Speeches by Dollimore.

“I gently remind the right hon. Member that since this Labour Government came to power, interest rates have been cut five times—a vote of confidence in our Chancellor, fixing the foundations of our economy. That saves the average family on an average tracker mortgage in my constituency over £100 a month. Will he remind …”

“Will the right hon. Member give way?”

“I really welcome the water commission. The EFRA Committee has had each of the water bosses in, one by one, and each struggled to explain why their industry prioritises bonuses over fixing broken pipes. I therefore really welcome the action that the Government have taken to ban bonuses, starting with the bonus for the S…”

“The people who live outside London will probably feel they are quite important and essential to fix too.”

“Whether we are talking about fines or penalties is slightly beside the point here. Thames is asking for a carve-out, to be let off the hook for penalties or fines that are due, and people will find it very hard to understand why you should be given that exception. It appears you are also calling for that for the entire…”

“Can you let me finish? Is Thames not effectively holding a gun to the Government and the taxpayer’s head? it is basically saying, “You’ve got to let us off these fines or you’ll have a special administration regime.””

“Can you define regulatory easements? We are talking about fines being cancelled.”

“Why do you think you deserve a special exception to fines that every other water company has to comply with? How would you justify that to billpayers and our constituents?”

“You are asking for fines to be written off.”

“That is the estimation of figures over the next few years that you have provided in your evidence to us for both the EA and Ofwat fines.”

“You are asking for all water companies to be let off fines, effectively.”

“Just on that point—may I refer the House to my register of interests—the biggest union that represents Thames Water staff is the GMB. It has written to us to say that there was widespread disbelief when the chairman described senior managers as the company’s greatest asset. It has also said that industrial relations ar…”

“Have you written to any Ministers outside DEFRA to ask to be let off the hook from fines?”

“Is that a yes or a no, Chris?”

“Many taxpayers will find it extraordinary that Thames Water wants a special exception; it wants to be let off the hook from £1.4 billion of fines. Why should you get a special exception?”

“Are you only allowed to raise bills on the basis of meeting those targets?”

“You have spoken about that, and that will be in your submissions to the Independent Water Commission.”

“They do not feel that way. Actually, the impact of the evidence session last time was dismay and disbelief. It did not motivate the people they represent.”

“You feel no angst towards the company?”

“What do you judge of its assessment? KKR’s official reasoning that it gave us is that it was worried about the political landscape in which it was entering in terms of Thames Water, but nothing has really changed in the political landscape between the general election last July and KKR pulling out. The Water (Special M…”