Contributions
1,912 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLocal Authority BudgetsI cannot answer all my right hon. Friend’s questions, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is having discussions with councils on this very issue. As soon as we are…07 Mar 2022HANSARDLocal Authority BudgetsI completely reject the hon. Gentleman’s numbers. As I said, we have given a 4.5% increase in the local government finance settlement. We are here to provide support to all local…07 Mar 2022HANSARDLocal Authority BudgetsYes, it is true that reorganisation can sometimes assist. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this issue.07 Mar 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022I thank my hon. Friends the Members for Carlisle, for Workington and for Congleton, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen, for their contributions to the…28 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022I take my right hon. Friend’s point and I will make sure that officials—I am sure they are listening—have taken note of that and will be able to explain to me how we can provide…28 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022My right hon. Friend raises a good question. I do not know whether the Department carried out an impact assessment, as it was before my time as Minister, but I do know that it has…28 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022I thank my hon. Friend for her question. There are 499,000 residents in the county of Cumbria, so she is right that a comparatively small number of people have responded to the…28 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022Yes, I will outline those savings. They are just a little further on in my speech. Any change would have to ensure more sustainable structures. Secondly, any authorities…28 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. This order was…28 Feb 2022HANSARDLocal Authority Boundaries (Referendums) BillI thank my hon. Friend. He and I will be able to work together on this issue with our hon. Friend the Member for Keighley—25 Feb 2022HANSARDLocal Authority Boundaries (Referendums) BillI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Robbie Moore) on securing a place in the ballot for this private Member’s Bill on introducing referendums into the process…25 Feb 2022HANSARDLocal Authority Boundaries (Referendums) BillAbsolutely; it does meet that locally led test, but that is not the only test that we would be applying. The processes that Parliament has established for changing a local…25 Feb 2022HANSARDHousing DisrepairI congratulate the right hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) on securing this debate, and I thank her for raising this subject on behalf of her…25 Feb 2022HANSARDChristians and Religious Minorities: IndiaI completely agree with my hon. Friend. It is morally wrong and reprehensible to carry out such actions. The hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green requested UK action in India.…24 Feb 2022HANSARDChristians and Religious Minorities: IndiaIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing the debate. I commend him for his tireless work…24 Feb 2022HANSARDChristians and Religious Minorities: IndiaI understand that. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. It is something that I can ask my colleagues to do. I know that this is the sort of regular engagement that…24 Feb 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe appointment of Katharine Birbalsingh as chair of the Social Mobility Commission has been a welcome boost to the agenda. I would like to inform the House that she has begun the…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022I have been very encouraged by our spirited debate on this statutory instrument. Yesterday we managed to complete our discussion in 15 minutes; this has been a genuine debate. I…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022No, because I can tell that the hon. Gentleman wants to have a debate about local government finance. This is a structural change order. He did not speak in the local government…23 Feb 2022HANSARDDraft Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022Thank you, Mr Efford. I shall now stick with Somerset. Opposition Members have raised multiple questions, but first I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil for adding quite a…23 Feb 2022