Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Drought Conditions: England

16 October 2026 · 14 other contributors

Opened by Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle

EconomyAgriculture & Rural AffairsEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Emma Hardy raised concerns about drought conditions: england in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Minister Emma Hardy updated the House of Commons on severe drought conditions affecting over 80% of England, impacting about 50 million people.
  • Specific regions like Yorkshire, the south-east, and south-west have faced record low rainfall.
  • Reservoirs such as Wimbleball and Ardingly are at their lowest recorded levels.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Emma Hardy

Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, addressed the House of Commons to update them on the severe drought conditions in England. She highlighted that over 80% of England is now in drought, affecting approximately 50 million people. Specific regions such as Yorkshire, the south-east and south-west, have experienced record low rainfall, leading to reservoirs like Wimbleball and Ardingly being at their lowest levels. In response, the Government declared severe drought in key areas and issued a ministerial direction to the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supplies over environmental rules. This allows water companies to conserve more water in depleted reservoirs. Emma Hardy also announced the establishment of local resilience forums and the first meeting of the Government’s flood and drought resilience taskforce. She emphasised the need for long-term solutions, including the construction of nine new major reservoirs over the next decade. Emma Hardy also stated that she will continue to keep the House informed of developments.

Other contributors (14)
  • Robbie Moore

    Question

    Robbie Moore criticised the Government's response to the drought, questioning the Minister's focus on meetings and the lack of action on environmental regulations and water bills. He also inquired about the progress on the construction of reservoirs and the distribution of the £65 million drought package.

    Minister reply

    The Minister responded to Robbie Moore's concerns by reiterating the steps taken to protect public water supplies, including the declaration of severe drought and the instruction to water companies to conduct daily monitoring. She also acknowledged the importance of protecting the environment and stressed the need for long-term solutions, including the construction of nine new major reservoirs over the next decade. She stated that the Government is committed to supporting farmers and rural communities and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  • Robbie Moore Lab Hucknall

    Question

    The shadow Secretary of State criticised the government's slow reaction to the drought, noting the lack of mention of farmers' impacts and the delay in implementing practical steps proposed earlier. He raised concerns over the £65 million drought package and questioned the high water bills and planning hurdles for farmers. The shadow called for greater support and action to address immediate challenges.

    Minister reply

    The Minister responded by acknowledging the importance of preparation and planning, highlighting actions taken since February, including drought exercises and collaboration with water companies. She emphasised the government's commitment to support farmers through the £15 million fund for on-farm reservoirs and the easing of planning regulations. The Minister also addressed the need for resilience standards and the importance of flexibility in water abstraction.

  • Olivia Blake Lab Hastings and Rye

    Question

    The MP questioned how to ensure water companies address leaks before asking consumers to reduce their usage.

    Minister reply

    The Minister highlighted the government's focus on fixing leaks, with companies now fixing more leaks than ever before and increasing the number of engineers. She also mentioned the use of smart technology and metering to help identify leaks and improve customer awareness. The government is holding companies accountable through weekly national drought group meetings to prioritise leak repair.

  • Al Pinkerton LD Plymouth, Moor View

    Question

    The Liberal Democrats highlighted the urgent need for water companies to address leakage and invest in resilient infrastructure, questioning the family farm tax and budget cuts. The MP called for an additional £1 billion for the farming budget and a national 'call to store' programme to identify on-farm storage capacity.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged the importance of farmers storing water on their land and mentioned the national drought group's work with NFU. She discussed the need for filling reservoirs through flexible abstraction and livestock registers. The Minister emphasised the government's ambition to ensure reservoirs are as full as possible going into spring and the importance of public health and environmental balance.

  • Anna Dixon Lab Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford

    Question

    The MP questioned the need to change the way water companies are run in the upcoming water Bill to prioritise citizens and consumers over profit.

    Minister reply

    The Minister agreed with the need to prioritise people and highlighted the lack of resilience in water companies' networks. She mentioned the importance of resilience standards in the water Bill to allow water movement across networks, addressing the failure of the previous regulatory system.

  • Mims Davies Con Eastleigh

    Question

    Drought conditions are severe in Eastleigh due to low rainfall, record-breaking temperatures, and El Niño. The use of standpipes is a possibility, and water-dependent businesses are worried. The MP asked for the Minister's help to arrange infrastructure investment plans between Southern Water and South East Water to deliver effective change and peace of mind for constituents.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged the importance of the issue and reaffirmed her commitment to work closely with Members of Parliament directly impacted. She assured that there are no immediate plans for standpipes and highlighted the Let's Save Water campaign as a national effort. The Minister also emphasised the need for greater resilience in water supply systems and the importance of moving water around the country more easily.

  • Matthew Patrick

    Question

    Climate change is contributing to the drought problem, and the MP asked about long-term steps the Government is taking to build resilience against climate change.

    Minister reply

    The Minister reiterated the importance of resilient standards and the need for water companies to focus on public good. She emphasised the need for whole-scale change to have a system fit for the future, rather than relying on hope for rainfall. The Minister also highlighted the importance of the water Bill in addressing these issues.

  • Christopher Chope Con Christchurch

    Question

    The MP questioned the Government's insufficient support for adaptation measures and criticised the focus on subsidising windmills and solar panels.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged the importance of adaptation and highlighted the need for resilience in the system. She emphasised that going between extremes of flood and drought is now the normal, and she committed to working across government to address these issues.

  • Kevin Bonavia

    Question

    The MP thanked the Minister for her statement and asked for a commitment to make major water projects happen.

    Minister reply

    The Minister committed to doing everything possible to make major projects happen, such as building new reservoirs, developing new sources of water, and looking at desalination. She emphasised the need for basic measures like moving water more easily around the country and storing it when it rains.

  • Lincoln Jopp

    Question

    The MP highlighted the benefits of floating solar panels and asked if the Minister would work across government to encourage water companies to install them.

    Minister reply

    The Minister thanked the MP for raising the point and acknowledged the importance of putting floating solar panels across reservoirs to help with evaporation. She committed to working across government to encourage water companies to adopt these measures.

  • Peter Prinsley

    Question

    The MP asked if tap water for drinking should remain the highest priority.

    Minister reply

    The Minister agreed that tap water for drinking must remain the highest priority. She emphasised that drinking water in the UK is rated one of the highest in the world and encouraged Members to enjoy it.

  • Edward Morello

    Question

    The MP criticised South West Water for high leakage rates and high dividends for shareholders while customers face higher bills and sewage issues. He proposed a new mutual ownership model and a national rainwater management strategy.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged the MP's frustration and supported him in holding water companies accountable for delivering further and faster for their residents. She emphasised the need for ownership and control and committed to addressing the legacy of the 1980s.

  • Lizzi Collinge

    Question

    The MP expressed disappointment with arguments against tackling climate change in the House and asked if the Minister shares her concern.

    Minister reply

    The Minister agreed with the MP's sentiment and emphasised the need to take climate change seriously. She highlighted the impact of climate change on constituents' daily lives and committed to addressing the issue.

Shadow Comment

Robbie Moore

Robbie Moore criticised the Government's slow response to the ongoing drought, pointing out that eleven areas are now in drought and ten water companies have imposed hosepipe bans. He questioned why the Minister did not mention the impact of the drought on farmers and rural communities. Moore questioned the effectiveness of daily monitoring by water companies and the relaxation of environmental regulations. He also raised concerns about increased water bills and the lack of progress on the construction of reservoirs. He called for a more proactive approach to water management and better support for farmers and rural communities. He demanded a clearer timeline for the construction of reservoirs and updates on the £65 million drought package. He urged the Minister to make it easier for farmers to build on-farm reservoirs.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy