Business of the House

Peter Prinsley Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I invite the hon. Lady to seek an Adjournment debate because, as she has pointed out, these are often multifaceted problems. Should she be able to secure that, she will be able to set out her case in more detail.

[Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab)]

Has the Leader of the House had the opportunity to see the shocking Channel 4 programme “Dirty Business”? It brought to my mind Mr Binks of Stowmarket, who showed me a collection of photographs of the River Gipping over 50 years. They showed a once navigable river, full of fish and clear water, which is now blocked with fallen trees, brown water and neglected banks, causing repeated flooding. Does the Leader of the House agree with me that that is a consequence of the previous Conservative Governments’ disastrous deregulation of the water industry, which has ruined our rivers?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I agree with my hon. Friend’s analysis of where the problem ultimately lies. This Government are committed to cleaning up our waterways and tackling waste crime. We have boosted the Environment Agency’s waste crime enforcement budget by over 50% and we are giving councils powers to crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a debate on those matters, which will ensure not only that the relevant Minister is present but allow other hon. Members to echo my hon. Friend’s concerns.