Speeches by Dyke.

“Will that help to prevent so much spillage?”

“To cope with higher rainfall and emergency situations, Southern Water had installed pipes for the pumping of diluted sewage near the River Test and a rare chalk stream. Following protests from residents, rightly, you said the plan was a mistake and it was cancelled. In 2021, the Crown court issued Southern Water with a…”

“Can you explain dry spills?”

“Yet dividends are still being paid out.”

“Does that give consumer confidence?”

“What about previous years following privatisation?”

“£1 billion was paid out in shareholder dividends in 2023-24. Could you just outline the link between performance and dividends? Do you foresee dividends decreasing following Ofwat’s new regulations?”

“We have outlined that the need for investment in our water infrastructure is clear. We have heard that 20p in the pound goes on water company debts, and 11p in the pound on dividends. The Consumer Council for Water’s survey indicated that about 40% of consumers in England and Wales would struggle to afford the increase…”

“Does anybody else want to come in on that? I am conscious that the Chair might want to move on.”

“As a farmer’s daughter, I fully remember the sickening impact of the last foot and mouth outbreaks across Somerset and Dorset, particularly on farmers’ mental health. The culling restrictions resulted in 73% of farmers experiencing depression and anxiety following the last outbreak. Now, almost one half of the farming …”

“rose—”

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for securing this important debate. I represent Glastonbury and Somerton, and part of my constituency lies on the Somerset levels and moors. Somerset is always at the forefront of flooding. In fact, 91% of Glastonbury and Somerton is agricultural land, so we depend on our farmers to store flo…”

“I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. I represent Glastonbury and Somerton, and a large part of the Somerset levels and moors is in my constituency. Somerset is always at the forefront of flooding, and many of my farmers are always battling flooding. Grants such as the slurry infrastructure grant …”

“Does anybody else want to come in on that? I am conscious that the Chair might want to move on.”

“You have mentioned the quality and availability of water. In Somerset, we have a huge problem with phosphates and housebuilding. About 18,000 homes have been caught up in a moratorium in the Ramsar catchment area. The Government are promising to reform nutrient neutrality and put nature at the heart of their building p…”

“You have mentioned the quality and availability of water. In Somerset, we have a huge problem with phosphates and housebuilding. About 18,000 homes have been caught up in a moratorium in the Ramsar catchment area. The Government are promising to reform nutrient neutrality and put nature at the heart of their building p…”

“Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire are working together collaboratively on the Heart of Wessex devolution deal and hope to be on the devolution priority programme, but there is still some uncertainty over what decision Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will make. Can the Minister confirm that the decision to include the …”

“Yes, it is linked. I was very pleased to hear you talking about the amount of capital funding that is going into flooding. Somerset is always on the frontline of flooding, which results in huge amounts of loss of earnings. Linking this with the management of the programme going forward, given the concerns over DEFRA’s …”

“Tamara, you mentioned the on the ground support and peer-to-peer learning and how valuable that is in the sector. I certainly can testify to that from my experience, but during this transition we need to be able to share that best practice as we move forward and improve skills in the agricultural sector. How will we do…”

“You mentioned the Farming Resilience Fund, which has been broadly welcomed but the scheme will end in March. Why will the scheme end before the end of the agricultural transition and what will you offer in additional support after that date?”