Contributions
1,006 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPubs: Non-domestic RatesGiven the importance of business rates to both local government finance and local communities, and particularly to our high streets, our two Departments engage regularly on these…03 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is exactly the reason that there was £3.7 billion of new money for adult social care in the Budget.03 Mar 2025HANSARDLocal Government FundingI can start by confirming that the Deputy Prime Minister did not mislead the House. The Opposition would do well not to muddy the waters. They know better than anybody what local…03 Mar 2025HANSARDPubs: Non-domestic RatesI thank my hon. Friend for the work that he is doing to champion pubs in his constituency. Like all of us, he recognises just how important they are to the economy, and probably…03 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. It is a pleasure to serve under your…03 Mar 2025HANSARDPubs: Non-domestic RatesWell, if it is intended to be a tax grab on pubs, we are not doing a very good job of it, because when the permanent scheme comes in, 99% of pubs that are under the £500,000…03 Mar 2025HANSARDLocal Government FundingI will not comment on individual councils, other than to say that this is why local government reorganisation is so important. In too many parts of England, the two-tier system is…03 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025I share the shadow Minister’s observation about the complexity of the system; it only takes a small part of it to throw quite wild numbers out in different parts of the country,…03 Mar 2025HANSARDLocal Government FundingThe hon. Gentleman and all Members of the House have our absolute commitment that when we revise the funding formula, we will ensure that it takes into account all the matters he…03 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025I thank the Opposition spokesperson for his typically constructive response. On the matter of structural reform, there is agreement that it is far better that local government has…03 Mar 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceOn 3 February 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner) set out the final local government finance settlement for…24 Feb 2025HANSARDCoalfield CommunitiesVery briefly, please.06 Feb 2025HANSARDCoalfield CommunitiesI thank all Members for a really thoughtful debate. When Members speak about their constituencies in the way they have today, we get a sense of the pride of place. I congratulate…06 Feb 2025HANSARDCoalfield CommunitiesMy hon. Friend makes a very good point. He is sat next to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh and Atherton (Jo Platt); they are both Greater Manchester MPs, and we are all very…06 Feb 2025HANSARDCoalfield CommunitiesWe are absolutely committed to ensuring that every part of the country realises its full potential. Let us be clear: everybody in every part of the country has potential, but far…06 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceThis is not a perfect settlement, but it is my honest belief that it is a good settlement. We are keen to make sure that the money goes to local authorities in a way that is…05 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceI am going to make a bit of progress. I am mindful of time, and I believe we are guillotined at 7 pm. The Budget will deliver more than £5 billion of new funding for local…05 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceI will give way for a final time before making some progress.05 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceI take my hon. Friend’s points entirely. I credit him for much of the work that was done when he chaired the Select Committee, which he did for a long time, and I attribute to his…05 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceI will make some progress, but to answer the right hon. Lady’s question on employer national insurance contributions directly, the funding is based on service expenditure costs.…05 Feb 2025