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Flood and Water Management Bill

It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) who, as I am sure the House would agree, has spoken a good deal of sense about the fire and rescue services, who performed heroically in Gloucestershire in 2007, and continue to do so. It is probably unusual for a Front-Bench spokesman on one Department to serve on a Bill in the sphere of another Department, but when I was asked to do that for the Committee stage I did it willingly, because the Bill is so important to my constituency. When the Minister spoke for the first time this evening, he talked about the Bill rather more enthusiastically than I might do. I do not think it is quite the wonderful Bill that he described. It is certainly welcome, and a move in the right direction, and it puts the issue on the agenda for discussion. That is to be welcomed, but I regret that we were not able to win more votes on amendments in Committee. I would like us to strengthen the Bill tonight. Although it is welcome and contains nothing to disapprove of, there is not enough in it to make the kind of difference that I would like to see.