Speeches by Reynolds.

“I would dispute that.”

“Can I just say, Chair, that I was not misleading the Committee. There is a difference between the cost of nationalising a big industry of 16 water companies that have private property rights—the cost of running a privatised system versus the cost of running a nationalised system. I am sorry to say that I think Mr Gardi…”

“Thank you for the question. We are one Government, and I work very closely with my predecessor. Obviously, he is in the same building as me, just up the corridor at MHCLG. Certainly, from my perspective and the Government’s perspective, it is good that we have a Secretary of State for Housing who knows DEFRA and some o…”

“Thank you for that philosophical question. I do not really agree, but I respect the opinion you have just read out. I do think that we can both grow the economy and protect nature, and we have set out some of the measures that we have been taking around the Planning and Infrastructure Act, where we take a different app…”

“It obviously has become a shorthand for growth, but also living standards. If, as a Labour Government, we want to invest more in public services and reforming them at the same time, we need that growth and the tax receipts that come with it in order to do that.”

“Soon, I hope.”

“Sorry, I can’t. It is something that we are still working on. It is a really important document. I imagine that you have had discussions with my Minister, Mary Creagh, who is completely focused on this plan, and on making sure that we see the opportunities from the circular economy, because we know that the growth of t…”

“As you will know, we consulted on the stage 3 MPA bylaws in September, and when it closed, we had over 20,000 responses. We have consulted on very significant restrictions on bottom trawling in a number of protected areas, but we have not yet responded to the consultation. We want to make meaningful progress on this.”

“You will know that we have pledged to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat-containing products. We have pledged to do that when parliamentary time allows.”

“We work very closely with the devolved Governments. We have an inter-ministerial group. We wrote to them last month setting out and confirming our commitment to work closely with them on having a joined-up, UK-wide approach. Sally, do you want to add to that?”

“On a more positive note, we know that £4 million of bonuses have been blocked for the last financial year. Like you, I am frustrated. I want to ensure that water companies abide by the spirit as well as the letter of the law that many of us voted for last year. That was a key piece of the Government’s agenda, the Water…”

“As the hon. Gentleman may be aware, the Water Minister was on bereavement leave for some time in January. She has received briefings about the situation, and would be happy to meet him to discuss this serious issue in his constituency.”

“I am slightly put off by the hon. Gentleman’s reference to my brewery—although I thank him for putting on the record that I did indeed succeed in getting Rebellion brewery on tap in the Strangers Bar. I did enjoy pulling that pint, as he witnessed with his own eyes! The Water Minister or I would be glad to meet the hon…”

“Under the last Government, we saw water infrastructure crumbling, but this Government are getting a grip of the water system. We are moving away from the “fix on failure” system that we inherited to one that includes proper maintenance and resilience standards to get ahead of problems. I hope that will mean less emerge…”

“I thank the right hon. Member for that question. We are committed to banning trophy hunting. It is a manifesto commitment, and we will take it forward.”

“I pay tribute to all those who do the dangerous work to bring wildfires under control. As my hon. Friend will know, the wildlife management and the fire and rescue elements of her question are the responsibility of MHCLG, but she is right that my Department is responsible for water. The Water Minister or I would be ple…”

“This Government are overhauling the regulatory system to deliver better outcomes for consumers and the environment. In our water White Paper, we set out plans for a more powerful, integrated regulator with real teeth, introducing MOT-style checks on pipes, pumps and other water infrastructure. Last year alone, the Envi…”

“The Grand Union canal transfer scheme will strengthen the nation’s long-term water resilience and water security. I have listened carefully to what my hon. Friend said about her constituents’ concerns, and either myself or the Water Minister will be very happy to meet her to discuss them further.”

“This Labour Government are working in close partnership with farmers to strengthen productivity, resilience and long-term food security. In recent weeks, we have published Baroness Batters’ farming profitability review, allocated £30 million to our farmer collaboration fund, set out plans to simplify the sustainable fa…”

“I seem to remember that the Conservatives were in power for 14 years, and they did not do what the right hon. Lady has just set out. Her question is for the Treasury, not DEFRA. We are still in the process of negotiating a sanitary and phytosanitary deal, which will bring down trade barriers for farmers and food produc…”