MP Raises Hillhouse PFAS Contamination in Parliament
On 19 March 2026, Lorraine Beavers MP raised PFOA contamination at Hillhouse in the House of Commons during Business of the House questions. This is the first time Hillhouse PFAS contamination has been placed on the Parliamentary record.
On Thursday 19 March 2026, Lorraine Beavers MP (Labour, Blackpool North and Fleetwood) raised PFOA contamination at Thornton-Cleveleys in the House of Commons.
The question was asked during Business of the House, a weekly session in which Members can request time for debates on matters of concern to their constituents. The exchange is recorded in Hansard, Volume 782, Commons Chamber, 19 March 2026.
This is the first time the Hillhouse PFAS contamination has been raised on the Parliamentary record.
The Question — Verbatim
Lorraine Beavers MP stated:
“My constituents in Thornton-Cleveleys have been shocked to learn that their homes are at high risk of contamination due to the presence of the forever chemical PFOA. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the need to ensure that polluters pay for the clean-ups needed in cases like this?”
The Response — Verbatim
Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House, responded:
“My hon. Friend raises a very concerning matter. We are working hard to minimise the harmful effects of forever chemicals. I will ensure that the relevant Minister hears her specific concerns and writes to her. Should she seek a meeting, I am happy to arrange that.”
Context
Format: Business of the House questions is a regular weekly slot, not a dedicated debate. The exchange is on the Parliamentary record and is accessible via Hansard. Beavers asked specifically for a debate on the polluter-pays principle in contamination cases — that request was not granted at this point. The Leader of the House offered a ministerial letter and a meeting.
What this means in practice: A ministerial letter from “the relevant Minister” — likely the Minister for the Environment or a DEFRA minister — is now expected. That correspondence, when received, will be on the public record.
Wider context: Beavers has previously raised the Jameson Road landfill contamination on four occasions in Parliament, including at Prime Minister’s Questions. The 19 March question marks her first parliamentary intervention specifically naming PFOA and the Thornton-Cleveleys contamination at Hillhouse.
The question follows a series of multi-agency drop-in events in Thornton-Cleveleys (12 and 17 March 2026), at which Beavers was present, and her attendance at Agency meetings in the constituency.
Framing: Beavers’ use of the phrase “polluters pay” frames the issue as one of corporate liability and clean-up responsibility, not simply regulatory monitoring or public health guidance. This framing is consistent with the legal investigation being pursued by Leigh Day solicitors.
Ministerial Response
No ministerial letter has been published at the time of writing. We will update this post when any such correspondence becomes available on the public record.
Leigh Day’s public contact address for residents is [email protected].
Sources: Hansard, Commons Chamber, 19 March 2026, Volume 782 — Business of the House debate. Contribution by Lorraine Beavers MP (Member ID 5232), contribution reference 8B29CE10-4816-4B3A-AF47-548DFF04AABC. Full debate: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-03-19/debates/F59C36F0-1C73-43CE-9058-1900953C1C9B/BusinessOfTheHouse. Verification date: 21 March 2026.