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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MPs call for urgent action to reduce flooding | MPs call for urgent action to reduce flooding |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government needs to take urgent action to reduce the impact of flooding, MPs have said. | The government needs to take urgent action to reduce the impact of flooding, MPs have said. |
| Ministers had been "too slow" in pushing through changes to improve protection, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said. | |
| But it welcomed government plans for more competition in the water sector, in its report on the draft Water Bill. | But it welcomed government plans for more competition in the water sector, in its report on the draft Water Bill. |
| The government said the proposed legislation would build resilience into the UK's water infrastructure. | |
| Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, the committee's chairwoman, said: "The government has been too slow to implement changes that would protect homes and businesses from the shattering effects of flooding. | |
| "New laws will increase competition in the retail water market and while we welcome those changes, government must get on with implementing changes that would reduce flooding - many of which were recommended nearly five years ago." | |
| Consumer protection | Consumer protection |
| Last year's weird combination of drought and floods in the UK has prompted warnings that we may face more of both as carbon emissions continue to heat the climate. | Last year's weird combination of drought and floods in the UK has prompted warnings that we may face more of both as carbon emissions continue to heat the climate. |
| The MPs say that means the country needs to be more resilient, whether it is wet or dry. | The MPs say that means the country needs to be more resilient, whether it is wet or dry. |
| We need a better vision of how water should be stored and moved around at times of drought and better rules to stop farmers sucking up too much water and leaving rivers empty. | We need a better vision of how water should be stored and moved around at times of drought and better rules to stop farmers sucking up too much water and leaving rivers empty. |
| And we need better flood defences and smarter ways of building. | And we need better flood defences and smarter ways of building. |
| The MPs say this latter issue has been neglected - developers are still being allowed to build with hard surfaces in a way that creates surface flooding. They say we need better rules so developers are obliged to build in a way that allows water to soak into the ground. | The MPs say this latter issue has been neglected - developers are still being allowed to build with hard surfaces in a way that creates surface flooding. They say we need better rules so developers are obliged to build in a way that allows water to soak into the ground. |
| At least it's not quite so bad as a few decades ago when we used to pay farmers to drain bogs, then pay again to repair towns downstream that were flooded by water flushing off the former bogs. | At least it's not quite so bad as a few decades ago when we used to pay farmers to drain bogs, then pay again to repair towns downstream that were flooded by water flushing off the former bogs. |
| Ms McIntosh said successive governments had lacked "the mettle" to tackle the problem. | Ms McIntosh said successive governments had lacked "the mettle" to tackle the problem. |
| While the committee applauded plans to reform the water sector, it was concerned the bill left too much of the important detail to be decided by the industry's regulator, Ofwat - or to be introduced through secondary legislation, which receives less parliamentary scrutiny. | |
| The committee recommended that encouraging sustainable development should be a primary duty of the regulator, and that the government should speed up reform of the way water was abstracted from rivers. | The committee recommended that encouraging sustainable development should be a primary duty of the regulator, and that the government should speed up reform of the way water was abstracted from rivers. |
| It also suggested encouraging greater use of meters to help lower customers' bills, and called for better protection for consumers. | |
| Ms McIntosh said: "The lack of detail in the legislation leads to uncertainty for investors, which could result in higher financing costs for water companies and higher water bills for customers. | Ms McIntosh said: "The lack of detail in the legislation leads to uncertainty for investors, which could result in higher financing costs for water companies and higher water bills for customers. |
| "We want the government to put enough meat into this legislation that investors and water companies can have the confidence to invest. | "We want the government to put enough meat into this legislation that investors and water companies can have the confidence to invest. |
| "We want to see provisions in the legislation that protect consumers and we do not accept the government's arguments that those protections would undermine investors' confidence in the water industry." | "We want to see provisions in the legislation that protect consumers and we do not accept the government's arguments that those protections would undermine investors' confidence in the water industry." |
| But water minister Richard Benyon said: "As unpredictable rainfall and population growth puts an increased pressure on our water supplies we need a water industry that is fit for the 21st century. | |
| "This bill will ensure our water supplies remain affordable, resilient and sustainable for the future." |