Contributions
1,006 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Non-Domestic Rating (Preparation for Digital Services) BillThe hallmark of local government across parties—this is not a party point—is that people roll up their sleeves and get on with it. They do not complain; instead, they find…13 May 2019HANSARD Non-Domestic Rating (Preparation for Digital Services) BillIt is a matter of fact that the Government are moving towards the self-financing of local government. That is fine if a local authority can generate money through business rates…13 May 2019HANSARDDraft Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McDonagh. We have debated the issue previously, so I will not go into a lot of detail, other than to say that we are nearing the…07 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council FinancesIt is part of the nature of this place that we can be mischievous at times, but let us not be under any illusion: this tension is not caused by trust in local government. We all…01 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council Financesrose —01 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council FinancesIf the Minister is arguing in favour of growing the local tax base, we are entirely in agreement. If local authorities can demonstrate that through their actions they have grown…01 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council FinancesI understand the calls for that, but I stop short of it, or anywhere near it, because the ability to fund local government public services is so heavily dependent on property…01 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council FinancesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gapes. I congratulate the hon. Member for Rugby (Mark Pawsey) on securing this debate, although its importance is not…01 May 2019HANSARDDistrict Council FinancesThe Minister needs to demonstrate some balance and reflect that there have been real-terms cuts in open space funding of 41% and in sports and recreation of over 70%. If the…01 May 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseCan I say to the Government that there is a crime crisis in this country? In Greater Manchester, it is evident to every single person who lives in our community. Every single day,…25 Apr 2019HANSARDSchool FundingOur schools are under pressure, the like of which has not been seen for decades. In Oldham, we have taken more than our fair share of cuts. I want to use this opportunity to place…25 Apr 2019HANSARDSchool FundingWill the Minister give way?25 Apr 2019HANSARDRetail CrimeMy right hon. Friend is being generous in giving way. To complete that picture, I visited a local Co-op store in my constituency, and the feedback was absolutely about drug and…11 Apr 2019HANSARDRetail CrimeI congratulate my right hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Does he share my concern about how reductions in the police service have affected response times and…11 Apr 2019HANSARDLending to Small BusinessesThe Government know full well that some deep-rooted corruption is taking place within major banking institutions when it comes to commercial lending. At the moment, there is…09 Apr 2019HANSARD HousingOn that point, will the Minister give way?09 Apr 2019HANSARD HousingI congratulate the Minister on staying in post for as long as he has, which I should say is quite unusual for Conservative Housing Ministers. What, however, can he say to Greater…09 Apr 2019HANSARDCouncil Tax IncreasesCouncil tax has increased by a whopping 18% over the past five years, hitting families on lower incomes the hardest, taking 8% of their income compared with just 2% for higher…08 Apr 2019HANSARDVotes at 16There are lots of inconsistencies in the arguments that took place during the Brexit referendum and that continue to take place. In the political debates we have in schools and…03 Apr 2019HANSARDVotes at 16That is a fair challenge. At what point do we draw the line? I would say it is at the point at which young people take an active interest in politics, which is generally when they…03 Apr 2019