Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 23 Mar 2011 Pig Farming
"I want to call the Front-Bench spokesmen to start the winding-up speeches at half-past 3, which leaves us time for one further speech...." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"There is a contradiction at the heart of the Government’s policy on flood alleviation. In answer to a parliamentary question about flood risk, the Minister told me that
“The latest UK climate science confirms that rising sea levels and more severe and frequent rain storms are likely to occur—resulting in …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"The River Ouse, which flows through the centre of York, drains water from about 3,000 sq km of the Pennines. When there is heavy rainfall, the river rises enormously. At the moment, York has severe floods; the river has risen by about 15 feet above its summer level. When that …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"My hon. Friend gives an extremely good example. The Environment Agency says that the cost-benefit ratio of its schemes in the pipeline are 8:1, which was confirmed by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s recent excellent report on flood and water management legislation. That means that we get back …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
I see excellent work that the Environment Agency has done upstream from York, creating small ponds on agricultural land, planting trees and building dams that can be closed at times when there is a lot of water, so that water can be …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"I said that I would give way to the hon. Gentleman. I will do so, then I will give way to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) and then I will sit down...." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"I am glad to receive support from the hon. Gentleman. However, I hope that he will join me in saying that these risks, which people in both our constituencies face, are present and real risks now and that we need Government funding now to address them. I say that because …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"That is obviously right and it is a very important contribution. We cannot get flood risk management for free, whether it involves building flood defences in York city centre or paying farmers to let their winter cropping fields flood at a time when they would otherwise be planting root vegetables …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech
"Will the hon. Gentleman listen for a minute? I accept that the Labour Government, who put in millions of pounds and improved many flood defences, protecting some areas of the city, did not finish the job. However, I should tell the hon. Gentleman, who I hope will have the opportunity …..." Hugh Bayley - View Speech