Contributions
445 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) BillMy Lords, I also pass on my condolences to the noble Lord, Lord Khan of Burnley, and his family. While I understand the strategy of switching the burden from bricks and mortar…29 Jan 2025HANSARDDevon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2024My Lords, I am a Central Bedfordshire councillor and therefore have some interest in this, although not in these particular SIs. I echo the comments of the noble Lord, Lord…27 Jan 2025HANSARDLocal Government: FundingMy Lords, I associate these Benches with the noble Baroness’s comments earlier. I refer to my interests as a central Bedfordshire councillor. A recent survey published by…27 Jan 2025HANSARDCommunity Engagement Principles and Extremism DefinitionMy Lords, does the Minister agree that, in addition to reviewing the definition of extremist organisations and the community engagement strategy, we should also review the wider…22 Jan 2025HANSARDHomelessnessMy Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in Central Bedfordshire. As the Minister has identified, the primary cause of homelessness is a lack of homes. London has nearly…21 Jan 2025HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy Lords, I declare an interest as a councillor in Central Bedfordshire Council. On Monday, in Grand Committee, the Minister stated that “we move into a picture where we have all…16 Jan 2025HANSARDEnglish DevolutionMy Lords, we are the most centralised country in the OECD. Can the Minister enlighten the House on the real powers and fiscal devolution that this will lead to? In particular,…19 Dec 2024HANSARDProvisional Local Government Finance SettlementMy Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor on Central Bedfordshire Council. I thank the Minister for bringing this Statement to the House of Lords. While I welcome the…19 Dec 2024HANSARDHousing: Permitted Development RightsMy Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire. To deliver the housing this country needs, we need to ensure that planning permissions and allocations are…18 Dec 2024HANSARDBuilding HomesMy Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in Central Bedfordshire. I thank the Minister for the Statement from the other place. I think we can all agree that we need more…17 Dec 2024HANSARDOlder People’s Housing TaskforceMy Lords, I declare my interest as set out in the register, particularly that I was a member of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. It is widely acknowledged that supported…16 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsTo ask His Majesty’s Government what tools they will provide to local authorities to support the delivery of mandatory house-building targets.12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsMy Lords, I declare my interests as laid out in the register. I thank the Minister for her Answer. My particular concern is houses that have planning permission and sites that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformMy Lords, the Government committed in their manifesto to involving local authorities in the planning process. However, the Deputy Prime Minister recently announced that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHomes: Existing CommunitiesMy Lords, I declare my interests as detailed in the register. I thank my noble friend Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise for tabling this important debate and coming up with a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024My Lords, I draw Members’ attention to my interests as detailed in the register, including being a councillor in Central Bedfordshire, which has its own housing HRA. I very much…10 Dec 2024HANSARDPrivate Low-carbon Investment: Green Finance Institute ReportMy Lords, I refer to my interests as set out in the register. How do the Government plan to balance the drive for low-carbon homes with the risks of increasing housing costs or…09 Dec 2024HANSARDChildren with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy Lords, I declare my interests as set out in the register. I thank my noble friend Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie for this important debate. The current SEND system does not work.…09 Dec 2024HANSARDHousing Supply and HomelessnessMy Lords, I declare my interests in the register and my membership of the previous Government’s London housing task force and the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. I thank the…05 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Reforms: Net-zero Carbon EmissionsMy Lords, I declare my interest as laid out in the register. In their press release of 23 September, the Government said that all social housing will have to achieve an EPC rating…03 Dec 2024