Speeches by Dyke.

“Yet dividends are still being paid out.”

“Southern Water was issued with £90 million of fines. What impact have those environmental fines had on the financial health of the business?”

“Southern’s sewage spills nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023, to nearly 25,000 in 2023, and 182 storm overflows managed by the firm discharged 60-plus times in 2023. Southern Water has said that 65% of the high rate of spills is due to maintenance assets. You have come under quite sustained criticism for your environm…”

“Can you explain dry spills?”

“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…”

“Southern Water was issued with £90 million of fines. What impact have those environmental fines had on the financial health of the business?”

“Despite the large fines that you have incurred, there is still a significant number of spills taking place. There were 25,000 back in 2023. What improvements are needed to clear up the mess?”

“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…”

“£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?”

“What about previous years following privatisation?”

“Does that give consumer confidence?”

“Yet dividends are still being paid out.”

“Amendment 2, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire), would ensure that the commissioner published annual reports to outline what was being done to support minority groups in the armed forces. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the amendment would ensure that the commissioner was an impo…”

“The hon. Gentleman is making a powerful speech. Langport surgery, in my constituency, is in the all too common position of struggling to attract and retain staff because of stretched budgets that limit its ability to offer attractive terms and conditions to those working in these challenging roles. Does he agree that t…”

“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?”

“Southern’s sewage spills nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023, to nearly 25,000 in 2023, and 182 storm overflows managed by the firm discharged 60-plus times in 2023. Southern Water has said that 65% of the high rate of spills is due to maintenance assets. You have come under quite sustained criticism for your environm…”

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

“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 …”