Contributions
923 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Keep going. Karolina Zoltaniecka: I would not give up on it; it is well worth waiting for. Harry Scoffin: We need share of freehold in the meantime, at least.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Have the Government spoken to you about why they have seemingly rowed back on the direction of travel on commonhold? Professor Hopkins: Since we published our reports in 2020,…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Is leasehold ownership home ownership? Harry Scoffin: No, it is a tenancy scam. You do not own anything. You own the right to sell on a bit of space in a flat you occupy. You do…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)In England and Wales? Harry Scoffin: Yes, because people are coining it in and they want to keep it that way. I understand that a political decision was made by No. 10 not to have…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Given that the Bill does not ban new leasehold flats—70% of leaseholds happen to be flats—is leasehold, the feudal system, still alive and kicking? Harry Scoffin: Completely,…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Hello Martin, good to see you. Are there any risks in banning new leasehold houses but not flats? Mr Martin Boyd: Yes, there are risks. Currently, we do not have a viable…16 Jan 2024HANSARDNHS DentistrySurely in this day and age everybody should have the right to receive dental treatment when they need it. That was the fundamental principle of the national health service that…09 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI thank the Minister for his work and for his constructive statement. When can we expect Fujitsu to be held accountable and to pay significant compensation to those affected?08 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsGiven that homelessness among veterans has gone up by 14% and that it is a cross-departmental issue, what more are Ministers doing to ensure that all our veterans are housed?08 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn 2010 there were 117,000 16 to 24-year-olds on long-term sickness and health benefits. That figure now stands at a massive 235,000. Why is that, and what are the Government…18 Dec 2023HANSARD Infected Blood Inquiry: Government ResponseMy constituent Michael, and so many more, will be disappointed by today’s statement. The Minister rightfully spoke about urgency, yet there is no timeline that reflects that…18 Dec 2023HANSARDDraft Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023The Minister talks about the Building Safety Regulator, but we are talking about some 12,000 that are in scope. Is he confident that the regulator and associated teams have enough…13 Dec 2023HANSARDDraft Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023That principle has been debated at length. Various Government Ministers, including the Minister here today, have spoken about the fundamental principle that it should not be the…13 Dec 2023HANSARDDraft Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg and to respond on behalf of the Opposition Front Bench team. I am very familiar with the Building Safety Act. I was the…13 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyTo clarify something the Minister said about the United Nations resolution, if it had rightly condemned Hamas, would the UK Government have voted for it so that we can all see an…11 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsDespite my private Member’s Bill on statutory guidance to reduce the cost of school uniforms—the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021—far too many schools…11 Dec 2023HANSARDHillsborough: Bishop James Jones ReportI listened very carefully to the Lord Chancellor’s very considered statement, and the question that comes to mind is: why not? Why not have a Hillsborough law? That has not been…06 Dec 2023HANSARD Water Companies: Executive BonusesI welcome those strong interventions and regulations. One of the companies the shadow Minister is referring to is United Utilities, which made 27 sewage dumps—nearly 3,000 hours…05 Dec 2023HANSARD Water Companies: Executive BonusesA whistleblower made serious allegations against United Utilities on “Panorama”, and the Minister mentioned monitoring. It was clearly gaming the system. What robust intervention…05 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe latest Government figures highlight that a record 139,000 children—children!—are in temporary accommodation in the lead-up to Christmas, which is a 14% increase. Meanwhile,…04 Dec 2023