Contributions
2,184 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousing: Young PeopleMany young people who have gone into those schemes are now having incredibly high service charges imposed on them, and we need to come back to that issue when we look at the…14 Mar 2024HANSARDSocial Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024My Lords, I thank the Minister for her introduction to this instrument. I refer to my interests as recorded in the register. We have been pleased to support the implementation of…12 Mar 2024HANSARDInternational Women’s DayMy Lords—sisters and supporter brothers—being the last of 34 speakers is something of a challenge. It has been such a privilege to listen to all the different aspects that we have…08 Mar 2024HANSARDLocal Regeneration: Industrial AreasThe Secretary of State made an outrageous statement this week about local authorities using consultants. They are used mostly to put together the very bids that the noble Baroness…07 Mar 2024HANSARDLocal Regeneration: Industrial AreasMy Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lady Armstrong on securing this important debate. I first met her back in 1997, after the general election; she was incredibly kind to me…07 Mar 2024HANSARDDomestic Violence Refuges: Charities and Local GovernmentMy Lords, I declare my interest as a founder and patron of Survivors Against Domestic Abuse. Last Thursday, my honourable friend Jess Phillips read out in the other place—as she…04 Mar 2024HANSARDLong-Term National Housing StrategyWe challenged the term “affordable housing” during the passage of the levelling-up Bill. It is still being used constantly, as though using it means that the housing is affordable…29 Feb 2024HANSARDLong-Term National Housing StrategyMy Lords, I, too, thank the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chelmsford for securing this important debate today and for all her work in this area. We debate aspects of…29 Feb 2024HANSARDHousebuildingMy Lords, there is a specific recommendation in the excellent CMA report regarding targets: “More objective and effective use of targets to ensure housing need is met” are needed.…28 Feb 2024HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024My Lords, I draw attention to my interests in the register as a vice-president of the Local Government Association and as a serving councillor on Stevenage Borough Council and…27 Feb 2024HANSARDPoverty ReductionMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Bird, for securing this very important debate, for the truly magnificent work he has done over many years to alleviate poverty and…22 Feb 2024HANSARDPeatlandsMy Lords, over the past few years, we have seen a shocking rise in wildfires, many of which destroy peatlands. With the El Niño effect, we are expecting even more this summer.…22 Feb 2024HANSARDHate CrimesMy Lords, news reports this week of a baby’s passport application being returned from the Home Office to its parents with its birthplace, Israel, scribbled out and the application…21 Feb 2024HANSARDHousing: Section 21 EvictionsMy Lords, the Secretary of State told the BBC on Sunday 11 February that the Government’s proposed ban on Section 21 eviction would be operational before a general election.…20 Feb 2024HANSARDHousing: Section 21 EvictionsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to implement a ban on section 21 evictions before the end of this parliamentary session.20 Feb 2024HANSARDEast Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024My Lords, I thank the Minister for setting out the basis for this new type of mayoral combined county authority. The regulations establish the East Midlands combined authority and…19 Feb 2024HANSARDLeasehold: Property Management CompaniesMy Lords, it is not just leaseholders who face these practices. What response can the Minister give to freeholders who face the imposition of private management companies charging…19 Feb 2024HANSARDLocal Authorities: Financial DifficultiesMy Lords, this weekend, the Local Government Association Labour Group published its latest version of 101 Achievements of Labour in Power , featuring a huge range of initiatives:…14 Feb 2024HANSARDLocal Planning Authorities: StaffingMy Lords, I hear what the Minister is saying, but it will not touch the sides. The local government funding crisis has seen planning departments, even those in shared services,…12 Feb 2024HANSARDNHS Dentistry: Recovery and ReformMy Lords, I take the point from the noble Lord, Lord Young, about money being found for dentistry in straitened circumstances. However, in the past 14 years, a whole generation of…07 Feb 2024