Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Jesse Norman raises the issue of pollution in the River Wye and asks him to consider putting in place a package to support the long-term improvement of the river.
Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Herefordshire) (Con)
It is a pleasure to speak from the Back Benches for the first time in a while. I massively welcome the statement, and particularly the emphasis that the Chancellor has given to skills and the superb work that has been done by the Department for Education at the same time. In Herefordshire, we worry about the pollution in our River Wye. Will he consider talking further with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about whether some package could be put in place to support the long-term improvement of that river?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Jeremy Hunt)
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his sterling work as a Minister. When it comes to pollution in the River Wye, he will know that the Government have made changes requiring the water companies to invest more than £50 billion in the years ahead, but he, like me, wants to see faster progress and I will happily give him any support I can.