Speeches by Dewhirst.

“Farmers across the UK have already been rocked by the changes to APR and BPR, and yesterday we had shock news that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will take no new sustainable farming incentive applications in England. What reassurances can the Minister give farmers in Wales that the sustainable …”

“8. What estimate she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the number of farms affected by changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief in Wales.”

“I thank the Minister for his statement today and echo his comments about the missing sailor. I also add my thanks to all those who have been involved in the rescue operation, particularly those at the RNLI station in Bridlington. My constituents are rightly concerned about the potential environmental and ecological imp…”

“Thank you. I could carry on all afternoon, Chair, but I will not.”

“Christine, do you have anything else to add to that?”

“Thank you. I could carry on all afternoon, Chair, but I will not.”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that although this does create the right to consult, it is not particularly clear what type of consultation will take place, what opportunities financial institutions will have to make representations, and whether such representations will carry any weight; so it leaves the Minister in a consi…”

“Chair, I will try to distil everything into one question. I just want to bring a few strands together in disease readiness, disease preparedness. We have heard about the stresses on APHA’s resources today and across the board. While I accept you are not going to have a standing army ready for the very worst-case scenar…”

“Christine, do you have anything else to add to that?”

“Chair, I will try to distil everything into one question. I just want to bring a few strands together in disease readiness, disease preparedness. We have heard about the stresses on APHA’s resources today and across the board. While I accept you are not going to have a standing army ready for the very worst-case scenar…”

“6. What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on levels of non-domestic rates for pubs.”

“The highest pub in the Yorkshire wolds, the Wolds Inn at Huggate, is a great success story—Mr Speaker, I would be delighted to buy you a pint there the next time you find yourself on the right side of the Pennines—but, like many pubs in my constituency, it faces a crippling rise in non-domestic rates at a time when mar…”

“In my constituency of Bridlington and The Wolds, rural parishes face huge financial pressures to maintain their historic church buildings. Their costs often run into tens of thousands, yet they receive no funding from the Church of England or the Government. The Church of England’s buildings comprise more than 50% of t…”

“1. What assessment the Church of England has made of the contribution of rural parishes.”

“You announced a £13.7 billion investment plan for the next price review. Ofwat has, basically, reduced that to £13 billion. Does that curtail your ambitions to reduce pollution?”

“Net debt is increasing and is reported to be £8.76 billion, if that is correct. Your gearing is just below 65%, so just below what you would say is the upper range of what you would want to see. Ofwat recommends 55%. Is it a sustainable position to be 10% above where Ofwat would like you to be?”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that the impacts of the changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief are already being felt by businesses across the country? Farmers are simply having to shelve investment for fear of a huge inheritance tax bill. That is affecting the wider rural economy, because no ne…”

“Like other water companies, you have been overspending on service delivery and enhancing your services. It has also been widely reported that you have been paying dividends greater than profits. How has that overspend been funded, and is it sustainable?”

“I have one final point on Windermere specifically and the ambition to reduce phosphorus levels. You have talked about working with third parties. Does the regulatory environment easily allow that third party working, or is it a challenge to work with others to achieve those aims in the current environment?”

“On a general point, do you feel that the price review process is effective, given the fact that you, like other companies, are having to overspend?”