Contributions
965 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will.23 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do not think it is funny either. We will meet before too long and get on with it, because local government reorganisation is very important.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 2026HANSARDLocal Government Finance ReformsEarlier this month, this Government delivered the first multi-year local government finance settlement in a decade, coming good on our promise of reforming the system—which…23 Feb 2026HANSARD Local Government FinanceI am determined not to give way, if that is okay—I think we need to bring this debate to a close. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild) asks me about…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Local Government FinanceThe right hon. Gentleman has had ample time to contribute, and while I would normally give way with gusto and have a bit of political knockabout with him, today is not the day for…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Local Government FinanceIt is my pleasure to close this debate, despite the fact that I must apologise to the House. Many Members will know that I suffer from chronic migraine, and I have been having an…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Local Government FinanceI thank both my hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr Snowden) for their comments. My hon. Friend is rightly talking about the financial consequences. Does he think—as I…11 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government Best Value: Bedford and Spelthorne Borough CouncilsThis 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…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingI agree, and my hon. Friend makes that case very well. I imagine that his local authority could have made other choices than that one.10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes) for securing the debate, in which hon.…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingWe set out that flexibility when we made the provisional statement, and there will be more details of that in the Chamber tomorrow. I am at the slight disadvantage of speaking…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingI take the hon. Gentleman’s point. Our challenge is to understand how we can best use our resources to support all our children. We could try to increase funding again and again,…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingThe reason for my perplexed state is that during the period of consultation with Members of this House, I met 140 Members of Parliament on the settlement. I am sorry if the hon.…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingI will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell) first.10 Feb 2026HANSARD Inner-London Local Authorities: FundingI will make some progress. Yesterday’s announcement keeps our promise of a multi-year settlement, because local communities in London and elsewhere deserved better than the…10 Feb 2026HANSARDWritten Statement: CorrectionOn 5 February I made a written statement on local government reorganisation. There was a minor error in the statement. In outlining the proposals received from the invitation area…09 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29This time last year, this Government committed to delivering long-overdue reforms to local government funding, through the first multi-year local government finance settlement in…09 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Supported Housing StrategiesToday I am pleased to publish statutory guidance under Section 2 of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which sets out the framework for local housing…09 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government Reorganisation and Local Election PostponementsThis Government are undertaking one of the biggest reforms to local government in a generation; not only have we overhauled how we fund local government, but we are ending the…05 Feb 2026