Contributions
553 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousing: Future Homes StandardMy Lords, the noble Lord does much good work in this area, for which I thank him. He makes a powerful case but it is for those reasons that we had the Hackitt review, are holding…21 Mar 2019HANSARDHousing: Future Homes StandardMy Lords, as the noble Baroness knows, document L relates to carbon standards in relation to heating and environmental standards. Document M, as she also knows, relates to…21 Mar 2019HANSARDHousing: Future Homes StandardMy Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness for her continued—and quite right—tenacity in this area. Document M, which relates to the accessibility standards, will be reviewed…21 Mar 2019HANSARDHousing: Future Homes StandardMy Lords, I am very much in favour of the review, but I do not want to prejudge it; it is important that it be left to take its own course. Picking up a point made by the noble…21 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Government (Structural and Boundary Changes) (Supplementary Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019That the draft Order laid before the House on 16 January be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 12 March .18 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, I very much agree with the noble Earl about the troubled families programme. It is a good programme, as he rightly says. In looking at resources and needs, we are…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, decisions on council tax levels are for local authorities, although the Government maintain referendum thresholds to allow voters in England to have the final say on any…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, when the national statistics are published, the calculation is almost certainly going to be that the level is 4.8%, but we cannot be absolutely certain about that. Of…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, as the noble Lord will know, the Government are looking at the fair funding formula at the moment—I am trailing the next Question—but that does not transfer a burden; it…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, without knowing the particular circumstances that my noble friend refers to, I once again say that the fair funding formula will look at this and will seek to address…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, the noble Lord raises a relevant factor about parking revenues, not simply in Westminster, as it is true in other parts of London and in other cities. It is being…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, my noble friend packs a powerful punch for Westminster, but I have no desire to get dragged into a discussion of the relative merits of all the local authorities in…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxThe noble Baroness refers to a very valuable service which I happily endorse. I agree with the point she makes about the cost elsewhere if such a service is not provided. No doubt…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, the noble Baroness should know that the level of council tax increases since 2010 has been lower than the rate of inflation judged by CPI. That was not the case in the…14 Mar 2019HANSARDCouncil TaxMy Lords, I suspect this is one of the few topics where the noble Lord and I will be in total agreement. I very much endorse the spirit of the question he asked and will gladly…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Fair Funding ReviewMy Lords, the noble Baroness raises an important point but she should be aware that we already have a procedure for a premium of up to 300%. That was introduced by this Government…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Fair Funding ReviewMy Lords, we are making good progress on the development of a fair funding formula that aims to provide a simple and transparent link between local authority relative needs and…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Fair Funding ReviewMy Lords, the noble Baroness is right about the importance of deprivation but she is wrong to say that we have not yet issued the policy. It was out for consultation until 21…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Fair Funding ReviewMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much for those kind comments. The redistributive element that he referenced will be done through the business rate retention scheme, which…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Fair Funding ReviewMy Lords, the noble Baroness makes a very valid point about the importance of that paper on social care, which I hope will soon be forthcoming. She will be aware that we have made…14 Mar 2019