Contributions
1,006 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementTo be honest, although I absolutely agree that we need reform, I believe the urgency is today. Think about the number of older people who would have been entitled to adult social…18 Dec 2024HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementMost in the sector would agree that Oflog—the Office for Local Government—had a vague remit that was an expensive way of gathering data. In the end, if it were to be developed, we…18 Dec 2024HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementLet us talk about Birmingham, because the Opposition referenced the £3 million new homes bonus. The new recovery grant—£600 million of brand new money targeted at those councils…18 Dec 2024HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementMy hon. Friend makes a good point. Where councils such as Calderdale are doing well and excelling, they are working hand in glove with the local community and voluntary…18 Dec 2024HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementI thank the former Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee for that question. I can confirm that the core spending power of that element in this…18 Dec 2024HANSARD Provisional Local Government Finance SettlementI am pleased to say that this year, core spending power in my hon. Friend’s area will increase by 8.1%, and again, that does not take into account the billions of pounds that will…18 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionWell, I am glad somebody was listening! There are huge opportunities in Lancashire. If we think about the work that has been done to secure a mayoral combined authority in Hull…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionI thank Members in Cornwall and the leaders in Cornwall for the discussions that we have had. I know that devolution is an issue that is strongly felt, and that identity in…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionIt was previously very difficult for the Government to have an honest conversation with local government about what an adequate level of public service provision should be in a…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionThe assumption is that elections in counties will take place as planned, unless authorities actively approach us to say that they want reorganisation discussions and have…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionI would not characterise the hon. Gentleman’s party as a threat to democracy, but it might be a threat to sanity. We are all tested on a too-regular basis by fairly ridiculous…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionIt is in the eye of the beholder. If the right hon. Gentleman wants to turn Essex into Monaco, I suspect that it will not happen. But if he is asking for genuine freedoms and…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionOnly this week are we seeing a genuine redistribution of money in the local government system so that it goes to the areas that need it the most. For far too long, the funding…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionLocal government reorganisation is a statutory process, so it requires local areas to produce plans, as does devolution. Both are required to go to public consultation to solicit…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionObviously, we inherited the plans for Norfolk and Suffolk from the previous Government. I will be clear that we could not progress with that deal because it would have seen…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionThis is about partnership, about tone and about how we can work together. Because there has been a fair amount of talk in the sector about reorganisation and devolution, even…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionI think the right hon. Member has outlined exactly the balance we are trying to get. One priority is about size for efficiency through both devolution to strategic authorities and…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionThe forthcoming election for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will go ahead as planned. There is no proposal to change the boundary of what is currently a combined authority that…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionThis was one of the reasons why we were so keen to complete the map of the north of England. Most would accept that strategic transport, certainly, crosses county boundaries. If…16 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionI will put the right hon. Gentleman down as undecided.16 Dec 2024