Contributions
1,066 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Planning and Infrastructure BillAs the Leader of the Opposition said at Prime Minister’s questions, we would not start from here—we would not have made the mistakes this Government have made, which have led to…13 Nov 2025HANSARD Planning and Infrastructure BillMy right hon. Friend tempts me to fast-forward to a point that will arise later on. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer said at the end of her Budget statement last year that she…13 Nov 2025HANSARD Houses in Multiple Occupation: Planning ConsentIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr Dowd, and to speak in this debate called by the hon. Member for Mansfield (Steve Yemm). He gave a clear…04 Nov 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)Given the significance of this issue, we will push the new clause to a vote. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)It is a nice try by the hon. Member, but I think we know that there have been areas of deregulation where there is a high degree of consensus. In particular, we know that one of…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. We have spent a good deal of time debating the importance of housing and the delivery of housing targets. If we reflect on…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)I invite the Minister to reflect that she may have inadvertently misled the Committee. Each local authority has a statutory duty in respect of its own pension fund. There are some…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)Many interpretations can be placed on the facts, but it is very clear if we look at the numbers that Government borrowing costs are now significantly higher even than under Liz…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)I think the Minister will probably be aware that the net additional new homes target that we set ourselves in the last Parliament was 1 million new homes. While we were,…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)The treatment of the dedicated schools grant, which has a huge impact on local authority budgets, is an example of an issue that comes up regularly on the Floor of the House. It…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right: it is desperation in action, and we can see that happening, as can the whole world. We would like to see the Government succeed—we would like…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)Will the Minister briefly set out some examples of things that are being undertaken but she feels are not adding value? We are all sympathetic, but it would be helpful to the…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)In many ways, the clause reinforces the concerns that I set out earlier. The Minister said that this was an area where no value was being added and that it was the Government’s…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)The section 151 officer is the person in the local authority who has whistleblower protection; they have a legal obligation to ensure that the local authority has the information…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)It falls to me, as the shadow Minister, to be the voice for Conservatives in Cornwall, who would absolutely agree with everything that the hon. Gentleman says. There is strong…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)Does the hon. Lady share my concern that during the passage of the Bill we have heard from some Members that they have been given assurances from the Government? Ministers have…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am afraid that I am not reassured. I am particularly concerned, because we know that “when parliamentary time allows” means this could be kicked into the long grass for a very…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The intent of the new clause is very much in line with the recommendations that Mr Speaker has recently made in respect of…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)The Minister is perhaps being a little mischievous in responding politically to what was essentially a technical question. We all recognise that there are challenges. Broadly, the…28 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Eleventh sitting)Broadly, the Opposition agree with the Government’s direction of travel, and this seems a logical thing to do. This kind of update is periodically required. However, it would be…28 Oct 2025