UK Water Companies: Chinese Financial Influence

Debate between Baroness Ludford and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Pension funds are an incredibly important part of how our investment works. One of the questions that the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, raised with me is: what do we consider to be good investment in this country? Actually, good investment is from businesses that and investors who are committed to the industry they are investing in. That includes the pension funds.

[Baroness Ludford (LD)]

My Lords, can the Minister clarify what she said about whether the National Security and Investment Act covered the water sector? I was not an expert on it, I have to admit, but I have looked online at the 17 types of notifiable acquisitions and water does not seem to be there. There seems to be some indication that the Government are considering adding it. Could she clarify, for the benefit of the House, exactly what the status is of the water industry under the National Security and Investment Act notifiable acquisitions?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

My understanding is that one of the recent announcements we have made is that the water industry will be subject to the National Security and Investment Act, which was brought in in 2021.

Meat Labelling

Debate between Baroness Ludford and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Tuesday 13th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

As I said in my Answer, we encourage all animals to be stunned before slaughter. It is what we would prefer as a Government—clearly, as someone who strongly supports animal welfare, it is what I would prefer. We have to recognise the religious sensitivities around this issue, and we are looking at the best way to move forward regarding food labelling.

[Baroness Ludford (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that, before any labelling scheme could be considered, there would have to be an assurance that it would be comprehensive and not discriminatory against religious slaughter of shechita and halal? While a recent study in the American Journal of Veterinary Research confirmed that

“religious slaughter induces swift LOC”—

or loss of consciousness—

“reinforcing its potential to minimize animal suffering”,

we know that animal welfare standards in industrialised slaughterhouses, using gassing and electrocution, are often very poor and far from humane. Any labelling scheme must fully reflect all those aspects.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Obviously, it is important that any labelling is completely accurate; it has to be transparent, and any discriminatory matters have to be carefully thought through, as the noble Baroness rightly said. She mentioned CO₂ gas stunning, which is used in around 90% of pig slaughters and is incredibly cruel. It is one reason why we included it in the animal welfare strategy; it is a method of slaughter that we would also like to see phased out.

Thames Water

Debate between Baroness Ludford and Baroness Hayman of Ullock

Wednesday 4th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

Clearly, the report we have in front of us is an interim one, so we are currently looking at it and considering the recommendations. Further work will then be done and as a Government we will then look at those recommendations and work with Sir Jon Cunliffe on how best to move things forward. Clearly, there are some serious structural issues in the way things have been managed and we need to take this very seriously if we are going to sort out the mess that many water companies have found themselves in. That may well result in a further water Bill in the future.

[Baroness Ludford (LD)]

What lessons are the Government learning from the water sector experience for other regulated industries? As the Minister said, there have been decades of underinvestment. The 1990s European law should have been implemented, and successive Governments, including the last Labour Government, failed to apply the law on proper treatment of sewage. What lessons from poor regulation ought to be applied in other so-called regulated industries?