Speeches by Hinchliff.

“I have great respect for what the Minister is saying, but I and many others on the Labour Benches still have questions. Will he agree to meet those of us who think, for example, that the proposals from the Criminal Bar Association deserve closer scrutiny, so that we can discuss those proposals in further detail?”

“I thank the Minister for listening and acting on the concerns that I and many other Labour MPs raised alongside our farming constituents. Now that a happier compromise has been found on inheritance tax, the issue remains one of securing a profitable future for nature-friendly farming in our country. Can the Minister pr…”

“I welcome the Minister’s work on this important subject. Just after we came into office, Ministers committed from the Dispatch Box to a revolution in council house building. I have welcomed and noted the Minister’s statements on social housing, but she will be aware that there are growing concerns around an increasing …”

“T6. I thank the Minister for meeting me recently to discuss the campaign for Hugh’s law and the Government’s plan to consult on support for families with seriously ill children. One parent recently told me,“our savings disappeared under the cost of surviving”,while their disability living allowance took six months to b…”

“You have covered it: how to dispose of that waste in a way that does not accidentally lead to the chemicals being re-released.”

“Ms Robinson, what is your perspective on this? Are farmers concerned that they might be spreading something that subsequently they would be criticised for?”

“Can I ask, as a complete layperson, whether that would lead to any concern about air pollution? Are the chemicals destroyed?”

“Can I just jump in briefly and ask what you think of the suggested US limit? What is your perspective on that?”

“Thank you. Finally, Mr Henderson and Ms Robinson, you will both be aware of the reports from last year that sludge fertiliser being sold to farmers by water companies contained a banned type of PFAS at levels in excess of those considered safe by emerging science. Should water companies be required to check for PFAS in…”

“Very briefly, before I turn to my final question: you mentioned the gap in the evidence to inform our understanding of the risks in relation to sewage sludge. Who do you think should be filling that evidence gap? How can we fill that evidence gap?”

“Mr Henderson, you have waste treatment techniques, as I understand it, that concentrate and remove PFAS from water. How can we deal with the waste that comes from those processes in a way that does not re-release the chemicals into the environment? How are you dealing with that? Is there anything further that we could …”

“That would be very helpful, thank you. Ms Robinson, another issue that many of my constituents write to me about is that of sewage sludge being spread on our farmland, although admittedly that often has more to do with the smell than with the chemicals within it. You have already referred to the scale at which that is …”

“Dr Megson, the industry will go where the science leads. Do you have any views on what the regulatory limit should be in our drinking water?”

“Mr Henderson, as I am sure you will recall, in January this year there were reports in the press that analysis of sampling data showed contamination from PFAS of drinking water across the country. Water sources used by Affinity Water in my constituency at Letchworth and Baldock showed particularly high concentrations o…”

“Is that happening sufficiently across the board? Is there anything that we should be recommending to ensure that that happens?”

“To clarify, perhaps as a recommendation for the Committee to consider in relation to that regulatory limit, would you suggest that we look at broadening it rather than lowering the nanograms per litre?”

“Briefly, may I encourage the Minister to come to my constituency and see the incredible work being done by the RevIvel campaign, which is trying to restore the Ivel chalk stream? It has a brilliant proposal for a chalk stream-first approach that would restore not just that chalk stream but the whole chalk aquifer and h…”

“It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Stuart. I begin by recognising that the Minister takes these issues very seriously, and congratulating the hon. Member for Horsham (John Milne) on securing this important debate. I agree with him that one would think it would take true organising genius to arrange for …”

“I am not certain whether I or the Minister will be more relieved at the conclusion of debates on this legislation. I welcome the fact that the Minister has tabled an amendment to the remaining proposal from the other place; I support Government amendment (a), and welcome the additional parliamentary scrutiny it brings.…”

“My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech, as usual. Does he agree, from the clear argument across the Chamber, that constituents are overwhelmingly unconvinced by the proposed benefits of this scheme and overwhelmingly concerned by the disbenefits; and that therefore the Minister should commit today to ensuring that …”