Independent Water Commission

Rosie Duffield Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

My hon. Friend, who is such a strong campaigner on the water sector, makes a very important point, which she puts very well. I consider that pay rise to be outrageous, as does she. It turns out that he is receiving that pay increase under a scheme that was permitted by the regulator under the regime that the Conservatives had in place, and the payment he is getting this year relates to the last year of the Conservative Government. We have changed the law so that no similar payment can be made in future.

[Rosie Duffield (Canterbury) (Ind)]

South East Water’s Broad Oak reservoir in Canterbury, which will also serve your constituency, Mr Deputy Speaker, is not due to open until 2033. Will my beleaguered residents and businesses in Canterbury and parts of Whitstable have to put up with the droughts and the leaks—in a heatwave, which has been unbearable—for another eight years?

[Steve Reed]

The hon. Lady is quite right to point to the problems that we are experiencing because of the lack of reservoirs. As I said earlier, we are speeding up the consenting and the building of new reservoirs, so we have the means to catch the rain when it is falling and can use it during drier periods. She refers to leaks. The investment that we have secured will reduce leaks from water pipes, so we can help to conserve water for the purpose for which it is intended.