Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 25 Nov 2013 Water Bill
"If the hon. Lady shows a bit of patience, she might hear more detail from us than we heard today from the Secretary of State.
The previous Labour Government passed legislation that allowed the water companies to introduce their own schemes. Those companies had assured the country that they were …..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"Oh dear me; the Minister has obviously forgotten his own position. He will still be a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee for a little longer, so perhaps he can set out which side of the argument he agrees with—that expressed by the Select Committee of which …..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"The hon. Gentleman indicated that he is looking forward to serving on the Bill Committee, so we can discuss the matter further there. I refer him to the Select Committee’s report. The estimate of the first decade of competition in Scotland is that it will save the public sector …..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"The Minister has given an undertaking that those new clauses will be available for scrutiny by the Bill Committee next week. Will he say, once and for all, whether those 20-odd clauses will be available in time for the Committee adequately to review them next week?..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"The Minister is obviously talking about bits of the Bill that do not yet exist and which the House has not seen. A few moments ago, he said that capital expenditure had gone up. It might help him if I point out that there has been a drop of £96 …..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"I seem to recall that the Select Committee, of which the former water Minister was a member, criticised the Government for not being ambitious enough. Is that not a fair recollection?..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"I heard the hon. Gentleman making this argument earlier on the BBC. For the interest of the House, will he clarify whether he also believes that the water companies should be able to disconnect a customer who refuses to pay?..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"I am most grateful for that half-explanation. Does the hon. Gentleman accept that unless there is disconnection, the market simply cannot work? If we are going to have competition for households, we would have to have disconnection...." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. I think I am right in saying that it was only under the Labour Government that water bills actually fell. Is that correct?..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech
"I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the debate on behalf of the Opposition, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I apologise for my slight tardiness at the start. I meant no disrespect to the Chair.
I congratulate the hon. Gentlemen on securing this excellent debate, although I suspect that …..." Thomas Docherty - View Speech