Contributions
965 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastIt is a pleasure, as ever, to serve under your chairship, Mr Vickers. I am very grateful to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Dr Pinkerton) for securing today’s debate on local…10 Mar 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastThere are! And there are some people who identify as Birkenhead and many people who, as I do, think of themselves as Wirralian. These issues of identity are complicated. We need…10 Mar 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastI thank the right hon. Gentleman; that is exactly the point that I am making. I am very conscious that I have spoken to many council leaders and finance officers in recent weeks…10 Mar 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastI accept the right hon. Gentleman’s point about reorganisation costs; I will think about whether I can say more to him in writing about that—otherwise we will just go over this…10 Mar 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastWhen my own area in Merseyside started off on the journey to get a mayor, it was really unclear how to build the right resources; the time it took to do that should not be…10 Mar 2026HANSARDSupported Housing Advisory PanelSupported housing helps people to live as independently as possible in the community. With good quality care or support and the right accommodation, some of the most vulnerable…09 Mar 2026HANSARDSlough Borough Council: Best Value DutyI have previously updated the House on the Government commitment to reset our relationship with local and regional government, to fix the foundations of local government, and to…05 Mar 2026HANSARD Funeral Premises: Environmental Health InspectionsAs ever, Sir Roger, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairship. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds South West and Morley (Mark Sewards) on introducing the…03 Mar 2026HANSARD Power to Cancel Local ElectionsLet me try again: Rayleigh. I got it right that time.02 Mar 2026HANSARD Power to Cancel Local ElectionsIt is a pleasure, as ever, to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I thank the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) for leading this debate,…02 Mar 2026HANSARD Power to Cancel Local ElectionsJust as the right hon. Member says—Rayleigh and Wickford. In bringing together the functions of district and county councils we can integrate public services better. That we still…02 Mar 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026As you might expect, Sir Roger, I entirely agree with your suggestion, and I would be very happy to do so.25 Feb 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I will happily correspond with any Members interested in that subject, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Let us try to make progress on that; it is very important for all local…25 Feb 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I can, if my hon. Friend really wants to intervene. [ Laughter. ]25 Feb 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I thank all Members who have contributed to this debate, and I also thank the Members, particularly those from Surrey, who have engaged with me on this subject in recent months—I…25 Feb 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026. It is a pleasure, as ever, to serve under your chairship, Sir Roger. The draft…25 Feb 2026HANSARDDraft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, which is very important. Dealing with the significant debt that local authorities have built up for a range of reasons is extremely…25 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for raising this incredibly important issue; I am working closely with Department for Education Ministers on it. I had the pleasure of speaking to a…23 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsBirmingham city council has strengthened its financial position, and its balanced budget proposal for ’26-27 is a significant milestone. That has been made possible by the…23 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thought I was going to get away without answering any questions, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend raises an important issue. On 11 November last year, we published a Government…23 Feb 2026