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South East Strategic Reservoir Option
16 March 2022
Lead MP
Layla Moran
Oxford West and Abingdon
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Rebecca Pow
Tags
ClimateAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Word Count: 3830
Other Contributors: 0
At a Glance
Layla Moran raised concerns about south east strategic reservoir option in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Layla Moran asks the government to thoroughly interrogate the proposal for this reservoir, especially as it moves forward to gate two. She requests a review of population estimates and environmental impact analysis. Moran also calls for reconsidering the structure of Water Resources South East (WRSE) and warns Thames Water against releasing wholly redacted environmental studies.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The proposed Abingdon reservoir has been under debate for nearly a quarter of a century. Layla Moran is concerned about the environmental impact, including loss of biodiversity and potential flooding risks in an already flood-prone area. She notes that initial environmental impact assessments have not provided sufficient information due to redaction. Additionally, there are concerns over the accuracy of population growth predictions used by Water Resources South East (WRSE), which could significantly affect water demand projections.
Government Response
Rebecca Pow
Government Response
The Minister emphasised the critical importance of water as a resource, noting past shortages and the need to address growing population and climate change impacts. She outlined plans for new supply infrastructure, leakage reduction, and demand management targets under the Environment Act 2021, aiming to reduce per capita consumption and halve leakage levels by 2050. The Minister also detailed ongoing consultations on regional water resources groups' plans and stressed the need for robust environmental considerations in any proposed schemes.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.