Speeches by Dyke.

“That is great. I am really pleased to hear that you are taking a more nature-based solution approach. I think you have 36 nature-based solutions across the patch, which is fantastic. I would love to come out and see some them.”

“Coming at a time of record low confidence in farming, many farmers in Glastonbury and Somerton will feel that the sudden closure of the SFI scheme will bring them closer to closing their farm gates for the very last time, and at a time when food security is at an all-time low. What communications will go to affected fa…”

“Yesterday, with no notice, DEFRA closed sustainable farming incentive applications, leaving thousands of farmers who want to deliver public goods waiting for a year without support. Can the Prime Minister assure British farmers that they will not be left stranded and unable to support environmental and food resilience …”

“I will not, because of time. Given that the SFI has now finished, will the Department publish the scheme’s key performance indicators and how they were met? Or will it keep farmers in the dark again? The Liberal Democrats are deeply disappointed by Labour’s decision to compound the damage done to our farmers by the Con…”

“It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Dr Murrison. I also thank my hon. Friend the hon. Member for South Devon (Caroline Voaden) for securing this important debate and for her excellent speech. Rural communities and farming go hand in hand, as farmers are the backbone of our rural economy. Glastonbury and So…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this really important debate. Speaking of medieval villages, I met residents of a little village called Mudford in my constituency last week. Two new housing applications have recently been approved for up to 1,000 homes just upstream on the River Yeo. Mudford already suffers from ex…”

“I am, but Chair, if I may, I will first come in on the back of the previous questions. If the business does not become more financially stable in the future, what assessment have you made about the impacts on your consumers? I am obviously particularly interested in those for Glastonbury and Somerton, my constituency.”

“Let us move on to environmental performance. Wessex has seen increasing levels of pollution, or numbers of pollution incidents over the last couple of years, and data shows that you are over-using some sewage overflows. What explains this increase? Does the four-star rating from the Environment Agency seem appropriate …”

“That is great. I am really pleased to hear that you are taking a more nature-based solution approach. I think you have 36 nature-based solutions across the patch, which is fantastic. I would love to come out and see some them.”

“You have said that the regulators are not sufficiently supportive of your ambitions to invest in more nature-based solutions to treat overflows. Why is that?”

“Recently you have upgraded five sewage works along the River Parrett, which runs through my constituency, and I was able to visit the Langport sewage works last summer as some of the upgrades were being installed. I understand from Dr Andrew Clegg, a local citizen scientist, that the water quality monitoring he has bee…”

“Thank you very much. Despite this, the Glastonbury water recycling centre spilled 94 times, polluting the Glastonbury mill stream and the River Brue for 1,267 hours last year. What kind of sewage monitoring system is being used at this site, and how can we stop this level of spills happening?”

“In 2024, the BBC identified 68 sites where sewage may have been discharged illegally in the Wessex region back in 2022. It found that Wessex had spilled for over 1,500 hours, some of which was on 19 July 2022, which you will remember was the hottest day on record. How was that allowed to happen?”

“In 2024, the Advertising Standards Authority banned Wessex Water from releasing a TV advert about its plan to tackle storm overflows, as it was misleading and omitted the information about your overflow and environmental record. What does this tell us about your approach to transparency and investment?”

“In 2024, the BBC identified 68 sites where sewage may have been discharged illegally in the Wessex region back in 2022. It found that Wessex had spilled for over 1,500 hours, some of which was on 19 July 2022, which you will remember was the hottest day on record. How was that allowed to happen?”

“In 2024, the Advertising Standards Authority banned Wessex Water from releasing a TV advert about its plan to tackle storm overflows, as it was misleading and omitted the information about your overflow and environmental record. What does this tell us about your approach to transparency and investment?”

“I am, but Chair, if I may, I will first come in on the back of the previous questions. If the business does not become more financially stable in the future, what assessment have you made about the impacts on your consumers? I am obviously particularly interested in those for Glastonbury and Somerton, my constituency.”

“Let us move on to environmental performance. Wessex has seen increasing levels of pollution, or numbers of pollution incidents over the last couple of years, and data shows that you are over-using some sewage overflows. What explains this increase? Does the four-star rating from the Environment Agency seem appropriate …”

“You have said that the regulators are not sufficiently supportive of your ambitions to invest in more nature-based solutions to treat overflows. Why is that?”

“Recently you have upgraded five sewage works along the River Parrett, which runs through my constituency, and I was able to visit the Langport sewage works last summer as some of the upgrades were being installed. I understand from Dr Andrew Clegg, a local citizen scientist, that the water quality monitoring he has bee…”