Contributions
2,184 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSurrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026No, I did not say that.02 Mar 2026HANSARDSurrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I understand why the noble Lord asked that question. I apologise— I hope that I did not mislead in what I said. The criteria that we set out for this process are very clear. We…02 Mar 2026HANSARDSurrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026My Lords, this order was laid before the House on 14 January 2026. If approved in the House and in the other place, it will implement a proposal submitted by Elmbridge Borough…02 Mar 2026HANSARDSurrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I will take the last point first. My understanding is that the usual practice is for legal advice to be reviewed over the course of a legal case going on. That is standard…02 Mar 2026HANSARDSurrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026I am sorry, I thought I had covered that when I spoke about the detail of the support being provided to Woking. The commissioners are still working there, and we will continue to…02 Mar 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskI am sure that my colleagues in local government, who address these issues every day through the planning system, as the noble Lord will be well aware, are more than alert to this…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskI am pleased to tell the noble Lord that 96% of all planning decisions and 99% of all new homes proposed in planning applications comply with Environment Agency advice, so we are…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskMy Lords, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that inappropriate development in flood risk areas should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskI do not agree with the noble Baroness. Some amazing work has been done by the development industry to tackle and mitigate the risk of flooding. I have been to visit sites with…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskI do not accept the premise of the noble Baroness’s question that we cannot protect the biodiversity arrangements at the same time as dealing with flood risk. Defra established…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskThat High Court judgment has been raised in recent debates on the English devolution Bill. I cannot comment on specific cases, but the case does not disapply the strong…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskI had heard about that very interesting concept. We need to make sure that all steps to mitigate flood risk are taken, even in areas that are not subject to traditional flood…26 Feb 2026HANSARDNew Housing: Flood RiskWe know that Flood Re has provided cover for 346,000 household policies and 650,000 properties have benefited since the scheme’s launch, so I agree with the noble Earl that it has…26 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationIt would not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on any of the proposals that have come forward at this stage—I would get myself into very hot water indeed. However, we…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationThere are strong guiding principles here that have been part of the core mission of this Government. Our belief is that, to drive the economic growth we want, decisions have to be…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationIt is usual practice continually to review legal advice. The legal advice came forward and, as I have said before, there is a long-standing convention not to reveal the content of…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationI thank the noble Baroness and the noble Lord for their questions and comments on the Statement. Your Lordships have now heard in full the Statement made by my right honourable…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationThere is no dimming of the Government’s ambition around devolution and local government reorganisation. We are pushing on with the agenda. I thank my noble friend for recognising…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy noble friend is quite right. There is precedent for cancelling elections. We have seen it done because of reorganisation and for other reasons. However, we have the…25 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationI simply say in response that I hold the Secretary of State in the highest regard. I have known him for decades. We were deputy leaders together when the noble Lord was the…25 Feb 2026