Contributions
867 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentThe hon. Gentleman could not handle my cocktails, but if he wants to buy me a pint, I’m happy to accept. Lancashire has already agreed to come forward with its proposals, and we…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI have said time and again that we are happy to meet local leaders. We will continue that consultation exercise and we will meet local MPs. The Minister for Local Government and…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI thank my hon. Friend for his contribution. I also welcome and reiterate his thanks to council leaders who have come forward; I thank them for working with us, and we will…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentThe closure of the community college is nothing to do with local government reorganisation or the work that we are setting out today. I kindly remind the right hon. and learned…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentWith permission, I would like to update the House on devolution in England and local government reorganisation. The No. 1 mission of this Government is to unlock growth in our…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentYes, absolutely. I am really pleased that my hon. Friend welcomes the cash injection to councils. However, I also recognise, and I will say this in the House today, that councils…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI thank the hon. Member for raising the important issue of the challenges that Surrey faces. That is why we have put Surrey within the priority programme, but we do need a…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI recognise that Devon is a huge rural area, and as I have said in previous debates on this issue, we have issued a guide for unitary authorities—it is a guide; I have said that…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentAgain, we are working with local areas to deliver devolution. This is about pushing power down to local areas and about reorganisation, and we are working with local authorities…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentThe Government’s direction of travel on second jobs is absolutely clear. As my hon. Friend knows, I have visited Cumbria and know what a fantastic place it is, and as a…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentAbsolutely. I am hopeful that Lancashire will have a mayor by 2026. We will continue to work with local leaders across Lancashire to deliver that, so that my hon. Friend can…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI thank my hon. Friend for her comments and for her contribution about what it is like at local level for people, including in Hastings and Rye, when they have a two-tier system…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentThis is one part of a package, through which we are trying to reverse the decline and decay that we saw under the previous Conservative Government. They made cuts of 23% in a…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentAlthough the exact word “devolution” might not have been on people’s lips, change was, which is why we got the mandate we did. The hon. Member talks about health. We put £22…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentIt was the last Labour Government who delivered devolution for Scotland, and we are really proud of our history. I think “timid” is an unfair characterisation. I have never been…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI hope that my lunch is delayed and not cancelled, Madam Deputy Speaker. On delaying elections, I have been clear about the high bar that I set. I absolutely understand the…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI absolutely agree. My hon. Friend knows local government particularly well because of his contribution for many years before he was elected to this place. We do want to see more…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentWe value local community assets and are bringing forward plans for greater powers, including community right to buy. We will ask all councils to ensure that heritage assets are…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI am not as close to what is happening in the hon. Gentleman’s area as he is, but what I will say is that local people have elected their local councillors and it is for them to…05 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentThe hon. Member makes a fair comment, and I welcome her appreciation of the certainty that people need. We will continue to work with local areas. I understand that some areas…05 Feb 2025