Contributions
519 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousing LadderIt is interesting that the right hon. Gentleman should make that point. He may recall saying in the past that falling home ownership was not “such a bad thing”. I should have…17 Jun 2019HANSARDWeighting for Deprivation: Fair Funding ReviewDeprivation is an important driver of local authority costs, which is why we have proposed that it will be taken into account in four significant service areas, including adult…17 Jun 2019HANSARDHousing LadderI wondered, given the right hon. Gentleman’s peroration, whether he was building up to Christmas, but I can say to him that a Labour Government are absolutely not that gift,…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyThis year we gave £20 million to the Local Government Association to fund council improvements, we introduced a programme to boost the use of digital technologies, and we are…17 Jun 2019HANSARDWeighting for Deprivation: Fair Funding ReviewObviously, work continues and we see the recommendations and representations that have been made. Population is by far the most important factor for more universal services…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI continue to have discussions with the LGA and others to underline and champion the importance of sustainable local government finance and delivering good-quality social care. We…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyMy hon. Friend rightly makes the point about Sefton, and councils should absolutely be focused on delivering good-quality services and value for money. That is why we are…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyI need no encouragement from the hon. Gentleman to make that case for local government and its power and ability to deliver good-quality local services. I recognise the challenge…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsLast week, as communities celebrated Eid, we also reflected on those lives lost in the tragedy at Grenfell Tower. This House and other buildings were rightly illuminated in green…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyI certainly look forward to perhaps continuing this discussion with my hon. Friend outside the Chamber, and I commend him for his work in rightly highlighting the issue of value…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThrough the last local government financial settlement, we increased the funding available to local councils for dealing with some of the issues of social care. If the hon.…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyI am very willing to talk to the hon. Lady about the issue she highlights, and obviously safety for residents is an absolute priority concern for me and Members across the House,…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do recognise the huge issue that the hon. Lady highlights in relation to rough sleeping. While the latest data on rough sleeping—the count last year—showed a small decrease, I…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise the points the hon. Gentleman has made on a number of issues in relation to Birmingham. We continue our discussions with Birmingham, at a whole host of different…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for highlighting the great work of so many Conservative councils up and down the country, with their sense of value for money, delivering for local…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Government EfficiencyI appreciate that the hon. Lady is making her own point in her own way. Obviously, local government is devolved in Scotland, and she also makes her own point in relation to no…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady makes a very powerful and important point about accessibility. Everyone should be able to access a home that is right for their needs. It is crucial that we…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Government FundingOur recent settlement confirmed an increase of £1.3 billion in resources for local government this year. This real-terms increase recognises the critical services that local…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Government FundingI say gently to the hon. Gentleman that he has not recognised one of our biggest reforms in social housing, which has been to lift the housing revenue account borrowing cap. This…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady might be interested to know that there are fewer houses being built as leaseholds in England since the mid-1990s. The numbers have come right down, but she is right…17 Jun 2019