South West Water: Brixham Contamination

Lloyd Russell-Moyle Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

My hon. Friend talks about the huge importance of the quality of drinking water. That is why we have the Drinking Water Inspectorate there, and it will be fully investigating, and it is why a precautionary approach was taken with Alston. As I have said, on the information that I have, the tests suggest it was upstream of any problem, but a precautionary approach was taken. That indicates how seriously we take these issues. It is important we get to the bottom of exactly what has happened and what has caused this incident, and the DWI is working actively to do that.

[Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) (Lab/Co-op)]

In 2022, the Drinking Water Inspectorate found South West Water guilty, saying that the company

“did not follow best practice”

to avoid and shorten events where customers report problems about the taste and quality of their drinking water. It was fined a quarter of a million pounds. It was found guilty the year after for a six-year period of illegal discharges of sewage. The CEO awarded themselves almost £2 million in bonuses and awarded £112 million in dividends. Is it not time that all bonuses, all dividends and all bill rises are suspended until our water companies sort themselves out? If they do not, they need special administration.

[Mr Speaker]

May I remind Members that when they are asking a question or speaking, they are meant to look at the Chair, not at somebody down at the bottom of the Chamber, because we might be unable to hear what is being said?

[Lloyd Russell-Moyle]

It is because of the good work of the hon. Member for Totnes (Anthony Mangnall) that I was able to ask that question.

[Mr Speaker]

In the end, the good work of the hon. Member for Totnes was only allowed by the Chair—think that way first!