Contributions
1,336 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)I absolutely agree. That is one reason why we are resisting the amendment—there are profound choices and it should be for local areas to make those choices. The devolution…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)Let me start by gently taking issue with something the hon. Gentleman said: that this measure is very much like the abolition of the metropolitan county councils. I argue that it…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Member for taking the point, because I agree with the tenor of the argument, that we do not want to have major strategic decisions made by a quango. That…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)I have to take issue with the hon. Gentleman’s comment about the process being less local. If I think about the devolution of powers over a number of things that are already done…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)This is an opportunity for me to repeat that, like all good public sector bodies, the CCA should promote equality and diversity within the organisation and it is for the CCA to do…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)The amendment brings us to a series of other amendments bound together by a particular philosophy encapsulated in the statement by the hon. Member for Nottingham North that the…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)I would say that the amendment is well-intentioned, but that would not really do it justice; I actually completely agree with the broad thrust of what Opposition Members are…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)As we discussed during our consideration of previous clauses, the key constitutional arrangements—membership, voting and decision making—will be set out in the secondary…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)The public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 ensures that public bodies play their part in making society fairer by tackling discrimination and providing equality…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)Let me reassure the hon. Member by saying that clause 14 enables the Secretary of State to make regulations setting out how an individual CCA is to be funded by contributions from…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)indicated assent.30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)Although many of the things we have talked about today have been interesting and thought provoking, this is perhaps the most interesting and thought-provoking amendment so far.…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)I will have to come back to the hon. Member in slower time on that. To explain a little about the clause, it is in essence the devolution clause that will enable the CCA to take…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)These amendments would require the Secretary of State to publish an annual report setting out any differences in transport, highway and traffic functions conferred on CCAs, the…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way at what is probably quite an annoying time for me to intervene, but I want to highlight mission 10 of the missions that we…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Murray. I echo the comments from those on the Opposition Front Bench about the quality of the debate on the first day of…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Seventh sitting)The hon. Gentleman has touched on a really important point. He has encapsulated in a very neat way what we are trying to establish here, which is the ability of districts to…30 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Eighth sitting)Although we have not yet established any combined county authorities, we need to look to the future and anticipate some scenario in which an established CCA wishes to change its…30 Jun 2022HANSARDFreeports: Economic ImpactThe Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Scotland Office are delighted that the UK Government’s freeport programme is being extended to Scotland. UK…29 Jun 2022HANSARDFreeports: Economic ImpactMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have received five competitive bids for Scottish green freeports and the two Governments are working closely together to assess the…29 Jun 2022