Contributions
965 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI have responded.18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his commitment to taking part in these discussions and for the insights he brings from Northern Ireland. I will alert colleagues in local government…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationAs I have mentioned a few times, we have had representations from councils about their capacity. Of course we discuss these issues as Ministers and as part of the Government, and…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI am sure that the hon. Lady’s council will have heard what she has said and understood her views—and it is right that it has. Having stood in one local council election and five…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationThe right hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I have heard it and take it away as part of our consideration of the issues around reorganisation. We published the criteria…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI am not sure I have the power to do that.18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his response. I will do my best to respond to a couple of his substantive points. He said that the Opposition are supporting local leaders who are…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the Chair of the Select Committee for raising those points. First, I take seriously her point about the timings. She will understand that it has been a particularly busy…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationAs I said to the House yesterday, we need to set local authorities on a plan for financial sustainability, after 14 years during which the Tories decimated local government, and…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationOf course those things are taken into consideration. We have set out some criteria by which the decisions on reorganisation are taken, and I refer my hon. Friend to those, but…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationYes.18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI do not want to try your patience, Madam Deputy Speaker. There is much I could say in response to my hon. Friend, who makes some excellent points, but I will just say that I have…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI agree: Luton deserves far better, and it is about time that people in Luton had their fair share.18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue in the House; it sounds really serious. I will look at what has happened in Gosport. We endeavour to take decisions quickly and have…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI understand that today we may hear more from those with concerns about reorganisation, but the case that my hon. Friend makes is the right one. Everywhere in this country…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationA merry Christmas to him, too! I feel disappointed that he is disappointed to see me here. In any case, as I have said to other Members, what has happened is that local councils…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI am awfully sorry that I am not the person that the hon. Member wanted to see at the Dispatch Box today.18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I will write to him to confirm the response to it. Primarily, that is one for Norfolk. I am sure it may say things publicly, but I…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We are following the precedent for dealing with situations like this. This happened under the previous Government, too, and we support…18 Dec 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI am pleased to hear that the right hon. Gentleman has been in touch with local authority leaders. They will have heard what he has said, and I am sure that they can take his…18 Dec 2025