1 Steff Aquarone debates involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Independent Water Commission

Steff Aquarone Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd October 2024

(5 days, 13 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Reed Portrait Steve Reed
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Diolch yn fawr i chi. I would be very happy to visit Monmouthshire. It is important that we look at the situation with water across catchments, particularly where it is crossing borders between England and Wales. The fact that this commission is jointly commissioned by both Governments and will report to both Governments will ensure that is what happens.

Steff Aquarone Portrait Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk) (LD)
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I am pleased to see action coming forward from the Government on this, but we know that they need to go further and faster on this issue. In North Norfolk, much of the infrastructure dates from the 1970s and 1980s. Then, a just-about-managing approach was taken to construction and clearly it is no longer managing the situation. Can the Minister confirm that this commission will look specifically at directing investment from water companies to infrastructure upgrades as and where they are needed?

Steve Reed Portrait Steve Reed
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We certainly need fast action after 14 years of absolutely nothing. The commission will point the way to resetting the sector for the future, and will seek to establish a system that will do exactly what the hon. Gentleman talks about.