Independent Water Commission Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Douglas McAllister
Main Page: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)Department Debates - View all Douglas McAllister's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Independent Water Commission
Douglas McAllister Excerpts(1 day, 18 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Steve Reed
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend and share his sentiment that the payment is outrageous. It was possible as part of a scheme that was permitted under the regulatory regime allowed by the previous Government. We have changed the law; it will not happen again.
Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)
I commend the Secretary of State on the action in his statement to hold water companies to account, not least with the new regulator and ombudsman. Scotland’s widespread water pollution challenges are far greater than England’s, particularly the sewage-related pollution in our rivers and on our beaches. Scottish Water is publicly owned, but Scottish Ministers are failing to take the problem seriously, with inadequate monitoring. Does the Secretary of State agree that Scotland needs to take similar urgent action, which only a new direction under Scottish Labour can deliver?
Steve Reed
I agree with my hon. Friend. We had an example earlier of the complacency with which the SNP treats these kinds of issues. There is only one chance now in Scotland for a reset: the election of a Scottish Labour Government in Holyrood to work to clean up pollution from our rivers, lakes and seas, as we are doing.