Oral Answers to Questions

James Heappey Excerpts
Thursday 5th November 2015

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. We have overrun, but I want to accommodate a couple of colleagues very briefly. I call Mr James Heappey.

James Heappey Portrait James Heappey (Wells) (Con)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The dastardly EU has moved the goalposts on bathing water quality, and this morning we have found out that Burnham-on-Sea in my constituency has fallen short of the new standards. This will be of great concern to many in my constituency, particularly those involved in tourism. Will the Minister reassure us that all will be done to improve standards before next year’s readings?

Rory Stewart Portrait Rory Stewart
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This is an extremely important issue. I underscore the fact that these are advisory notices; they do not prohibit people from swimming in the water. In relation to Burnham-on-Sea, 250 missed connections have been identified by Wessex Water, which will invest £36 million. I have every hope that through its Streamclean initiative we should be able to bring Burnham-on-Sea back into compliance.