Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]

Debate between Sarah Bool and Joe Morris

2nd reading
Monday 16th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Joe Morris (Hexham) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Sarah Bool]

Not just yet.

No monitoring does not mean that water is clean, as the Secretary of State seemed to suggest. One must be faithful to the facts.

We will support this Bill’s Second Reading because it includes many measures that the previous Government established—for example, companies that pollute the environment can be hit with unlimited fines, and water bosses can be banned from receiving bonuses if their companies commit serious criminal breaches. However, some measures need to be amended, including to maintain the previous Government’s water restoration fund. Why has that not been continued?

We must ensure that we focus on our water infrastructure, which is largely out of date. Poor maintenance causes leakages, and poor capacity leads to sewage overflows. Tackling those problems will require investment and innovation. Ofwat must use its powers more effectively to better monitor performance and enforce standards in a timely fashion. Although I acknowledge the Bill’s focus on penalties for water companies, we must ensure that incentives for investment and change are in place for the years to come.