Speeches by Dyke.

“What do you think you would do differently in future?”

“What do you think you would do differently in future?”

“What lessons have you taken from other utility companies in preparing for a stronger incident response performance? How have other chief executives guided you in terms of your role in an emergency?”

“In terms of your response as a chief executive, how would you implement that change going forward? You have admitted you got it wrong.”

“David, the last time you were before the Committee you told us that during the crisis back in November and December, your natural position was to go to the operational side—that was your comfort zone. You explained that you had a team of scientists and technologists who were there to carry out the role. Do you feel tha…”

“Glastonbury and Somerton is home to more than 800 farms, many of which have appropriate buildings for housing rooftop solar panels, for example. That would meet some of our net zero targets and allow some of the fertile land, which she has already spoken about, to be prioritised, properly and rightly, for food producti…”

“A constituent from Ilchester contacted me recently about their 14-year-old daughter, who is suffering from a painful dental abscess. Despite trying over several months to get treatment, she has been unable to access the treatment that she so desperately needs. Given that the Government have provided only 100,000 of the…”

“11. How many urgent dental appointments have been provided since 1 April 2025.”

“How do you think you are empowering your scientists, your technical staff and your new senior team members?”

“How do you think you are empowering your scientists, your technical staff and your new senior team members?”

“The availability of affordable housing in Somerset has plummeted, demand has surged and rents have risen by six times as much as income. These challenges are highlighted in rural market towns such as Glastonbury, where hundreds of people live in vans and caravans lining the kerbsides. Many are there because they cannot…”

“T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.”

“My hon. Friend talks about appropriate lighting. I am a keen cyclist, as are lots of women in rural areas, and 59% of women who cycle say they are really worried about their journeys and have huge safety concerns as a result. Last October, Langport cycling club took part in a glow ride to raise awareness of the need fo…”

“You mentioned the risk of offshoring. Do you accept that demand from UK horticulture is driving peat extraction in other countries? You mentioned Scotland and Northern Ireland, but there is also mainland Europe. Could you take into account the offshored carbon emissions that are accrued by demand in your calculations a…”

“Peatland restoration is one of the goals that is set out in the various visions for the future contained with the land use framework. The Government want to restore 280,000 hectares of peatland by 2050. One of the ways DEFRA has sought to achieve this is through more restrictions on peat burning. This Committee raised …”

“The land use framework is long-awaited and a great first step, but it is missing some of the implementation and delivery details, which we need to see urgently. It needs to be embedded in every aspect of spatial planning. I say that because Somerset council is currently developing its local plan, and the land use frame…”

“This is going to be done through re-wetting rather than controlled burning, so it is a cultural change for moorland managers to be able to do that. How will DEFRA and the land use framework support the transition?”

“I totally agree. As far as I am concerned, peat belongs in the bogs rather than being burnt and ending up in bags, which moves me on to my next question around peat extraction for gardening and growing. As we know, this directly contributes to the decline of peatlands and there is a knock-on impact for the interlinked …”

“This has obviously been going on for many years now, and there are a lot of businesses that I have spoken to that were in peat extraction, that are moving and have moved to peat-free. But there is a huge amount of frustration, is there not, as the legislation is not in place? We need to really start to embed that suppo…”

“T8. Criminal gangs are targeting isolated farmland and woodland, dumping lorry loads of illegal waste, which poses serious environmental risks. The Environment Agency reports that offenders are saving thousands of pounds in disposal costs while landowners face the financial responsibility of clearing the site. Will the…”