Contributions
286 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 252, in schedule 12, page 163, line 19 at end insert— “(ba) After subsection (1BB), insert— ‘(1BBA) When exercising any power under this section, the mayor…16 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting)I will not press the amendment, but I would like a reassurance from the Minister on the frameworks. Although they are nascent and in their embryonic state, they are really…16 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting)I will speak mainly to amendment 58, because amendment 59 is consequential on amendment 58, which seeks to decentralise even further planning decisions from Whitehall. It would…16 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.16 Oct 2025HANSARDEducational Assessment System ReformIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Josh Dean) for securing this hugely important debate and for the way…15 Oct 2025HANSARDKnife CrimeI thank the hon. Gentleman for securing this important debate. My constituent, Cody Fisher, a young footballer, was brutally stabbed to death at the Crane nightclub in Birmingham…15 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)No, the amendment is not kicking anything into the long grass. We have to get the Bill—this devolution—right. It is all about accountability, as I said when we were discussing the…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 19 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Ordered, That further consideration be now adjourned. —…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)The amendment and new clause 46 are about giving devolution in England a clear direction and fair footing, and replacing uncertainty with a proper plan and accountability. It will…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 363, in clause 19, page 22, line 32, at end insert— “(f) progress with the implementation of the strategy provided for in section [Duty to publish and…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)No, I do not.14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)As I said, the amendment would give Parliament the opportunity to assess whether devolution requests are handled with consistency and fairness across the regions, because at the…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)The commissioners are not accountable to the public; they are accountable to the mayor, who will of course be elected. The Minister talks about scrutiny, but what about holding…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)This Government’s plans for devolution involve folding existing local government structures into larger combined authorities. From a central Government perspective, the benefits…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I beg to move amendment 25, in schedule 1, page 83, line 3, at end insert— “(6A) After preparing a proposal the Secretary of State must publish a statement demonstrating how the…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)It is pointless to establish a strategic authority without appropriate financial support. Without support to build structurally, hire staff, co-ordinate partners and begin…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John. Amendments 4, 28 and 29 would make English devolution genuinely local by ensuring that local consent and public…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)We have not looked at the costs, but we need to understand that the Bill devolves significant powers, possibly to one person. My local authority is a three-tier one at the moment,…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)The amendment would require any combined authority seeking new devolved powers to lay a formal report before Parliament, explaining why it is seeking those powers and how it…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 20, in clause 12, page 16, line 24, at end insert— “(9AA) A combined authority or CCA must provide a report to the Secretary of State to lay before both…14 Oct 2025