Oral Answers to Questions

John Grogan Excerpts

Thursday 18th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. First, I should congratulate Liv Garfield of Severn Trent Water for the progressive measures that she has taken, which my right hon. Friend mentions. More broadly, the challenge of climate change—as graphically pointed out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and by the chair of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan—requires us all to take further steps to make sure that our communities are safe.

[John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab)]

Is the Secretary of State concerned about the quantity of raw sewage that is being discharged into our rivers by many water companies?

[Michael Gove]

Yes, absolutely. Remedial action must be taken.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Gove]

I was grateful to my hon. Friend for raising his constituents’ concerns about the condition of the River Windrush, and he is absolutely right to do so. We have subsequently got a commitment through Ofwat, the regulator, for all water companies to spend more on making sure that the environment that they safeguard is protected.

[John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab)]

T4. Does the Secretary of State agree with those experts who argue that the UK has sufficient incineration capacity and that to increase it further could imperil recycling rates?

[Michael Gove]

The balance between the two is delicate. What we must do is recycle more.