To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the combined cost of heating and water utilities was for the House of Commons portion of the Parliamentary Estate in each year since 2005.

To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the combined cost of heating and water utilities was for the House of Commons portion of the Parliamentary Estate in each year since 2005.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the floods in West Cumbria in November 2009.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the floods in West Cumbria in November 2009.

Will my hon. Friend give way?

Will my hon. Friend give way?

This incredibly useful contribution is a fantastic way of raising with Parliament and Ministers the problems with the floods, and with planning for the future. May I push a little, not just on resources but on what we can actually do regarding planning, institutions and training? Looking at the current...

This incredibly useful contribution is a fantastic way of raising with Parliament and Ministers the problems with the floods, and with planning for the future. May I push a little, not just on resources but on what we can actually do regarding planning, institutions and training? Looking at the current...

There are things we can do. I mentioned the Pitt report, which I hope will be implemented. That will give a statutory role to all this planning. I am not saying that lack of maintenance caused the floods—they were created by the huge amount of rain—but dredging needs to take...

There are things we can do. I mentioned the Pitt report, which I hope will be implemented. That will give a statutory role to all this planning. I am not saying that lack of maintenance caused the floods—they were created by the huge amount of rain—but dredging needs to take...

I share that concern. I am delighted to see here the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central, who vividly remembers the floods. On the first morning, I rang Steve Broomhead, the chief executive of the regional development...

I share that concern. I am delighted to see here the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central, who vividly remembers the floods. On the first morning, I rang Steve Broomhead, the chief executive of the regional development...

I agree, and co-ordination has to take place. If we do not invest now, we are only storing up problems and difficulties for the future. It is a little simplistic to say, ““Well, we've got these budget cuts that we need to make””. To cut off or slow down funding...

I agree, and co-ordination has to take place. If we do not invest now, we are only storing up problems and difficulties for the future. It is a little simplistic to say, ““Well, we've got these budget cuts that we need to make””. To cut off or slow down funding...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. Powerful points have been made about maintenance and the need for co-ordination, and although he is right about the flooding in west Cumbria being of ““biblical proportions””, does he agree that both co-ordination and maintenance were absent in Ulverston in south...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. Powerful points have been made about maintenance and the need for co-ordination, and although he is right about the flooding in west Cumbria being of ““biblical proportions””, does he agree that both co-ordination and maintenance were absent in Ulverston in south...

I agree, and the best example I can give, if you will bear with me, is Carlisle. The flood defences created there cost about £35 million, and at the time of the Cockermouth floods, those defences held—only just, but they held. The estimated cost to the Exchequer—the state—of cleaning up...

I agree, and the best example I can give, if you will bear with me, is Carlisle. The flood defences created there cost about £35 million, and at the time of the Cockermouth floods, those defences held—only just, but they held. The estimated cost to the Exchequer—the state—of cleaning up...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. He will probably share my concern that the Government are cutting by a minimum of 20% the flood defences budget—I remember that from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. Does he agree that that will do nothing except increase the...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. He will probably share my concern that the Government are cutting by a minimum of 20% the flood defences budget—I remember that from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. Does he agree that that will do nothing except increase the...

I will give way to my hon. Friend, and then to the hon. Gentleman.

I will give way to my hon. Friend, and then to the hon. Gentleman.

My hon. Friend makes a powerful point about our local police. Like me, he spends a lot of time speaking with members of the police force, including PCSOs. After the year they have been through, how do they feel they are being treated at the moment?

My hon. Friend makes a powerful point about our local police. Like me, he spends a lot of time speaking with members of the police force, including PCSOs. After the year they have been through, how do they feel they are being treated at the moment?

They feel let down, is the honest answer. I recently received a letter from a PCSO in one of the towns I represent—I will not mention which one—who made just that point. She said, ““When the community needed us, we were there. We now need the state, the county council...

They feel let down, is the honest answer. I recently received a letter from a PCSO in one of the towns I represent—I will not mention which one—who made just that point. She said, ““When the community needed us, we were there. We now need the state, the county council...

I sympathise very much with the hon. Gentleman's points. He listed the three professional emergency services that played such a crucial role a year ago, as they have done many times since. He may be coming to this point, but for many of us in Cumbria there is a fourth...

I sympathise very much with the hon. Gentleman's points. He listed the three professional emergency services that played such a crucial role a year ago, as they have done many times since. He may be coming to this point, but for many of us in Cumbria there is a fourth...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments and congratulate him—or perhaps offer my commiserations—on his becoming president of his party. It is a great honour for him and for the county, so well done. The hon. Gentleman can have a look at my speech notes, if he wants, but...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments and congratulate him—or perhaps offer my commiserations—on his becoming president of his party. It is a great honour for him and for the county, so well done. The hon. Gentleman can have a look at my speech notes, if he wants, but...

Before my hon. Friend moves on too much further, we do not yet know the cost of the Cumbria floods. I believe that the insurance adjustments are about £200 million so far—I repeat, so far. The RSPCA undertook a fundamental role in protecting livestock. Has he spoken to any farmers—I...

Before my hon. Friend moves on too much further, we do not yet know the cost of the Cumbria floods. I believe that the insurance adjustments are about £200 million so far—I repeat, so far. The RSPCA undertook a fundamental role in protecting livestock. Has he spoken to any farmers—I...

I thank hon. Members. The families and friends of those who lost their lives and the entire community of west Cumbria will have greatly appreciated that. My memories of the floods are almost surreal. I had already spoken with the Environment Agency when river levels were rising, but when I...

I thank hon. Members. The families and friends of those who lost their lives and the entire community of west Cumbria will have greatly appreciated that. My memories of the floods are almost surreal. I had already spoken with the Environment Agency when river levels were rising, but when I...

It seems rather appropriate to have this debate on a day when floods have hit Cornwall. It is nice to see so many Cumbrian colleagues in attendance. I thought I would begin by doing something that I think is appropriate. On the day of the floods we lost a very...

It seems rather appropriate to have this debate on a day when floods have hit Cornwall. It is nice to see so many Cumbrian colleagues in attendance. I thought I would begin by doing something that I think is appropriate. On the day of the floods we lost a very...

I am very happy to do that. I spoke to the then Secretary of State and the Schools Minister, and made the point that it might have to be borne in mind that, because of the disruption, some of the students would not do as well in their exams as...

I am very happy to do that. I spoke to the then Secretary of State and the Schools Minister, and made the point that it might have to be borne in mind that, because of the disruption, some of the students would not do as well in their exams as...