This week in Parliament, we saw The Water (Special Measures) Bill complete its final stages in the House of Commons.  

After rigorous scrutiny and debate in both Houses of Parliament, the Bill will now proceed for Royal Assent, the final step before it becomes law. 

Passing a Bill through Parliament is a thorough process to ensure careful scrutiny. It begins with a First Reading to present its objectives, followed by a Second Reading for debate. The committee stage allows detailed examination and amendments, before further debate and votes at the Report Stage and Third Reading. With agreement reached in both Houses, as has now occurred for the Water (Special Measures) Bill, the Bill is sent to the monarch for Royal Assent to become law. 

The Water Special Measures Bill is a vital piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding our waterways, improving water quality, and holding water companies to account for pollution.  

For too long, these companies have prioritised profit over the well-being of our environment and our communities. 

After 14 years of Conservative failure, we have record levels of illegal sewage dumping in our rivers, lakes and seas. Here in Chester North and Neston we saw 4,899 hours of sewage dumped in 2023 – that’s a 122.5% increase from 2022.  

For our local area, where the Dee and the Dee Estuary are central to our environment, and community, this Bill offers significant hope. 

The Bill will give the water regulators the tough new powers to hold the water companies to account by holding senior executives criminally accountable if they keep breaking the law, banning bonuses for water bosses if they fail environmental and consumer standards and ensuring regulators are empowered to issue automatic, severe fines without delays. 

Clean water is essential for nature, biodiversity, and public health, and I’m proud of what this Bill will achieve. 

I have worked hard on this issue locally and nationally since being elected in 2022. One of my first actions as your Member of Parliament was setting up the Dee Summit, bringing together local environmentalists, residents and local groups for a collaborative approach on positive actions to improve the health of the River Dee. With the passage of this Bill, national measures and local actions like the Dee Summits, we’re transforming the water industry and clearing up our rivers, lakes, and seas.