Sewage Pollution

Debate between George Eustice and Scott Benton

Tuesday 6th September 2022 Commons Chamber

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

Contrary to the absolute nonsense peddled by the Opposition, it is this Government who are the first in history to bring forward a comprehensive plan to tackle sewage discharges. At a time when household budgets are under immense pressure, does my right hon. Friend agree that it would have been incredibly reckless to have agreed to Labour’s plans to eliminate sewage discharges, which would have landed the taxpayer and consumers with a £600 billion bill and left consumers paying thousands more per year for their water?

[George Eustice]

As I said earlier, we have chosen to prioritise the most harmful sites and to prioritise them quickly, with £3 billion of investment until 2025 and £56 billion of investment across the programme. My hon. Friend is right: to eliminate all storm overflows in their entirety would be a huge undertaking, costing £600 billion, with a major impact on the bills of water bill payers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Eustice and Scott Benton

Thursday 9th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

Earlier this year, we published the direction—the strategic policy plan—for Ofwat, which requires it to prioritise reducing the use of these combined sewer overflows and to secure the funding through the pricing review to deliver that.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

T4. In Blackpool’s Stanley Park, 15 swans died last month following an outbreak of a deadly bird flu virus. Sadly, over the past month, avian flu has been found in several areas across the UK, and further cases have been confirmed this week. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his update on this issue a few moments ago. Will he arrange for me to meet with officials in his Department so that I can discuss this particular issue in Blackpool?

[George Eustice]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. My noble Friend Lord Benyon is leading on this issue and I will ensure that he can have that conversation. As I have said, we are following this closely, and the chief veterinary officer is leading our response.

EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Fishing Industry

Debate between George Eustice and Scott Benton

Thursday 14th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

We are working with the industry daily to identify the specific challenges that they are encountering, such as individual examples of why the French may have raised a query on an export health certificate. We are trying to deal with that and iron out that problem.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

UK fishermen are understandably frustrated by the current situation at the borders. Can my right hon. Friend therefore update the House on what discussions he has had with our European neighbours, since the end of the transition period, to tackle the issue?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Eustice and Scott Benton

Thursday 19th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

As I said, we are working with food banks and retailers to ensure that they have the supply of food they need through schemes such as FareShare.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

I am sure that all hon. Members welcome the additional investment in flood and coastal defences in last week’s Budget. Will the ministerial team continue to work with local authorities such as Calderdale, which was flooded recently, to ensure that existing gaps in flood defence schemes are addressed?