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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 24 July 2025

Debate

Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Contribution

My Lords, I apologise: I prematurely terminated the journey of this part of the Bill. I will seek to be very brief. The Government are committed to ensuring effective planning, development and management of water infrastructure. To that end, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs formed an Independent Water Commission. We oppose the amendment put forth by the noble Baroness, Lady Coffey, to transfer Ofwat’s planning, infrastructure and development functions to the Secretary of State because it would pre-empt the results of the independent review. As mentioned, we will provide a full government response to the commission’s report in the autumn, setting out our priorities and timelines, and the Government will therefore introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry. I ask the noble Lord to withdraw the amendment on behalf of the noble Baroness, Lady Coffey.

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