A Cumbrian MP quizzed the Government’s preferred candidate to be the new chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, on water quality, flooding prevention and their ability to manage issues properly.

These questions came as part of the Environment Agency chair-designate’s pre-appointment hearing, conducted by the environment, food and rural affairs committee – on which Dr Neil Hudson, the MP for Penrith and the Border sits – and the environmental audit committee.  

With Dr Hudson’s professional background working in the rural economy and backed by one of the UK’s most rural constituencies behind him, he drilled down into the issue of storm overflows, discharging unacceptable amounts of sewage into our waterways.  

He also asked how Mr Lovell would approach the problem of flooding and whether he has the funding and staffing to execute his plans.  

Speaking afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson, said: “Now more than ever we need to make sure we have robust public bodies with the teeth to protect and enhance our precious environment.

“This is especially true locally where the challenges of flooding and climate change impact people’s lives and livelihoods.

“With my home near Brampton with its adjacent precious hills and rivers, and in representing this vast and beautiful constituency, I feel it is one of my obligations to make sure we leave the environment in a better state than when we found it.

“That is why I have consistently raised the issue of unacceptable sewage discharges in our rivers and lakes.

“I thank Alan for his candid answers and hope we are seeing a turning point on the issue.”

Pre-appointment hearings give Parliament an opportunity to question the Government’s candidate for significant public jobs.

For candidates, such hearings are more of an introduction to scrutiny than a final job interview; for ministers, they are a hurdle to deter inappropriate or unsuitable appointments.  

Alan Lovell is currently chairman of the Interserve Group Ltd, a senior independent director of SIG plc and chair of Safestyle UK plc.

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