Contributions
869 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)Clause 4 introduces schedule 1, which will streamline and simplify existing processes for establishing new combined authorities and combined county authorities, and for changing…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)We have established a principle that there should be mayoral capacity funding. We have established a principle that for places that are going through the transition, to ensure…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner for highlighting the deep cuts that were imposed on local authorities during a decade and a half of Conservative…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)That is not the feedback that I heard in that evidence session. At the moment the places in our devolution priority areas are going through a process of consultation. They are…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)We will discuss neighbourhood governance and neighbourhood boards later in the Bill. When it comes to areas that do not have town and parish councils, we recognise there is an…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I will respond to amendments 30, 31 and 33 first, and then amendments to 266 to 280. I appreciate the intention of the Liberal Democrat amendments, and I reiterate that I think we…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)It is absolutely right that we say that, in order to drive economic success in particular areas, there are powers that relate to economic drivers and levers that we want, and…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I spoke to the leaders of Hampshire and the Solent just last week, and they were unanimously enthusiastic about what was being proposed, because they could see the opportunity. I…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I completely disagree. I have been having conversations, for example, with our strategic combined authorities that are going through the process. The difference between this…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)Both the policy intent and the practice with places going through the devolution process are locally led. The impetus is coming from local leaders and local authorities that are…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I will not press this point. All I can say is that I sat down with the leaders last week as a new Minister—the newbie—and I asked them how it was going. They told me, “we are…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I shall start by setting out the purpose of clause 2, then turn to amendment 261. The clause provides some broad thematic policy areas under which functions and powers of…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)I am sympathetic to the intentions behind the new clause, and the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion makes a good point regarding the tapestry of terms that we have in a very…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)We absolutely recognise the hon. Member’s point about democracy. Directly elected mayors can play a powerful strategic role. They are a key new part of the devolution architecture…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir John. Before I speak to the first group of amendments, I put on the record my thanks to the witnesses who gave up their time…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)As the local transport authority, combined authorities and combined county authorities deliver a range of local transport functions across their area. Each combined authority or…14 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Fourth sitting)I will speak to clause stand part and amendment 83 before responding directly to amendment 20. On the clause, all existing mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county…14 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe recognise the uniqueness of Cornwall. We are committed to working with the local authority to ensure that we unlock the economic opportunities in the area and build on its…13 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is completely right to raise this issue. That is why we are giving local communities greater powers to control the proliferation of gambling and vape shops. It is…13 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is completely right. We had a decade and a half of decline and neglect under the last Government. This Government are getting to grips with it. I thank my hon.…13 Oct 2025