutory instrument, despite the very expert way that it has been presented by the Minister, I believe could seriously inhibit the regulation of the water industry. I cannot…15 Apr 2024HANSARDEconomic Growth (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2024The Minister has many times referred to the wording in the draft statutory guidance refresh, which I assume can still be amended. Therefore, I ask the Minister to comment on page…15 Apr 2024HANSARDEnvironment AgencyMy Lords, I declare my interests relevant to this matter. In the past, the Environment Agency did not give sufficient priority to the discharge of sewage into our rivers. The…07 Mar 2024HANSARDPollution in Rivers and Regulation of Private Water CompaniesMy Lords, I declare my agricultural interests, which may be relevant to this debate. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Bakewell, on securing this debate. I am slightly…29 Feb 2024HANSARDOffice for Environmental ProtectionMy Lords, I commend the report from the Office for Environmental Protection. I quote from it: “The current state of the water environment is not satisfactory … the pace of change…23 Jan 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, in this very wide-ranging debate this afternoon, I wish to speak about the environment, and in particular the aquatic environment. I had hoped that there might have been…13 Nov 2023HANSARDWater and Sewage Regulation (Industry and Regulators Committee Report)My Lords, I declare my registered interests that are relevant to this debate. I welcome the Industry and Regulators Committee’s report and congratulate its members, particularly…16 Oct 2023HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill13 Sept 2023HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration BillMy Lords, I declare my interests as may be relevant to this debate. I will speak in a minute to my Amendments 247YYAA, 247YYAB, and 247YYAC, but I must start by asking the…13 Sept 2023HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration BillMy Lords, it is clear to me that the purpose of the three cross-party amendments I tabled would be best achieved if we vote against the whole of the government amendment.…13 Sept 2023HANSARDWater Companies: Customer BillsMy Lords, none of us underestimates the complexity and magnitude of this problem. We have had years of underinvestment in our sewage disposal and treatment systems. Such is the…23 May 2023HANSARDWater Companies: LicencesMy Lords, I also commend Ofwat on its recent announcement that it will seek to take some powers over dividends, but what it actually says is that the company boards will be…24 Apr 2023HANSARDDirect Payments to Farmers (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2023My Lords, I declare my farming interest as detailed in the register. Last week, the environment committee of your Lordships’ House—of which I am a member, as are some other Peers…28 Mar 2023HANSARDRetained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) BillMy Lords, I apologise to the House that I was not able to speak at Second Reading as I could not be sure of arriving in time on that day, and that last week I was in Madrid on a…28 Feb 2023HANSARDRetained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) BillI thank the Minister giving way. Forgive me. I think I heard him say a few moments ago that the existing water framework directive was, in one sense, too demanding, because it…28 Feb 2023HANSARDWater Companies: Pollution PenaltiesTo ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reconsider their proposal to increase to £250 million the maximum penalty for serious pollution incidents by water…22 Feb 2023