Contributions
965 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLocal Government Best ValueThis Government are committed to taking the action necessary to fix the foundations of local government. Today, I am updating the House on the steps we are taking to support…04 Feb 2026HANSARDWoking Borough Council and Thurrock Council: Best Value DutyThis Government are committed to taking the action necessary to fix the foundations of local government. Today, I am updating the House on the steps we are taking to support two…27 Jan 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: ReferendumsIt is a great pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. On behalf of everyone, I thank you for the excellent way in which you dealt with the suspensions. I congratulate…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: ReferendumsI thank the hon. Gentleman for the time he has spent engaging with me on these issues. He will know that the Government took an unprecedented decision in relation to debt in…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsI thank the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton) for securing this important debate, and I thank all Members for their contributions. I welcome the opportunity…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsMy right hon. Friend spells out the situation: clearly the Government are not the employer but, given that we have commissioners, we will want to hear regularly about what is…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsNo, not at all. I have set out my opinion that this needs to be brought to an end. Members have set out the consequences for the residents of Birmingham, for staff and for others,…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsI will, briefly.21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsAll the parties will have heard what my right hon. Friend has said, what I have said, and the priority that we put on getting a decent service for the residents of Birmingham and…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsVery briefly, although I am conscious of your strictures, Ms McVey.21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsI have received advice from the commissioners and others on the situation in Birmingham. I will happily set that out for the shadow Minister. He will know that the commissioners…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Waste Collection: Birmingham and the West MidlandsI will not give way any more, because I feel that would test your patience, Ms McVey. I have set out a range of responses to Members’ points. Members have also raised the equal…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Temporary Accommodation: Out of Area PlacementsIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship in this debate, Sir John, on such an important issue. I was unaware of your views on green suits, so I shall try not to err in…20 Jan 2026HANSARD Temporary Accommodation: Out of Area PlacementsI thank the hon. Member for his point, but I disagree that not much has progressed because we have published a national plan to end homelessness. As I set out before, the point of…20 Jan 2026HANSARD Temporary Accommodation: Out of Area PlacementsMy very dedicated civil servants are just mouthing to me that they might be in care, and therefore there might be requirements from that point of view. If it is okay with her, I…20 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Elections: CancellationI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for the views he expresses, which I will be certain to pass on to the Secretary of State as he takes his decision. In the statement…19 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Elections: CancellationWe have made progress on the reorganisation and I anticipate us making strong progress this year. I hear the points that the right hon. Gentleman makes about his own views. Those…19 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Elections: CancellationI thank my hon. Friend for his question. Coming from an area with a unitary council and a combined authority that is taking steps to improve public transport and other things, I…19 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Elections: CancellationI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind question. I hope that at that point I might be doing something other than politics, and perhaps I might not quite have time.19 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Elections: CancellationThe hon. Gentleman mentions a legal process that I am not at liberty to comment on in detail. We want elections to go ahead, unless there is a strong justification. That is what…19 Jan 2026