Speeches by Hardy.

“There is definitely innovation in how we deal with PFAS and what we can do to destroy it, as was highlighted by the Environment Agency earlier. At the moment, the way to destroy it is 1,100°C incineration. However, there are other innovative ways coming on, but obviously we want to carefully monitor them to ensure that…”

“We are doing a roundtable soon, actually, with DBT. It is slightly different. That is looking more at consumer products and trying to get ahead of the problem so we prevent it happening in the first place.”

“Yes. It is important that we look at how we move away from PFAS and look at alternatives, but with the proviso that we do not then use a similar chemical that is just as bad. I just put that caution out there. One thing is clear regulation and using regulation as a tool. Again, that goes back to what I have been talkin…”

“I think that is genuinely impossible to answer at the moment, which is why the research that is highlighted in the plan is so important. At the moment we know that there is a big problem. We know that we are going to have to deal with it, but it is not accurate enough at this stage for me to be able to say to you, “It …”

“Not at this stage. That is why having that monitoring and research matters so much, so we can fully understand the extent of the problem. That is why it is important.”

“As you have quite rightly pointed out, we are not ending the entire PFAS production tomorrow because, as pointed out, that would have a huge impact on the essential uses for which it is being used today. I don’t imagine you are advocating for that either. In terms of how we are going to pay for it, the polluter pays pr…”

“As I say, with drinking water, they are currently already meeting their standards while the limit is non-statutory, so then when you make it statutory, no, I would not on drinking water.”

“Yes, that is a really important issue. Pesticides sit outside of what we are talking about today, but that issue is part of the EU reset negotiations and the SPS agreement. That is live at the moment and I am not personally involved in those negotiations so I don’t know how much of an update I can give you, other than …”

“That is the reforms that we were talking about and how we look at REACH. As Marc pointed out as well, we will be looking carefully at what is happening with the EU and where they get to when it comes to PFAS restrictions and what that regime actually ends up looking like. This comes down to fundamentally changing the s…”

“The really good thing is that because the Drinking Water Inspectorate is so good, it puts in non-statutory limits already. When I came into Government I said, “That is brilliant. You have non-statutory limits. I like it and I want to make them statutory,” and that is exactly what we are going to do. Just to reassure yo…”

“You know what I am going to say now.”

“We have talked about our new approach—how we want to add chemicals to the list and how we want to catch up—but one of the other things we want to do is look at research and development of alternatives. I think that is important because at the moment there is a list of essential use and I would say most people, if not e…”

“Aha—and we are in some areas. I am pleased you asked me that question because then I get to tell you about drinking water. Yes, in some areas we are. On drinking water, we have some of the best drinking water in the whole world. Its standards are incredibly high. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is incredible. It is one…”

“I did walk into that, didn’t I? I thank my hon. Friend. If he wants to send that through to me, I will of course take a serious look at it. I am very keen to be getting out and about when it is a bit less wet—but rain should be what I am used to. Restoring the health of our rivers is fundamental to safeguarding nature,…”

“I have seen the hon. Lady’s letter. I will get told off by officials for saying this, but I am basically looking at whether I can come back to the Wye and do something there with everybody. If not, we can do something in Parliament. I went to the Wye last year, and we announced our £1 million research fund to look at w…”

“It is a pleasure, Ms Butler, to serve under your chairwomanship in Westminster Hall for the first time. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Lloyd Hatton) for securing this debate and for all the passion, care and interest that he has consistently shown in this issue. I share his excitement about the wil…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Tom Gordon) for securing this debate. I am particularly delighted he has done so today—great timing—since today we have published our new vision for water. These are once-in-a-generation reforms to…”

“As the right hon. Gentleman has noted, I cannot speak about live investigations, but I will reflect on what he outlines. The hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson) mentioned livestock and its importance, something that came up a lot during our many calls. Yes, we need adequate water for people, but there have also b…”

“I have huge sympathy and support for the hon. Lady and her constituents in the situation that they have faced in the last few weeks and I understand the urgent need for compensation, not just for her residents, but many of the neighbouring constituencies. She mentioned that it is the first time that Ofwat has ever done…”

“One of the reasons we introduced the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 and the bonus ban was exactly to ensure that people who get a bonus have earned it and that people who have not earned one do not get one. That seems a pretty straightforward way of doing things in my mind. This goes back to the point made by collea…”