Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBaroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
Main Page: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(12 years, 7 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, this is a slightly confusing situation when a money Bill has to be presented by a Defra Minister. I hope that that device, if I may call it that, or the process that this is going through, will not be one that our Government have to resort to very often. I do not want to detain the House at all. I want to give up the time that I would have used to my noble friend Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, who has worked on this issue for many years. Simply, I would say that having lived in the south-west myself for so many years, I am extremely happy to see this coming forward. I am also looking forward very much to hearing the contribution of the noble Earl, Lord Selborne, who worked so hard on this issue with the commission that he chaired.
I have one question. Presumably the infrastructure that was mentioned as being eligible for grant, loan or guarantee is hard rather than soft engineering or very different solutions such as fitting all houses with waterless lavatories, if that were an option in future. I would be grateful if the Minister would comment on that.