Thames Water

Debate between Emma Reynolds and Olly Glover

Tuesday 16th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

My hon. Friend is right to say there have been 15 years of failure, with the company letting down customers and businesses in his constituency. Chalk streams are an absolute priority for me, both as a Member representing a constituency in the Chilterns and as Environment Secretary.

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

The Government have been very clear in their support for Thames Water’s proposed £5.7 billion White Horse reservoir in Oxfordshire. Given that Thames Water may run out of money in months, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of the risk that a collapse could lead to the Government having to bear the cost of the reservoir?

[Emma Reynolds]

As a country, we have failed to build a reservoir for 30 years. That cannot be right. On the specific reservoir to which the hon. Gentleman refers, we will have to look at the details, but as it stands the company is ongoing; it is a solvent company and it should continue to complete the projects that it started.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Reynolds and Olly Glover

Monday 7th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

T3. Members of the AEAT pension scheme have collectively lost millions of pounds from their pensions, despite being told that they would be no less favourable following the privatisation of their pension scheme in 1996. The Public Accounts Committee found that they had received inadequate information from the Government and lost money as a result. Will the Minister provide a clear timescale for redress for AEAT pensioners in this unique case, as promised by a previous Pensions Minister?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Emma Reynolds)]

I thank the hon. Member for his question. I have looked into this issue, which has a long and complex history, and I would be very willing to meet him to discuss it in more detail.