1 Amanda Martin debates involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Independent Water Commission

Amanda Martin Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd October 2024

(5 days, 13 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Reed Portrait Steve Reed
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The commission has a wide remit, and will look at the wider impact of damage to the water system, which got much worse under the previous Government.

Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)
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As a coastal city, we welcome the commission. It is vital to sort out sewage and floods. In my constituency, parts of Drayton and Farlington are affected by floods—not from rivers or the sea, but because water pumps up through the drains. While it is not sewage, the water cascades down the streets into houses and shops, forcing holidaymakers to check whether they need to get people to put sandbags out to protect their property. Will the Secretary of State ensure that those types of floods are included in the remit of the commission, and that water companies take responsibility?

Steve Reed Portrait Steve Reed
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We have also set up a flood resilience taskforce, which is looking precisely at those kinds of problems related to flooding so that we can take action immediately.