16/01/2017 House of Commons

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local

Government. Happy New Year, Mr Speaker. I would like to take this

question together with questionable four. Councils have long campaigned

for one of the business rates retention. We judges to local

Government Finance bill which will establish the framework for the

reformed system and will work closely with local Government during

the passage of the legislation to the reforms. I find the Secretary of

State for his answer. I welcome the decision for Cornwall to be a pilot

area for this. However, business rates there are low, especially

compared to urban areas. Can he be sure the people of Cornwall the

local council will not lose funding as a result of these changes? I'm

pleased that Cornwall will be an area to pilot the elements of the

new business rates retention system. The pilots will help us develop the

system, want to work for local authorities. We have always been

clear that in setting up the system we will ensure there is a

redistribution between councils so areas do not lose our just because

they collect less in local business rates at the moment. As you know,

Buckinghamshire is the entrepreneurial heart of England.

What assurance can he give the people there that the needs -based

review and the new system will review -- result in rebalanced

funding to better reflect economic growth in entrepreneurial areas? I

visited the area a number of times and he is right to call it

entrepreneurial. Under the new system, they will continue to get

redistributed resources with baseline set so that all authorities

are treated fairly. The Secretary of State will be aware that when the

Select Committee looked at this issue they supported it in

principle, the of details and so. One question that needs resolution

is that in the in the future, the demand for adult social care is

likely to grow quicker than the growth in business rates. Does he

therefore recognise that as well as having 100% retention of business

rates, local authorities will need additional funding for adult social

care and will he look at that? First of all, I am sure the chair of the

Select Committee welcomes the recent announcement last month of

additional resources for our social care, but quite rightly, he points

to the need for longer-term reform and the Government is taken that

seriously. The Government's plans to devolve attendance allowance as part

of business rates retention has caused great distress to over a

million elderly people who rely on it to remain independence in their

own homes. Can he reassure them that this reform will not strip them in

any way of this vital allowance? Or the Honourable Lady highlights is

that when the 100% retention reform takes place it will mean councils

were collectively have an additional ?12.5 billion per year. More

responsibilities do need to be pushed down to councils and the

honourable lady is asking about what may be a make up those

responsibilities. We've not decided yet but will. In the local

Government area it is the district who decides where to allocate land

for commercial development. Can the Secretary of State ensure that the

districts are appropriately rewarded for taking difficult decisions? My

honourable friend makes a good point about districts and their role in

promoting business and development. I'm sure he will welcome the bill

introduced last week, the father councils now outside of London can

also promote business Taverna districts. The Government's Autumn

Statement should an increase of ?2.4 billion income to the Treasury from

business rates, 2017-2018. It is still an allocated. Will he protect

local people from massive increases in council ties by investing this

money and social care and ending the precept that suggested by Unison,

the largest trade union supporting care workers, back in October last

year. The honourable lady will be aware that back in 2010, this

country had a huge Budget deficit thanks to the last Government. All

areas of Government had -- have to contribute to that and that includes

local. I'm sure she will welcome this change is announced last month.

Does the new system allow local authorities and discretion with

regard to business rates levied on hospitals such as Southampton

hospital, which following a revaluation, faces a large increase

in business rates? I can sell my honourable friend that it does allow

some discretion to councils, but I don't think for hospitals it will

all I -- apply. It will apply to businesses and since my honourable

friend has made a point, I will take it further. Further to the question

of my honourable friend asked, when the Government committed to letting

local authorities keep 100% of business rate income, they also

promised further cuts to their funding from Whitehall. Given that

they estimate the councils are already underfunded for the legal

responsibilities, including social care to the tune of almost ?6

billion, when a canny Secretary of State tell the House what further

cuts in funding that people can expect the local services to suffer

in England? The honourable member will be aware and should be since we

publicly announced the numbers that is 97% of councils have accepted the

four year Budget deal where they have come forward with efficiency,

offerings and in return, the Government has guaranteed funding.

That does not mask the fact that it is challenging for so many councils

dealing with their settlement, the many councils are able to deal with

that and honourable gentleman should look carefully about. -- carefully

at that. Our actions to the spending review in 2015 and the settlement

have brought the funding to 7.6 billion over the four years. How

much they spend on adult social care is a matter for local councillors

who know these pressures best. The local Government Association have

been clear that the money raised through increasing that precept will

not be nearly enough to address the ?2.6 billion gap facing adult social

care by 2020. Instead of exacerbating the existing postcode

lottery, will he not commit to an additional ring fence resources into

social care to tackle this crisis? Mr Speaker, in the last spending

review with the Government allocated three and a half billion pounds a

year by 2022 adult social care. Recently I and the additional help

of ?9 million over the next two years. Local councils do play a role

in this and I know that in Sunderland, the average council tax

oil is down in real terms and if in Sunderland a local councillor

chooses to allocate more, they can do that. For many of my constituents

the fundamental problem in many cases is we still separate health

care funding and social provision. It makes no sense to my constituents

and less to me. Can I urge the Secretary of State to speed up the

integration of health and social provision so we can deal with the

needs of patients in the round and put those first and not budgetary

arguments. My honourable friend makes an important point and that's

when it comes to adult social care, a 's all about money. Of course it

has a huge role to play, but it is how that is delivered and we've seen

many councils, where they can approach that integration in a

better way, they have seen significant efficiencies and we can

learn from that. I have the Secretary of State to face the House

and we can benefit from his mellifluous tones. Between 2010 at

2020, ?40 million will have been taken out of adult social care

Budget and you can see the effect just this weekend when you see what

is happening in our local NHS hospitals. Will the Minister think

again and ensure the problem is that local are addressed by Central

Government ring fenced money? I'm sure the honourable lady will

welcome the announcement that was made a a few weeks ago, which is

trying to recognise those precious she identifies and that is an

additional funding on top of the 3.5 by 2020 and an additional nine and

an additional 900 million over the next two years, but what she rightly

highlights is an addition where it will -- situation that we need to

keep looking at. Further to what he said, I couldn't agree more. I guess

most members have had surgery somebody that desperately needs

help. The local Government agree they need help as so does the health

service, but the health service and local Government blaming each other.

It becomes a mess. Would it not be a good idea on a cross-party basis to

look at a new model for social care. Mr Speaker, my honourable friend is

correct to point that out. I've seen many situations like that in my

constituency. He also highlights the need for all of us to talk about

this issue and see what we can do working together. According to

Stoke-on-Trent's clinical commissioning group, there are 26

days between someone leaving Stoke and Royal hospital and getting

social care in place. That's despite a ?6 million subsidy. Is that the

City Council's fault or the Government's lack of funding? The

honourable member highlights that for many areas, of course delivering

adult social care is challenging and that is why I know he would welcome

the recent announcement we made for additional funding on top of a

funding settlement announced in the spending review in 2015. The

Government also recognises there needs to be a long-term sustainable

solution and I know that is the reform he would welcome. Having

spent to date with carers and just before Christmas seeing their

amazing work, they, like me, feel frustrated they are constantly under

pressure. With the minister look at what could be done in increasing

social care and making sure it is subject to a cast iron ring fenced

to make sure the money goes where it is needed most? I can assure my

honourable friend we will continue to look at the re-sources, both for

local councils and Central Government to ensure they are both

adequate. Also, we can continue to push the case for reform to ensure

all councils realise more committed and besides funding. What steps is

the Secretary of State taking to ensure local authorities are able to

move patients in need of social care from hospitals to a more appropriate

facility in a timely Mrs Beckett, the honourable Lady

will know there is a role in doing that well from my department and

working with local authorities and the Department of Health. -- Mr

Speaker. That is why we are part of the funding ?1.5 billion by 2020 for

the improved better care fund is designed to do just that, which is

money that goes towards trying to promote just such integration. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. The House of Commons library figures show that in

the period from November 2013 to November 2016, instances of bed

blocking where social care were solely responsible increased by 89%.

In the 12 months to November 2016 alone, bed blocking has increased by

39%. Does the Minister recognise that the preset package brought

forward by the Government in December is insufficient to solve

the crisis in our social care system, and is putting further

pressure on an already stretched NHS? Mr Speaker, what the Minister

recognises is that the additional funding announced in December will

make a big difference. ?240 million of additional money coming in from

the new homes bonus repurposed in, an additional ?600 million, it is

new money, all at an additional ?600 million that is coming in from the

precept changes. When it comes to the using of money, we all want to

see a reduction in delayed transfers of care, she will be aware of big

differences between local councils in delayed transfers of care, I

think some councils can level others. Number three, Mr Speaker.

With your permission, I will answer this question together with question

number 15. 97% of councils have accepted our historic offer of four

funding certainty and local government Finance Bill will ensure

councils keep 100% of locally collected taxes by the end of this

Parliament. The Secretary of State will be particularly aware that

Worcestershire is an attractive place to live, work and visit and a

particularly attractive place to retire, which is why we have a

disproportionately large elderly publishing. How is the Department

factoring in the additional needs of the more elderly publish in areas in

the long-term funding plans? I thank my honourable friend for the

question and as a Worcester MP myself I wholeheartedly agree with

his opinion of our great country. It is a great place for anyone to

visit, live and to have a holiday Inn. I recognise the demographic

pressures are affecting different areas in different ways. That is why

we are undertaking a fairer funding review to introduce a more

up-to-date and more transparent and fair means assessment formula,

something I know my honourable friend will welcome. Mr Speaker, as

you well know, the Secretary of State has received a proposal from

Buckinghamshire County Council to create a new unitary authority to

serve the whole county. He is also having a meeting with the district

councils, who are submitting a proposal to him to unitary

authorities. Can the Secretary of State confirm to us that he will

give both those proposals equal and full consideration, including

consulting with local residents, as happened in Dorset, can he assure me

that unitary status will not lead to any reduction in funding for

residents? Mr Speaker, I can give my right honourable friend the

assurance she seeks, I will give careful consideration to all

proposals received from local authorities, such as those in

Buckinghamshire, including any financial implications. We need to

ensure that any reform is right for local people and can deliver better

services and a strong local leadership. I should declare I am an

elected member in Redbridge and local authorities like face a double

whammy of pressures, both through an ageing population but also a high

birth rate, which has real funding pressures on our local authority.

Does the Secretary of State accept that even by diverting resources

from other council services into adult social care, and even by

charging the maximum social care presets available, local authorities

like-minded will still face a shortfall in funding for vital

services for older people and what will he do about it? Mr Speaker, the

measures were announced in December will help is local authority. They

will help every local authority in the land to deliver more adult

social care services, but as I have said, as well as more money, we need

reform and some councils do need to learn from others. The 2015

committee report outlined a reduction in central government

support to local authorities by 37% between 2010 and 2016. Whilst did --

what does the Secretary of State had to say to my constituents concerned

about how the cuts announced by Bristol City Council last week will

affect them? I would say to her that Bristol South constituents do not

forget where a Labour Government gives you, the deepest deficit of

any developed country, the biggest recession in almost 100 years, the

largest banking bailout, all of that has meant that this Government has

had to make some difficult decisions, and every part of local

government has had to contribute. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does my right

honourable friend agree with me that the long-term financial stability of

local government is not only a function of funding from government,

but good management within local authorities? What does my right

honourable friend think we can do to attract people with business

experience to run good local government? My honourable friend

makes a very good point. It is also about leadership and that means

having many businesses in your area and promoting them, and you need

someone with a good track record, who has got that experience that

local people would benefit from. I can think of someone like that in

the West Midlands, Andy Street. He knows full well that leaving

patients in hospital when they are medically fit to be discharged, like

130 currently at Aintree Hospital, is a very expensive way of looking

after people. Why is he not shouting from the rooftops for the 4.6

billion that was cut from social care to be reinvested so that

councils can address the problem now and in the long-term? Mr Speaker,

helping with adult social care is about resources, that is why I know

the honourable gentleman would welcome the announcement of a few

weeks ago, an additional ?900 million over the next two years, but

also, I'm sure he will agree it is about reform as well and he will

have noticed the big difference in delayed transfers of care between

one authority and another. Question five. Mr Speaker, the Government has

listened to calls from local government and representations made

by honourable and right honourable members across the House. New

changes outlined in the provisional of local leisure provision of local

government finance report pointed to an extra ?900 million over the next

two years. The precept would raise about two by 5 million in Sutton but

it is losing around 8 million in support grants. A one-off social

care grant would give Sutton about ?750,000, but it is losing 1.5

million from the new homes bonus changes, which are paying for the

one-off grant, resulting in a loss of ?800,000. Does the Minister agree

that as long as the Government are robbing Peter to pay Paul, we will

see cancer operations cancelled and patients left in distress because of

bed blocking? Mr Speaker, as a result of the Spending Review

announcement of ?3.5 billion extra into adult social care by 2020, that

is per year, and the announcement I made a few weeks ago, ?900 million

over the next two years, all councils including Sutton will have

more resources to do with adult social care challenges. I think

you'll agree with me that the progress in Torbay made in adult

social care was very welcome, but also agree that would he agree that

it was concerning that strict financial rules from NHS England

prompting a renegotiation in terms of a risk agreement, even though

extra money was not spent? Will he worked to see if we can resolve

this? First of all, I am happy to work with my honourable friend and

see what can be done, and to listen to the issue in Torbay, but Torbay

is a good example of how integration can work and how it can really help

local people. Number six, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

Government is committed to tackling homelessness, we have launched a ?50

million homelessness prevention package and we are backing the most

ambitious legislative reforms in decades through the homelessness

reduction bill. I am delighted that Chelmsford will be one of the

country bold-mac first trailblazer areas announced by the Prime

Minister last month. -- the country bold-mac. Would he agree with me

that whilst leaving the 20th century -- rough sleeping in the 20th

century is unacceptable, can to me more about what has been done that

only in England but also in Chelmsford, to end this stain on our

society? Mr Speaker, I think the whole House will agree with my right

honourable friend that it is totally unacceptable. We should do all we

can to end rough sleeping. Our ?20 million rough sleeping grant will

fund 54 projects working to provide rapid response support for rough

sleepers across England. It will help prevent people from spending a

night on the streets in the first place. I'm delighted to tell my

right honourable friend that Chelmsford will receive almost

?900,000 for preventing homelessness in partnership with neighbouring

local authorities. The inspirational ladies football player Fara Williams

was homeless at 15 but went on to captain and play 157 times for

England and is now at Arsenal. Following the appeal for funds to

set up the first national freephone helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds, who

are homeless and at risk of a life on the streets, with the Minister

agree that this is a tremendous initiative, long overdue and should

be government funded? I think the honourable lady quite rightly brings

to our attention a prime example of the fact that just because somebody

is homeless or somebody is rough sleeping, they do not have the

ability to actually reach their full potential and that is what we need

to encourage. I would say to the honourable lady that the Government

currently pays for a service called Street Link, where people can ring

in or use an app where they can report people who are sleeping

rough, which is then brought to the attention of the local housing needs

provider. With the Minister congratulate Kettering Borough

Council and its housing director John Conway for the measures they

have taken during the recent cold weather to get all rough sleepers

off the streets in Kettering and give them the appropriate housing

advice they need? I thank my honourable friend for bringing in

that very, very important and heartening example, some of our

local authorities are doing excellent work to prevent

homelessness and rough sleeping and the type of initiative that my

honourable friend is talking about is the type of initiative that

should be followed by other local authorities. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

On Wednesday Glasgow City Council considered a report that shows the

devastating impact that universal credit Willard is having on

homelessness services in the city. So far it has resulted in 73

homeless individuals racking up debts to the Council of ?144,000. It

is completely unsustainable, both for the individuals and for the

Council. Can the Minister Tommy what impact the Willard is having on

local authorities across the UK? -- tell me. This Government has

increased discretionary housing payments to ?870 million across this

Parliament to mitigate some of the short-term challenges that people

face from the welfare changes that are being made. I would also say to

the honourable lady that in terms of local housing allowance rate, 30% of

that funding or the savings from the policy will be repurposed to help

people that are in the highest value areas in terms of the challenges of

affordability. I'm afraid that is completely inadequate. Since 2011 to

2012 welfare reform has meant homelessness performs in Glasgow

have seen cuts over ?6 million to the temporary accommodation budgets.

Does the Minister not accept that to really help rough sleepers and to

help people who are homeless, there must be actual coordinated work

across all government departments? You cannot have one department

undermining the services of another. That is certainly a good point the

honourable lady mentions and I can assure the honourable lady that we

are working extremely hard across government through a cross

governmental working group that I chair. I can also say to the

honourable lady in relation to the issue of temporary accommodation

that she mentions, the management fee which originates from the DWP

policy, is being devolved to local authorities, been devolved to the

Scottish Government. Rather than patting themselves on the back,

should the Government not be apologising for allowing rough

sleeping the double since 2010? This is not an insoluble problem, it just

requires action like that taken by the last Labour Government... Which

saw street homelessness cut by three quarters. So will the Minister adopt

the initiative announced last month by my right honourable friend the

member for Wentworth and Darren and commit to an extra 4000 homes to end

rough sleeping altogether? Will not be lost on him that during

the Labour Government in 2003, homelessness was at a peak. What I

would say is this Government is committed to making sure we

eradicate rough sleeping and we are working extremely hard. There's ?20

million scheme put local authorities, ?10 million to the

social impact upon to get all most entrenched rough sleepers off the

street. We've taken significant action to help high streets thrive

and changing shopping habits. Figures from the estate agents show

that investment in high street retail property last year was up 17%

from the year before. That high streets in my constituency continue

to struggle, just as they do all over the UK. The local authority

does what they can be their support is limited. They need intervention

and support to make the transformation needed. Will the

Minister meet with me? I would be delighted to meet. The business rate

revaluation will have a positive impact. I discussed this with the

chair of his local enterprise partnership, Christine Gaskell, just

before Christmas. The timer more than happy to meet to discuss that

and we're walking with... This is a varied picture across the UK. Small

market towns are being stripped of their banks. What is the policy of

the Minister to try and encourage more competition in the retail

banking sector so that we can try and encourage banking in our rural

towns? This is an important point. It has affected my own constituency.

I'm happy to discuss this with the Treasury further. The business rate

revaluation will have a positive impact on retail property in his

constituency, as it will across many parts of the North and Midlands. We

recognise the pressures faced by the Central care system on top of the

funding we announced in 2015, which will deliver 3.5 billion a year by

2020, we are providing an additional 900 million over the next two years

for social care. Unfortunately, the Roma has already had to make ?55

million worth of cuts. The precepts will bring you 4 million, but

there's another 40 million of cuts the pipeline so we are facing is

fight that some villagers have private contractors and cons of all

social care whatsoever. Could I suggest the ministry goes back to

the Treasury and asks for an announcement on March the 8th? The

honourable lady will know that the Roma will benefit from the

additional ?900 million the Government is giving local

authorities over the latest two years.

Given that so much funding for adult social care goes to care homes and

given that so many of those their inspections, would be ministerial

team consider wrapping care home reform into the adult social care

reform? And what they consider require local authorities to build

new care homes just as they do schools and surgeries? We are always

willing to listen to constructive suggestions. My honourable friend

may be aware the Department of Health are looking very carefully at

the way care homes are provided, particularly in terms of the

regulation and the role of the seat QC. Funding per head of population

in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea is almost that double

received by Enfield, which is facing spending pressures of ?5 million in

adult social care in 2017-2018. Could the Minister confirm that he

will look both that the ring fencing issue and will reflect the assessed

needs of our communities in the future local Government funding

formula? I met with a chief finance officer of Enfield along with my

honourable friend for an field and Southgate is part of the local

Government finance settlement consultation. She will be aware that

local authorities across the country will get benefit of the ?900 million

that they will have access to over the next two years and improved care

which is also ramping up quickly over the next three years. The

neighbourhood planning Bill and my recent statements will further

strengthen neighbourhood planning, ensuring communities have the

ability to shape their area and not speculative development. Thank you

for that welcome and the sun. It has been encouraging to watch

communities develop their own plans. Could it clarify how much time

councils and communities will have two update their neighbourhood plans

once new housing number data has been published? Will he ensure

neighbourhood and local plans carry full weight for that period? I can

reassure my right honourable friend that the Government's expectation

will be every five years, but when there is new data, it doesn't mean

the existing plans are automatically out of date. Will the Minister

ensure that when we have neighbourhood plans, we involve

local and national businesses are more in that planning procedure? So

many of these global and national chains suck the money out of our

communities and many of them put little back in terms of investment.

What can we see what can introduce? Well, first of all, there's the

possibility of having neighbourhood plans for business district areas.

There's the wider issue of ensuring that we capture the uplift in value

when businesses apply for planning permission. There's a review on my

desk at the moment. Would he pay tribute to the hundreds who devoted

a great deal of their time putting together neighbourhood plans and

assure us that in his white paper, that steps will be taken to secure

the integrity of those plans? I'd like to pay tribute to not just that

the people he mentions but to him also, because he's been a huge

champion for neighbourhood planning. I hope the ministerial statement as

hell to address some of his concerns and there will be further action in

the housing white paper. Balou Du Reventon pressure on local budgets

to this completely misses the point in

terms of local need. To homes. Can you say will be done to offensive as

this? The National Planning Policy

Framework is clear. They shouldn't just look at the total number of

homes require, but the right mix of housing to cater for the

demographic, the number of elderly people and so she is right to draw

attention to that issue. I welcome the increased number of housing has

doubled since 2009, but to get to the level we need, we need a

resurgence of the small and medium-sized house-building. To the

Minister agree we need local authorities and communities to

allocate more small sites in the local plan are neighbourhood plans?

He is right, we are far too dependent at this point on a small

number of large developers and we need both to make sure the land is

released and is attracted to small developers and make sure they have

access to finance. Since July, we've announced a 3 billion fund and an

additional 1.4 billion for affordable housing and a ?2 billion

construction programme. 2 billion infrastructure fund and support for

17 garden towns and villages and the white paper will contain further

measures. The all party group of which I'm chairman finance the

quality of new-build housing. Will he be willing to meet with all party

group to discuss our findings on what suggestions could be included

in the forthcoming white paper as well? I would be delighted. I

attended the meeting on the all party rental sector. Which he also

chairs! Busy man. But he is quite right to say that as we address the

fundamental challenge to get the homes we desperately need, we must

not lose sight as quality as well as quantity. Or Westminster Council

right to expect authorities in the South East today, responsibility of

housing as well as education and social care for London's people? I

would think London MPs and Westminster councillors and

everybody would expect as much as possible that local authorities

should meet the need to howls those in their own area and that is what I

guidance is clear run. The fights and local authorities have to police

people outside their areas is an indictment of the failure of this

country over the last 40 years to build enough homes. We will correct

that. Local communities are incentivised to deliver new homes.

However, few residents are aware of this and do not see the gain of

development. With the Minister agree that local authorities to set out

how they spend their new home bonus in the annual council tax bills

statement? He makes an important point which I'm happy to look into.

There's a wider issue of ensuring the communities see the benefits of

new housing. There's community infrastructure Levy and making sure

communities know the benefits they are getting in return for accepting

housing. I don't think we can do much more in this area if their

Budget was being cut by 20% compared to just 1% in Surrey and 2% in

Buckinghamshire. It has put pressure on a whole range of services, not

just here but we are seeing libraries close, social services

under pressure. Over Christmas, hard-working low-paid staff had to

take three days unpaid leave, effectively a pay cut of 1% because

of this Government's cuts. How can you tell me the cuts are in anyway

fair? The question was about building more homes and as I pointed

out in the course of this Parliament, they aren't doubling the

housing Budget which will enable more homes to be built. The

Government concluded the business rates review in March 2000 16.

Following that, the Government announced a 6.7 billion cut in rates

over the next five years and a permanent doubling of small business

rates relief. Six and a thousand small businesses will now pay no

business rates at all. I hear what he said in there's no

doubt there are external factors challenging our high streets. But

I'd say there's a significant package, 6.7 billion. You may want

to encourage some of the business on his high street to check the

re-evaluation of their business rate following the 2017 business rate

revaluation which is now online. No one should ever have to sleep

rough. Our ?20 million grants will help those new to the streets.

Social and buy bonds will also cover 48 areas ambled on success of the

social impact bond which we funded in London. It has helped over 400

entrance rough sleepers get by, feet and into accommodation. I appreciate

that. But number of rough sleepers are district is very high. Local

trusts are tackling it, but the council Budget has been slashed by

50%. Would he agree that unless we support local authorities, we stand

no chance of reducing the number of rough sleepers? She will know, this

Government is backing the homelessness reduction Bill

currently going through the House. That will put a number of

obligations on local authorities to hold people earlier so they don't

become homeless. The announcement in terms of funding for the board will

be made shortly and we are also, as she has heard, providing ?50 million

to start that work at this point so we do not waste time for the

legislation to come into effect. This Speaker, we are currently

looking at alternative ways of giving to the homeless, such as

vouchers, or through a website. Can I ask the Minister to look at this

alternative method of giving as it is possible to take them forward? My

honourable friend makes a very good point and it is generally for

members of the public to consider the way in which they may want to

give to people that are homeless. As I've said, the Government is

absolutely focused on helping rough sleepers and the social impact bond,

?10 million will help the most entrenched sleepers off the street

and I'm sure that's what you want to see. Mr Speaker, the pub is at the

heart of community life and that's why we've made provision for assets

of community value for committees that value their pub.

There are 750 probes listed on the assets of community value. The

moment a nomination goes in, those rights are removed. Local

authorities are free if they wish to apply for an article for designation

and remove those rights across a whole area.

I can announce to the House that we are providing ?50,000 of funding to

pubs which will help them be valued by communities. They are in the

process of introducing banning orders and civil penalties of up to

?30,000 and mandatory licensing. We need to drive up the road

landlord -- rogue landlords so the decent ones are not facing

competition.