Contributions
2,684 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Levelling UpIt is a typically fair and informed question from the hon. Gentleman. What the framework does lay out is how local authorities that have fewer powers can acquire more, and how we…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. I hope to have the chance to visit him in Sheffield before too long to discuss how we can use some of the funding that…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and in the levelling-up White Paper there is a commitment to ensure greater devolution all round. I signalled the county deals we are…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpThe short answer is no. The longer answer is this: we work in partnership with the Scottish Government, and we recognise their devolved responsibilities, but people in Scotland…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpMy right hon. Friend was a brilliant Secretary of State both for Communities and Local Government and for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He was, more than anyone…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpMy right hon. Friend makes an important point. The Government are committed to ensuring that we have two additional freeports in Scotland, at least one in Wales and one in…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI have enormous respect and affection for the hon. Lady, but at the end of her response, I do not think I heard a single question, nor did I hear her disagree with a single policy…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpThe hon. Lady makes a good point. Indeed, there is a commitment in the White Paper to additional funding for the supporting families programme —previously the troubled families…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpWe saw it at the spending review.02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpThe hon. Gentleman is a graduate of Glasgow University—02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI could not agree more. I have nothing against Leeds; I love Leeds. [Hon. Members: “That’s not what it says about you!”] My name is hymned by children in Leeds streets, I know.…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI do not think that I described it as transformational; I think it was the Labour Mayor of South Yorkshire, who said that it had the “potential” to be transformational. I am…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI look forward to discussing that at a meeting with the hon. Lady and the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley).02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpMy hon. Friend is absolutely right; parts of Devon are relatively economically successful, but there are also areas, not least in South Molton and Barnstaple, in her constituency,…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpYes, absolutely.02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpEden Project North has two brilliant advocates: my hon. Friend and the Prime Minister. I know I will not be long in this job if I do not deliver for both of them.02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI completely agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is staggering and grotesque. One of the things we need to do is learn from Professor Michael Marmot and others about the drivers…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpThat is a very fair point and I will look into it.02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpI will work with the hon. Gentleman and, indeed, with the Senedd and the Welsh Government to ensure that we can roll out broadband. I recognise that lots of small businesses in…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Levelling UpAbsolutely. I enjoyed visiting Grimsby and Cleethorpes earlier this week. North-east Lincolnshire is great. It is time I visited north Lincolnshire as well.02 Feb 2022