Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBuilding Safety BillMy Lords, it is a privilege to open the Second Reading debate of this landmark Bill today. I will never forget the events that led us to this moment, nor the 72 people who lost…02 Feb 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy Lords, I join the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, in paying tribute to Jack Dromey. I never met him, but it is fair to say that he touched my political career. All political…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy noble friend always asks very pertinent questions and he knows this issue inside out. Rather than obfuscating this, I will give the straight answer. Of course, in protecting…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyI first praise the efforts of my noble friend in raising issues throughout my time as Building Safety Minister, and particularly for her passion about how we improve the built…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyNot today. But we are well aware of the practice, which goes beyond just whether they are domiciled, of using special purpose vehicles. We are looking at how we deal that issue,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy noble friend is a very wise man. With regard to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State—having worked with the Prime Minister for four years when he was mayor, I know…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyThe right reverend Prelate is not being slow; if you are the Bishop of London, you have to be pretty quick. As a backstop, we have committed to look at solutions that involve tax,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyI am very pleased that the issue of lenders has been raised: it is one area where we need to see a greater sense of proportion. When I have spoken directly to primary insurers,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyThe noble Earl is right that this is a crisis of epic proportions that has affected hundreds of thousands of leaseholders and has been caused over many decades. I have probably…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyI thank the noble Lord, who was a distinguished Minister in the very same department in which I find myself. He has been at the Dispatch Box in the other place and has great…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy eyesight is not the best, but I now know that those were the lovely dulcet tones of the noble Lord, Lord Kerslake. I remember that, when I was leader of Hammersmith and Fulham…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding SafetyMy Lords, I am delighted that we have heard from not just one but two Bishops, because the right reverend Prelate has been a tireless campaigner on behalf of people in St Albans…11 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Safety DefectsI know that there is a “broken promises” line, but the reality is that 95% of ACM buildings have been remediated. Actually, we have accelerated at pace while I have been Building…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Regulations: Sanitary ProvisionWe move from cafés to pubs. Public houses are the bedrock of local communities; they not only provide toilets but most outlets often provide safe havens for people who need…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Regulations: Sanitary ProvisionMy Lords, as we review Part M and think about increasing accessible toilet provision, it is important that we bring along all the devolved Administrations. I take the point on…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Regulations: Sanitary ProvisionI personally try to avoid paying, but I think it is a very good policy. Most people want custom, as long as you do not abuse it; I know that McDonald’s in Cannes makes you buy a…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Safety DefectsIt is not arbitrary; it is well established that 18 metres is the cut-off point for a high-rise building. It helps us to categorise buildings. We do it in storeys as well. We have…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Regulations: Sanitary ProvisionMy Lords, as part of my ministerial duties, I am the Building Regulations Minister, and we are reviewing, in response to the Hackitt review, all our building regulations,…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Safety DefectsI take that as a helpful interjection. We need to think about how we protect leaseholders, and sometimes statutory protection is a good thing. We know that the Building Safety…05 Jan 2022HANSARDBuilding Safety DefectsMy Lords, I have always loved a magic bullet, but the reality is that the scale of the cladding and building sector crisis in Wales is a fraction of that in England. That is just…05 Jan 2022