Speeches by Stephenson.

“Thank you. My second question follows on from the questioning by Mr Thomas. I noted here that you said that you have a degree of hard influence but you use it sparingly. How often—and you may have answered this but maybe I am picking a bit—is the Environment Agency’s advice on a flood risk overruled by planning authori…”

“I have a few questions on planning and flood risk. In Mid Bedfordshire, houses in the village of Malden have been reclassified as being on floodplain following significant development upslope from them. I think that is something that people have experienced across the country. Does the Environment Agency believe the cu…”

“We may talk about a small proportion, so just 51 applications, but these are people’s homes and people’s lives. People will move into these homes, and it is reasonably foreseeable, from your analysis, that they will be flooded. In those cases, would you like the agency to have some sort of veto so that it is resolved a…”

“I have a few questions on planning and flood risk. In Mid Bedfordshire, houses in the village of Malden have been reclassified as being on floodplain following significant development upslope from them. I think that is something that people have experienced across the country. Does the Environment Agency believe the cu…”

“Thank you. My second question follows on from the questioning by Mr Thomas. I noted here that you said that you have a degree of hard influence but you use it sparingly. How often—and you may have answered this but maybe I am picking a bit—is the Environment Agency’s advice on a flood risk overruled by planning authori…”

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Part of the Government’s plan for local government reform is to align the ICBs with new mayoralties, as he just mentioned. Does he share my concern that the plan to merge Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB with Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keyn…”

“I welcome the commitment to deliver East West Rail. Sticking with the railways, will the Secretary of State provide assurance to my constituents that she is committed to delivering step-free access—in particular, at Harlington and Flitwick stations? On roads, junction 13 of the M1 is desperately in need of remodelling …”

“Do you have any thoughts or comments on the quanta of those penalties, and whether they are remotely effective? I recognise the point that you made, Ms Little, about the balance between penalties and wanting things to be improved.”

“In the NAO Report, at paragraph 1.14, two penalties are noted: in 2022, £19,355; and in 2024, £228,538. First, has the 2024 penalty been paid? Secondly, are the quanta of those penalties adequate in the context of all the challenges that we have heard, and all the poor service that members have suffered?”

“Thank you. I have a question related to the panel’s answers to the previous question. Recognising those three lessons learned, with hindsight could you have used financial penalties in the MyCSP contract more effectively, to get a better service for members?”

“T3. Does the Home Secretary agree with Labour police and crime commissioners that the money allocated by the Chancellor at the spending review is insufficient to deliver the Government’s policing priorities?”

“We all share in the ambition to ensure the sustainability of pensions, and to provide the best possible income for all our constituents in retirement. Given the time, I will keep my comments reasonably short, but having come to this place from the City—though I did not work in the pensions industry—and as an officer of…”

“From responses to my written parliamentary questions, we know that the median earner can expect to pay £273 more in tax this year under Labour. When the Chancellor sat on the Opposition Benches, she described freezing tax thresholds as “picking the pockets” of working people. Does the Chancellor accept that she is now …”

“Particularly in the east of England.”

“Who or what are the main blockers to house building?”

“It is the same question to you, Mr Duffy.”

“That is very helpful.”

“Thank you. Ms Spain and Mr Duffy, do you feel that your roles as statutory consultees are sufficiently protected from political or commercial pressures in the planning process?”

“Thinking about flooding particularly, because it is something I have been working on quite a lot in my Mid Bedfordshire constituency, the Environment Agency is not the only agency that has expertise in flooding and water management. In my area, the internal drainage board also contributes to planning consultations, but…”

“Thank you very much for that answer. It is good to hear that you are planning to almost increase your productivity in responding to applications. Of course, 100% would be great, but the question is how you will get there as an agency. I do not know the answer, but related to that is the question of the Environment Agen…”