John Baron MP rebels during passage of Environment Bill

MP votes in favour of cleaner waters

Yesterday in the House of Commons, during the consideration of the Lords Amendments to the Environment Bill, John Baron MP voted against the Government and in support of Amendment 45. Those who voted in favour of the amendment are concerned by the discharge of sewage into water courses and believe the Government needs to make more information available about this issue and compel relevant authorities to take greater action. However, the amendment was defeated by 268 votes to 204.

John said,

“The Environment Bill contains many excellent features, and amendment 45 contained some useful provisions which would have compelled the authorities to take greater steps to improve water quality in many of our rivers and water courses. There may have been additional costs to water and sewage companies, some of which may have been passed on to consumers via water bills, but the overall benefit would more than justify this.”