Speeches by Bool.

“Thank you for coming in today. We have talked about this, but Ofwat considers United Utilities to perform well when it comes to mains repairs, asset outages and tackling leakages, but it performs very badly when it comes to supply interruptions, and you mentioned internal sewer flooding. Can you just explain why we hav…”

“On the supply side, you talked about the average and then about your numbers. Could you just explain what those are? You said that you performed better than average.”

“You are right, and we should put it on record that, in terms of sewage, you were probably one of the worst performers in 2023-24, because you had 4.3 incidents per 10,000 sewer connections, when you were expected to have only 1.44. Everything that you are saying sounds very positive. I have heard a lot of money being b…”

“Since coming into office last July, this Labour Government have launched an all-out attack on businesses in this country—an attack on 5.5 million SMEs that represent more than 99% of our business population, and small businesses in my constituency, of which 88% is agricultural land, are front and centre of that assault…”

“You are right, and we should put it on record that, in terms of sewage, you were probably one of the worst performers in 2023-24, because you had 4.3 incidents per 10,000 sewer connections, when you were expected to have only 1.44. Everything that you are saying sounds very positive. I have heard a lot of money being b…”

“On the supply side, you talked about the average and then about your numbers. Could you just explain what those are? You said that you performed better than average.”

“I am proud that my constituency of South Northamptonshire hosts the largest armed forces gathering of its kind in the UK. The national transition event at Silverstone on 24 February, now in its sixth year, is run by the charities Mission Motorsport and Mission Community. The event recognises, demonstrates and celebrate…”

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that we need to have a robust migration policy that fulfils the economic needs of the UK while also protecting and preserving our British way of life. Although it is important that the British public hear loud and clear our acknowledgement that the last Government did not get ever…”

“15. Whether he plans to appoint a veterans’ commissioner for England.”

“I want to return to the personal imports policy, because I appreciate there is a variety in the different countries, even with the EU, in terms of what they can and cannot bring in, and the NFU is worried about those personal imports. Should there actually be a total outright ban? How would you like an import policy to…”

“As you said, it seems that there are many problems and many communication breakdowns at this point, but one question for me is how successfully you think that the border target operating model, BTOM, balances trade facilitation and biosecurity.”

“I find high-strength nicotine pouches incredibly concerning, as I had not been aware of their existence. There is a Member of the House who happens to use them; I had simply thought that that hon. Member was partaking of mints, but that is clearly is not the case. This is an interesting area. As the shadow Minister has…”

“Scientists at the University of Glasgow found last month that avian influenza can spread to horses without any symptoms. Will the Minister clarify how the Government are monitoring the spread of the virus among other species?”

“Our small businesses are the lifeblood of our high street and often give young students their first opportunity for a job on a Saturday or in the holidays. However, one of my local small business owners says that she can no longer afford such roles because of the increase in employer national insurance contributions an…”

“13. What steps he is taking to support high street businesses.”

“I concur with the rationale and explanation that my hon. Friend has just given. The question about how we will deal with snuff and other products in the House is an interesting one, because we do not want to see any of our Doorkeepers perhaps being criminalised for having something on the estate or how they have suppli…”

“I want to build on the shadow Minister’s point, because I raised that concern in one of the previous sittings. I want to refer to the words of the King’s counsel, Jason Coppel, of 11KBW chambers, in relation to this point. In an article published online, he notes that TPD2, the tobacco products directive, “lays down va…”

“I agree. That is a good conclusion to have worked through, which we perhaps had not had the opportunity to turn our attention to. I would like to see a provision of this nature. I am intrigued, as my hon. Friend said, by why the Minister has not included filters in the outright initial ban. That should be considered, p…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for her explanation. I did not know that it was cork that gave the colouring, so that is another benefit of her history lesson. We are aware that the previous Conservative Government took strong action to try to remove plastics in the environment. We introduced the UK-wide prohibition on the use …”

“I agree. One of the things that I have most enjoyed over the last few weeks and months has been learning all the different traditions and the meanings behind them. Having done my original degree in history, I appreciate all that, so the many history lessons that we have had from the shadow Minister in the course of the…”