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Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Sustainable Drainage Systems

"What my hon. Friend has identified in his Newton Abbot constituency is a situation that exists all over the country. In July 2025, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote a report called “National standards for sustainable drainage systems”, which talked about a national shortage of skilled professionals …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Sustainable Drainage Systems
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 05 Feb 2026
Sustainable Drainage Systems

"I am really grateful to my hon. Friend for securing this debate. He talks about maintenance, but design is also crucial. Margaret Leppard, from Seaton, set up the Seaton Flood Working Group. She points out that developers sometimes use outdated datasets when designing drainage systems. She says that rainfall data …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Sustainable Drainage Systems
Written Question
Diego Garcia: Military Bases
Thursday 5th February 2026

Asked by: Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat - Honiton and Sidmouth)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's policy of considering the legal basis and policy rationale when approving foreign nations’ use of UK military bases for operational purposes also applies to the use of the military base at Diego Garcia.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Yes, the United States' (US) operational use of Diego Garcia is governed by an Exchange of Notes between the UK and the US.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 19 December to Question 99134, where I confirmed that this Government will continue to work closely with the US to ensure the base's operational effectiveness and that it remains a vital part of our security alliance well into the next century.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Construction Industry Training Board: Funding

"It is my understanding that, in addition to employer networks, the CITB is also seeking to redirect funding to the new entrant support team. I declare an interest: my father worked as a new entrant training officer. Does the hon. Gentleman accept that the new entrant support team is good …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Construction Industry Training Board: Funding
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration

"I was contacted by a constituent who is a former civil servant. They waited on the so-called helpline for over two hours on six occasions and were cut off continually. It is a contradiction in terms to call it a helpline. Does the hon. Member agree that that is completely …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Civil Service Pension Scheme: Administration
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Construction Industry Training Board: Funding

"I am grateful to the hon. Member for Exeter (Steve Race) for calling the debate. I appreciate that CITB is at arm’s length from Government, but of course, 946,000 young people were registered as NEET last summer. Does the Minister share my view that money is better spent on organisations …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Construction Industry Training Board: Funding
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 04 Feb 2026
Lord Mandelson

"On the shortcomings of what the Prime Minister proposed from the Dispatch Box earlier, the Cabinet Secretary told the Foreign Affairs Committee back in November:

“The only information which was not already in the public domain at the time is a reference to official records which have since been disclosed”.

…..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Lord Mandelson
Division Vote (Commons)
4 Feb 2026 - Climate Change - View Vote Context
Richard Foord (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 392 Noes - 116
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Feb 2026
Iran

"In response to the unilateral US action in Venezuela, the Government merely said that they were waiting to establish all the facts. Meanwhile President Trump said that he does not need international law, and that he is constrained only by his own morality or conscience. In advance of any US …..."
Richard Foord - View Speech

View all Richard Foord (LD - Honiton and Sidmouth) contributions to the debate on: Iran
Division Vote (Commons)
3 Feb 2026 - Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill - View Vote Context
Richard Foord (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 61 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 458 Noes - 104