Contributions
1,066 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDisadvantaged CommunitiesI note your look, Sir Roger. Much was made in last year’s Budget of a supposed £22 billion funding gap, which was swiftly debunked by those more expert in that field than I am.…04 Jun 2025HANSARDDisadvantaged CommunitiesIn a word, no. I do not accept that. I do not believe for a moment that we address challenges of long-term poverty and disadvantage in a short-term way, but the purpose of this…04 Jun 2025HANSARDDisadvantaged CommunitiesThat is a really good example of where the “how” matters. The theory, which was certainly built into the funding formula under the last Conservative Government, and indeed, the…04 Jun 2025HANSARDDisadvantaged CommunitiesEnding child poverty has been a long-term commitment of the Conservative party. Reference has been made, positively, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford…04 Jun 2025HANSARDDisadvantaged CommunitiesAs Government Members are discovering, having voted to retain the two-child benefit cap as part of the Budget process last year, government is about making very difficult choices.…04 Jun 2025HANSARDImmigration Offences: SentencingAs the shadow Justice Secretary heard when he visited on Friday, criminal gangs are imposing a significant cost on Hillingdon, which has the highest level of asylum seekers per…03 Jun 2025HANSARDImmigration Offences: Sentencing16. What discussions she has had with the Sentencing Council on sentencing guidelines for immigration offences.03 Jun 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.02 Jun 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsOn Friday in my constituency I met the leader of Hillingdon council, which hosts 3,000 asylum seekers in Home Office accommodation—the most per capita of any local authority in…02 Jun 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I briefly draw the Committee’s attention to the Planning Advisory Service. As a result of a long-standing arrangement with the Local Government Association, through a funding…22 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Thirteenth sitting)On a point of order, Ms Jardine. I should declare that I am an unpaid parliamentary vice-president of the Local Government Association, which I referred to in my contribution.22 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I will be brief: the issues in new clause 111, which it is my privilege to speak to, have already been extensively debated. We have just heard about protections in respect of…22 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Thirteenth sitting)It is once again a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms Jardine. We broadly support the aim of this new clause. I know my colleague the noble Lord Goldsmith proposed a…22 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eleventh sitting)I just want to ask the Minister, in respect of the appointment of the inspector, what the Government’s thoughts are about the requirements for who that inspector would be. With…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eleventh sitting)I agree with my fellow shadow Minister that the Government are landing in the right place on this. It was a great frustration for many of us who served in local government that…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)Does my hon. Friend agree that, particularly in the context of our earlier debate about hope value, it is important that this issue is addressed? For law-abiding citizens, nothing…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)On a point of order, Ms Jardine, we had agreed, through the usual channels, that the Whip would move the Adjournment for the Committee at 4 pm—that was agreed with the Labour Whip…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way during a speech that is as eloquent as it is stylish. He makes a serious point. One change in the UK housing market is the collapse…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)My hon. Friend is making an excellent and eloquent speech—far more excellent and eloquent than my contribution will be. Does he agree that one of the big concerns the Bill needs…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eleventh sitting)I understand the point the Minister is making. The lessons learnt from the HS2 project is that this can become a very significant source of hardship for land occupiers. I think of…20 May 2025