Speeches by Stephenson.

“As a central Bedfordshire councillor, I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. There is much to welcome in this Bill, particularly its ambition to get nationally significant infrastructure built to support our country. While I disagree with the Government’s allocation of housing targ…”

“I thank the Minister, hon. Members and hon. Friends, who have joined me to debate the Government’s strategy to support the tourism industry. I was delighted to secure this important debate in English Tourism Week. I was even more delighted that Members from across the United Kingdom came and we learned all sorts of thi…”

“He also might not. Let us see. Better transport infrastructure across the whole country would help our tourism industry, which would include Luton airport expansion in Bedfordshire—perhaps the Minister has an update on that; or maybe he does not. That will mean finding the right mixture of development in areas like min…”

“It is important that local economies are balanced, and I recognise that in some parts of the country it feels like the economy is imbalanced. Perhaps there are communities suffering from too many tourists, and I am sure that hon. Members may talk about that in the context of Cornwall. I thank the hon. Member for his in…”

“He might.”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered Government support for the tourism industry. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward, and to introduce this debate during English Tourism Week, when people across the country will be celebrating all the fantastic tourism attractions that form part of t…”

“That is a fantastic idea. I was travelling just yesterday on the Eurostar and thinking to myself how great it would be if the train stopped at Ashford and Ebbsfleet and passengers could get off, having come from the Netherlands, to savour the delights of Kent, a county that I know very well. I thank my hon. Friend for …”

“I am not sure the Secretary of State is going to dig the trench though.”

“There is plenty of water.”

“On water supply, a spokesman has said that East Anglia would run out of water within the next five to 10 years without the new £500 million pipeline. In the answer to a previous question, you said you, “have a solid plan.” How confident are you that that £500 million pipeline is going to be delivered, and on time, so t…”

“Jenny, do you want to come in on this?”

“I have one final question, and I will try to make it quick. It is about housing growth, which we have touched on today. Mid Bedfordshire, like many other areas, has seen rapid housing growth over the past decades. Is the planning system robust enough to ensure that water and sewerage infrastructure is delivered at the …”

“There is plenty of water.”

“Thanks for walking us through what you are doing, but it is still the case that Ofwat is concerned about Anglian Water not meeting its targets. Is it right to be concerned?”

“Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Mark, for coming along. I represent Mid Bedfordshire, which is on the western edge of your territory, but I also have an interest in the whole region as vice chair of the east of England APPG. As we have discussed today, the east is one of the driest areas in England. Droughts are commo…”

“Jenny, do you want to come in on this?”

“I have one final question, and I will try to make it quick. It is about housing growth, which we have touched on today. Mid Bedfordshire, like many other areas, has seen rapid housing growth over the past decades. Is the planning system robust enough to ensure that water and sewerage infrastructure is delivered at the …”

“Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Mark, for coming along. I represent Mid Bedfordshire, which is on the western edge of your territory, but I also have an interest in the whole region as vice chair of the east of England APPG. As we have discussed today, the east is one of the driest areas in England. Droughts are commo…”

“Thanks for walking us through what you are doing, but it is still the case that Ofwat is concerned about Anglian Water not meeting its targets. Is it right to be concerned?”

“Have we seen the end of repeated delays?”