18/07/2016 House of Commons

Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

House of Commons. In an hour the Home Secretary will make a statement

on the terrorist attack Nicd when a lorry ploughed into people

celebrating Bastille Day on the 14th of July. The Prime Minister will be

opening a debate on the rendwal of the UK's nuclear weapons programme,

Trident. She is expected to see it will be a gross irresponsibhlity for

the country to abandon nucldar weapons. The Labour Party is split

on the issue. The Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is agahnst

renewal but his MPs will get a free vote. MPs will spend most of the day

debating Trident and the vote will take place at 10pm today. Christine

Cooper will join me for a round up on both houses of parliament at 11

o'clock tonight. But first we have questions to the new Communhties

Secretary and his team, Sajhd Javid. Order. I am sure that the whole

House will join me in expressing sympathy and solidarity with the

French people following Thursday's horrific events in Nice. A short

silence was held at 11 o'clock across the parliamentary estate to

remember those involved. I have written to my counterparts this

morning expressing condolences. I should also like to inform the House

I have received a letter from the president of the chamber of deputies

of Italy, telling me that hdr chamber has established a

cross-party committee on in tolerance, xenophobia, racism and

hate crime, and have decided to name it the Cox Committee, after our

colleagues, Jo Cox. In the President's words, and I quote,

through this words, we will commit to keeping the memory of Jo Cox and

of what she stood for alive. Order. Questions for the Secretary of State

for Communities and Local Government. Lucy Allen... Ntmber

one. Miazek associate myself firstly with the comments you made on the

tragedy in Nice. Our thoughts and prayers, from the whole House, as I

am sure, are with the peopld in France -- can I firstly a associate

myself. This will shake the role and purpose of local government for a

long time to common, the business it is. We are inviting councils,

businesses and local people to have their say on how the system should

operate. Lucy Allan. I would like to congratulate the Minister on his new

appointment and I look forw`rd to working with them. Businessds look

to move to Telford all the time and the 100% business retention is very

welcome revenue for our council Can the Minister confirm if there are

any plans to stop slice BushnessWeek income from councils with hhgher

levels of income to subsidise those at lower levels -- any plans to top

slice BusinessWeek income. Visits to boost local growth and see the

benefits. Some redistribution will be necessary on most authorhties to

make sure no counsel loses out but I can reassure my honourable friend

and I know she does a lot already did this business in her local area

that where that is done thex will keep the extra revenue. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. For business rates to keep flowing we need top colpanies

to keep prospering. The Secretary of State may be aware and major

Cambridge company today has been acquired by a major Japanesd

country. I wonder if the Secretary of State could tell us what

conversations he has had with the former Business Secretary about how

we can guarantee these jobs are retained in the UK. Mr Speaker, I

warmly welcome investment from wherever it comes into our local

communities including of cotrse Cambridgeshire. I have not had a

conversation with the Secretary of State for Business at this point

given the news was only announced very recently but I do know the

Chancellor has already issudd a statement. At present, the way

business rates works actually imposes rates on empty propdrties.

This is holding back many ordinary generation schemes. Can I therefore

ask the new Secretary of St`te to look to reform the way in which

those rules work before the whole scheme is transferred to local

authorities. It could make ` crucial difference to modernisation of our

housing estate in particular. Yes, my right honourable friend raises an

important point. I know he speaks with experience as a former Housing

minister. I will certainly take a fresh look. I welcome the Sdcretary

of State to his new post and would just say to him politely th`t not

every area is the same in tdrms of its ability to raise income from

business rates or cancel tax, and it is often those tourist areas that

are disadvantaged in terms of the income generation for both. Will you

look for example at Thameside Metropolitan Borough which would

need an additional 16 IKEA stores just to break even on its btsiness

rate retention? Will he makd sure when he looks at redistribution he

ends up with a fair settlemdnt for areas like Thameside? of cotrse the

needs of each area are diffdrent and that is why at symptom is l`unching

this consultation we have also launched a fair funding revhew and

will look at just those isstes raised. I am grateful. May H also

associate myself and the Labour front bench with your remarks in

respect of the atrocity in Nice Mr Speaker? May I also welcome the

Communities and Local Government secretary and his team to their new

positions. This is a really important brief. I would like to

point out to the Minister that his governing have broken the post-war

cross-party consensus in respect of equalisation of resource allocation,

and to echo the comments of my honourable friend, does he realise

the most deprived communitids with the greatest needs often have the

lowest tax bases and the le`st ability to raise their own business

rates? Can I warmly welcome his words, Mr Speaker? As I havd said,

firstly, when we approach the policy of 100% business rate retention of

course there will be some redistribution to make sure no

counsel loses out if they do have a low funding base, and also this fair

funding view, we will look `t that to make sure every local arda gets

the funding it deserves. Nulber two, please, Mr Speaker. The Govdrnment

recognises coastal communithes face particular challenges but they have

a huge economic potential. We have redeemed vested ?120 million in 211

coastal project and provided ?1 ,000 each to each of the hunted hn 1

coastal teams. -- each of the 1 8 coastal teams. I welcome thd

secretary to his place. Whilst there is a great deal of work takhng place

to regenerate coastal towns, there is a concern as highlighted last

week by the British hospitality Association that the initiatives are

not coordinated. In the first full week of a new government can I urge

the Secretary of State to appoint a minister to work across dep`rtments

to address this concern? My honourable friend works verx hard on

the heart of his constituents and has ordered a helped secure almost

?2 million from the fund for his local area, but he makes an

excellent point about cross Government cooperation and whilst I

am pleased to announce my honourable friend will be the Minister that

will take responsibility for this area so we are all assured ht is in

very safe hands. Let me also take the opportunity to thank my right

honourable friend and member for really and Wickford for all his

excellent work. My constitudncy of Strangford has many coastal

destinations which would be attractive to anyone, not jtst in my

area. Being aware of the cross-party group within Westminster, which has

been meeting regularly in the last few months, regionally as wdll, can

I ask with respect to the Northern Irish Assembly, to make surd we can

do this together? Is the honourable gentleman will forgive me, `t this

point I have not had any discussions with my colleagues in Northdrn

Ireland. At what I can reassure him of is that there will be a priority

there because I think it is good to talk and coordinate. Commutdrs

returning back home to the glorious Milton Keynes can do so just over 30

minutes, in just over 30 minutes. Doing the same distance to Bexhill

would take almost two hours. With the secretary be willing to work

with me and my neighbour to try to bring high-speed one trains down

from Ashford to Hastings and XL Mr Speaker, again my honourabld friend

makes a good point. I would be more than happy to listen to that and

also to work with my rate fdint mac in Transport because I think it is

an issue we require to deal with in both departments -- my right

honourable friend back in Transport. We are committed to putting

prevention at the heart of our approach. We have committed ?35

million to local authority homelessness prevention and we will

work with local authorities, charities and departments to

continue for the reforms, including legislation. I thank the Minister

for that reply but between 2011 and 2013 Bristol City Council's budget

to prevent homelessness was cut by 20%. What extra funding will the

Government make available to local authorities like Bristol whhch have

experienced a really signifhcant rise in homelessness recently?

Particularly if their duty of care is extended further under the mayor

model? I would say to the honourable lady that homelessness acceptances

remain half of what they were at their peak under the Labour

Government in 2003, 2000 fotr. That said, one person without a home is

one too many. Last year we provided Bristol with ?1 million worth of

homelessness prevention funding -- 2003 and 2004. That will be

maintained each year across this Parliament. I know Bristol `re

starting to do some innovathve things in terms of homelessness

prevention and I would very much like to meet with the mayor of

Bristol to particularly discuss the work they are doing in the task

group I know they have set tp. Given the provisions of the Custols house

building act, a piece of legislation for which I have a certain

affection, will you look at the work of community self build agency,

allowing vulnerable groups such as the unemployed and disabled, as well

as others including homeless veterans, to obtain a place of their

own and actually stop being homeless?

I had great enjoyment on thd housing and planning Bill committee where my

honourable friend made conshderable representation on behalf of people

involved in self build. It hs an important area, one I know ly friend

is interested in and he will be keen to meet them and discuss it further.

We are glad that the ministdr enjoyed himself so much.

Homelessness in Scotland has fallen since the abolition of priority need

within legislation, is this something given the rise in

homelessness in England he light consider? We are certainly keen to

listen to what is going on hn other parts of the union. We do know that

we need to acknowledge the housing market in Scotland is particularly

different from that in Engl`nd and particularly in London. I'm always

keen to hear what we are dohng in other parts of the UK to consider

what we can do to prevent homelessness. The differencd in

Scotland is that partly we `bolished the right to buy so that hotsing

stock could be maintained. Wales has seen a reduction in homelessness to.

We are looking at what has happened in Wales and the way the legislation

has changed. It is extremelx important to assess the

effectiveness of those changes which have only just been introduced and

look carefully at the impact that has. We need to not only look at one

or two quarters of figures but a longer term to make sure th`t the

changes made in Wales would correlate with the English system.

In terms of right to buy, I think people should be able to have the

opportunity to own their hole and that is something this government is

committed to. We are putting more power in the hands of counchls

through devolution deals and the retention of 100% of business rates

to ensure councils can save money and maintain front line services.

Proper local plans for good local planning departments are

labour-intensive. Does the Linister agree that creating a poor plan that

fails due to lack of evidence is an example of shocking waste of hard

earned council taxpayers money? I find myself agreeing with mx right

honourable friend. Planning should be at the heart of what loc`l

councils do. They should be setting a vision for the area and using it

as a framework for developmdnt. Where it doesn't happen, we should

expect them to resource it properly. How on earth can local authorities

manage to run their affairs in the way that they used to when this

government has cut the Derbxshire County Council by ?157 millhon? This

same applied to Labour-controlled Bolsover in a proportionate way

This minister has a cheek to be talking about local governmdnt being

able to spend their money properly when his government have bedn taking

it away. First of all, the honourable gentleman should know

that funding is broadly flat in cash terms. Moreover, it is perfdctly

possible to find savings. Local councils spend one of every ?4 of

public money, to make savings and enhance public services.

To deliver greater devolution what more can be done to attract the best

counsellors, particularly those with busy and successful careers? Mr

Speaker, I know that there `re many colleagues in this house who have

considerable experience in this area. I find myself with local

authorities across the country there is a very mixed level of abhlity and

more needs to be done. I hope the Secretary of State will Beer where

-- will be aware that the social care precept only raised ?3.3

million. Social care is fachng a perfect storm, growing demand from

an ageing population, costs rising, budgets squeezed by central

government cuts, what action is the Minister going to take to address

this chronic underfunding of our social care? Mr Speaker, it is a

huge priority for this government making sure that adult soci`l care

is funded adequately. I don't accept that it is underfunded. We will be

raising an additional ?2 billion per year and on top of that the

government went out and at local councils how much they thought they

needed and the number that came back was 2.9 billion. They got 3.5

billion. Housing is a devolved matter. In

England we have committed ?8 billion to deliver 400,000 affordable homes,

the largest programme for ndarly 40 years. The result of the EU

referendum does not change that commitment. UK had 43 alien pounds

of AIB loans where non-EU countries only had 1.1 billion. What hs his

land for funding when this dries up? It makes some contribution to our

delivery of affordable houshng but the government has committed ?8

billion to deliver starter homes and shared ownership and more affordable

intermediate rent housing. This is the largest programme we have seen

in over 40 years and it is going to make a big contribution to tackling

the problem. I welcome the Linister to his new post. The governlent

focused on affordable homes to buy but we also need affordable homes to

rent. Now we have made the decision to leave the EU, is now the right

time to consider more investment in socially rented homes to medt local

needs and affordability. Thd programme has a mix of offers and he

is tempting me into decisions that will ultimately be for the

Chancellor at the next budgdt. He makes the case very powerfully. I

welcome the Minister to his new role and look forward to seeing him in

the Secretary of State at the select committee hearing before long. Could

I ask the Minister whether the government is still committdd to

building 1 million homes in this Parliament and given that ldaving

the EU can have a depressing effect on the house-building industry would

he reconsidered the current policy of not providing a single pdnny

towards the building of sochal housing in its budgets and recognise

that to deliver 1 million homes we are going to need to build some

social housing to achieve that figure. The simple answer is yes, we

are committed to building 1 million homes. Across this house thd

consensus is that we need to increase the level of

house-building. In terms of the programme, we are looking at a mixed

programme so there is investment in terms of affordable and intdrmediate

rent and shared ownership and helping people to own their own

homes. I put him to research that indicates 86% of constituents want

to own their own homes. With your permission Mr Speaker I will answer

questions six and eight togdther. This government is supporting our

high street to Thrive by cutting business rates and launching the

Pledge and the digital high Street pilot, Ferrer parking regimd and

planning changes and we are celebrating our high streets through

the hugely successful great British Irish Street competition. Chipping

Sodbury has entered that competition. It has been a home of

markets since the Middle Agds. It is home to the fabulous Baker Brothers.

It has seven pubs on the high street alone. Will he welcomed Chipping

Sodbury's invitation? And ddlighting to hear that. It sounds that they

are putting in a competitivd entry. The competition has been a wonderful

initiative that has shone a light on high streets around the country

where local people are workhng hard to make sure that their highest rate

remains at the heart of the local community. Last year we recdived

200,000 votes for the finalhsts showing how much high streets mean

to the local people. I wish Chipping Sodbury well and hope to visit. I

also encourage other towns `nd cities in his constituency to enter

it including Thornbury wherd his father I believe ran a ladids

fashion outlet. The high streets in my constituency are very much the

harbour of the town. Anything he can do to not sit on our laurels, Wilkie

tell others that he will continue to help the high Street and back it up

with his visit to Glossop where he sees a happening vibrant high

Street. The government is t`king action to protect our much loved

high streets. 600,000 of thd smallest businesses won't h`ve to

play business rates again. H've also announced the high Street Pledge

which is 40 of our country's largest multiple retailers signing tp to

local managers taking part hn local initiatives to support high streets.

I know his area and towns lhke Glossop, they are fantastic places

to live, work and shop and shows allows, I would encourage local

areas to put towns forward for the great British high street

competition 2016. West Ealing used to boast high street names but now

it is all bookies, charity shops and fried chicken shops. If the

government really wants to put the local back into local busindss, when

will he entered the rip-off of bright house? I'm not going to bash

businesses that produce crop jobs and growth for our communithes. We

have a good practice guide `nd I suggest she pops down to pits have

lain in Ealing where they h`ve a fantastic high Street and are proud

recipients of the great maghcian high-street award 2015. We `re

losing small retail shops at the rate of 16 day and a declind in

retail goods being bought. He has announced a platter of things that

he hopes will turn it around but how will we measured the success of what

he has announced in turning this decline around? There is a

significant structural shift in retailing where there are now many

people who choose to buy thdir goods online and in out shopping centres

rather than on the high strdet. We need to make sure that the high

street is fit for the 21st-century. The future high-street forul that I

chair is looking at how to restructure high streets and looking

at new investment, particul`rly new starter homes into town centres so

that we can regenerate placds that offer something that out of town and

shopping on the Internet can't compete with. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

With permission, I will answer seven, 12, and 15 together. One

person without a home is ond too many which is why we have increased

social funding and protected funding totalling ?350 million by 2020.

Supporting homeless people will require real resources given to real

people such as ?150 million promised to the homelessness charity Caritas

anchor house. In this context will he ditch the

policy to impose an elected mayor on Lincolnshire.

I'm sure my right horn rabble friend the Secretary of State has heard

about his question around the potential or not of an located mayor

in Lincolnshire. In regard to homelessness, it is always good to

hear about charities as the one my honourable friend mentioned in

relation to how they're using innovative ways to tackle old

problems. Providing support to help people recover from homelessness is

extremely important. It's absolutely key that we help people in that

position start to rebuild their lives. That's why we're invdsting

?20 million in tackling rough sleeping and ?100 million into

move-on accommodation. Can ly right honourable friend tell the House if

he's genuinely supportive of the no second night out service and how he

intends to ensure it's available in all local authority areas? We are

absolutely supportive of thd no second night out approach, which my

department rolled out nationally in the last Pash. I absolutely --

Parliament. I want to build on that initiative. We will scale up ways to

prevent and reduces rough sleeping. It will go further, building on the

successful approach of second night out and indeed no first night out.

It's best if we can prevent people being on the streets at all. I can

say to my honourable friend the details of this programme in the

bidding round will be announced shortly. Beacon House is a wonderful

charity supporting the homeless in Colchester. What further support can

the minister give to local charities up and down this country in their

work to tackle homelessness? My honourable friend makes a vdry, very

good point. Charities play `n extremely valuable part in the fight

against homelessness. I know my honourable friend has taken part in

a sleep out to raise money for beacon House. I do chair a round

table which addresses a number of these charities to discuss what more

can be done. The information that we gather at these meetings fedds

directly into the ministeri`l Working Group, which I also chair.

The minister's a fair-minded chap, but he'll know it's a compldx

problem, homelessness. First of all, there is a link, he'll admit, a link

between the lack of affordable housing in our major cities, both in

terms of rented and to buy. Also, many people that we see on the

streets of London ain Yorkshire are people on the mental health spectrum

who need assistance and help and can't get.

It The honourable gentleman makes extremely fair points. That's why

we're investing 1. ?1.6 billion over this Parliament to deliver `n

additional 100,000 homes for affordable rent. Taking his point

about mental health, that's an extremely well-made point. That s

why I chair a ministerial Working Group and I'm working with other

departments and ministers in other departments to make sure th`t we

make sure that the links between things such as mental health issues,

drink and drug dependency are dealt with across Government becatse it's

not just a housing issue. According to the combined homelessness and

information network databasd, 8 096 people slept rough at some point in

London during 2015/16. This represented an increase of 7% from

the previous year. With an dver growing housing cies nis thhs city,

when is the Government going to take action and learn lessons from the

different approaches taken by the devolved nations? As I said in my

answer to the previous question this is not just a housing hssue.

Therefore we're working across Government to try and resolve these

issues. We are putting in a significant amount of money, ?1 9

million during this Spending Review period into this important hssue.

That includes ?10 million to scale up initiatives to prevent and reduce

rough sleeping, which is extremely important and ?10 million to put

into an upgrated social imp`ct bond which had a significant amotnt of

success during the last Parliament. Following the examination of either

communities and local Government Select Committee, of which H'm a

member, of homelessness polhcy and the Private Members' Bill, would the

minister look into an appro`ch where local authorities in England are

specifically measured for their responsibility to homelessndss? I

thank my honourable friend. We are well aware that the Select Committee

is due to report, publish its report shortly. Whilst we have not had

sight of that report yet, I'm keen to see the committee's

recommendations and how it can shape our programme of work. We w`nt to

ensure that local authoritids have the tools that they need to put

prevention absolutely at thd heart of tackling homelessness. Good data

and measurement are vital in relation to that prevention. That is

why we're looking at how thd data is collected and used to support

prevention to find those at risk of becoming homeless earlier than we do

now. Mr Speaker, the need for new homes continues, as does our

commitment to delivering a lillion of them by 2020. We are keeping

markets under review and my right honourable friend the Secretary of

State and I will be meeting with the major house builders this wdek.

Congratulations to the minister on his appointment. Uncertaintx breeds

uncertainty and the problems that we face before the referendum result

and afterwards has seen manx building companies fall by `s much

as 40% in their market valud because of uncertainty about the future Can

I welcome the meeting he's going to have this week with building

companies. Would he agree to report back early to the House on what

steps we can take to secure confidence in the housing m`rket on

new build? I'm certainly happy to undertake to do that, Mr Spdaker. I

would make two points. First, the honourable member will have seen the

steps the Bank of England h`ve taken to reassure markets and the

statement by Peter Andrew on July 5 who said. "House builder relain

confident in the underlying level of demand for housing and conthnue to

deliver the homes our country needs." Given the demand and supply

equation for housing in this country, I think the ministdr is

correct to think there will be strong growth in housing. Ghven

that, does he agree with me that it's important that neighbotrhood

plans play their part and strengthened? Would he like to take

this opportunity to confirm he will continue to support the

strengthening of those plans in the forth coming bill? I'm very happy to

say to my honourable friend to reiterate my support, but it's worth

noting that early figures show that neighbourhood plans provide about

10% more homes than local plans do. There's evidence that giving

communities a real say in the future of how their areas develop leads to

more homes. We have legislation coming forward during this session.

On housing building I have new research from the House of Commons

library which shows that in the six years under last week's Prile

Minister fewer new homes were built in this country since the 1820s 14%

fewer than under groun. 21% than under Tony Blair. 35% fewer than

under Margaret Thatcher. Thd new Housing Minister and Secret`ry of

State are not responsible for their predecessor's mistakes but they are

responsible for what happens now, particularly in the light of the EU

referendum. After six years of failure on housing, under

Conservative ministers, what changes can we now expect to see? Wdll, Mr

Speaker, the right honourable gentleman was one of my

predecessors. Under him new house building was at the lowest level

since the 1920s. We obviously had to recover from that position `nd

net... Net new dwellings last year were at the same level as the

average over the period of the Labour Government. I would point the

right honourable gentleman to one statistic, in the year to M`rch

2016, 265,000 homes were given planning permission, the highest

figure on record. Question Number Ten Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, by the

end of this Parliament, loc`l Government will retain some 100 of

taxes that they raise locally. There will be re-distribution between

councils so that areas do not lose out where they collect less in

taxes. A grow with the Secretary of State,

as -- I agree with the Secrdtary of State, that no council will lose out

there will need to be a system of top-ups and tariffs. We need to

incentivise areas to promotd growth. How will the Government enstre this

doesn't become just another administrative exercise that leads

to complicated Government ftnding formula by another name? Mr Speaker,

the honourable gentleman's constituency has already sedn a 44%

fall in the claimant count since 2010. This is another way to boost

local growth by having control over local taxes. Of course, he lakes the

important point that we shotld make sure that no council loses out.

There will be a redistributhon. At the same time, there will bd month

ways to promote local growth. Question 11, Sir. Mr Speaker, our

cities and local Government devolution act is delivering on our

manifesto equipment to devolve powers and budgets to boost local

growth in England. There have been a number of devolution deals `greed,

ten in local areas, covering some ?7 billion of funds and covering some

16 million people in England. A few days before the referdndum, we

heard about 5,000 jobs were going to be lost from HSBC. Yet surprisingly,

Mr Speaker, only three days ago Mr Nigel Hinshelwood, the chief

executive of HSBC announced 120 new jobs and no jobs lost because of the

supreme efficiency of the Wdst Midlands area. So may I ask my right

honourable friend what further developments are happening with the

West Midlands combined authority, which could have the potenthal to

promote even more employment during Brexit? Mr Speaker, well, I

understand the varietial importance of the West Midlands and thd

financial sector in boosting growth in that area as a fellow West

Midlands MP. He will know in my former role I went there to open the

Midlands financial centre of excellence, which I think whll

further help develop jobs in that area. The West Midlands combined

authority that he asks about is now formally constituted. That happened

last month. It all looks set to have its first elections in May next

year. Over the next five years alone, the

north-east was due to receive 7 6 million in EU funding. Yet the

north-east devolution deal promises 30 million per year for 30 xears.

Despite what the Secretary of State just said, many devolution deals

were in a state of collapse before the EU referendum. With such high

levels of uncertainty due to Brexit, isn't it time he revisited `ll

devolution deals? Mr Speaker, there's no need to reconsiddr any of

these deals. These are good deals that have been reached by local

leaders and central Governmdnt and they will all, in turn, help to

boost local growth. Where the honourable lady mentions EU grants,

as my honourable friend has referred to, it is important that we bring

certainty. That's certainly what we will be working to do.

One of the devolution deals referred to by my right honourable friend is

the greater Lincolnshire de`l, which is under consultation at thd moment.

Can I urge my right honourable friend, despite the comments of my

honourable friend from Gainsborough, to push ahead with that deal and as

the two councils in my constituencies want, an elected

mayor as part of it. As my honourable friend knows, it's not

right for central Government to impose deals on any area. Wd

certainly won't be doing th`t. These are doles because it requirds

agreement to be reached. We'll be working with all areas that are

interested, including Lincolnshire to see what we can do. The Secretary

of State will be aware of the statement by the Local Government

Association following the ddcision to leave the European Union and EU

laws and regulations impact on many council services, including waste,

employment, health and safety, consume pror tech, trading `nd

environmental standards. My question is this: What step is the mhnister

taking to ensure that local Government are consulted and

represented when negotiations over the EU commences and that powers

from Brussels are devolved to a local level, not centralised in

Whitehall. Mr Speaker, it is very important that local Governlent

whether through the LGA or otherwise, has a say in the process

of leaving the EU. This is something that I think we all agree is

important, that it's done properly. I will certainly take it up with my

right honourable friend the Secretary of State for exithng the

EU. Number 13, Mr Speaker.

I shared a house's surprise. I will answer questions 13 and 17 together.

As a former Prime Minister lade clear, current EU funding

arrangements continue unchanged It will be for the government tnder the

new Prime Minister to negothate the exit from the European Union.

Nottingham has been allocatdd ? 0 million for its sustainable urban

development practices project to allow local businesses to grow and

prosper. A further seven and ?8 million has been allocated for

biodiversity action restoring, opening up and connecting urban open

spaces. What assurance can he give me and our City Council that these

commitments will be maintained? As long as we are a member of the EU

the funding regime remains `s it is. We are working cross governlent to

ensure that remains when we do leave. Funding is not limitdd to the

European Union. We have seen a massive programme of ?12 million of

growth and local growth. We are committed as a government to

continue to invest in infrastructure, structured `s HS2

which I know she is a spot of. He was part of a campaign that promised

?315 million per week for the NHS if we left the European Union but also

part of a campaign that said any lost EU funding would be matched by

the government. Can I get hhm at the dispatch box to confirm that the

?157 million from D you destined for Stoke-on-Trent and North

Staffordshire is underwrittdn by this government. We've had dnough of

the Brexit baloney, tell thd potteries they are going to get

their money! I'm pleased thd honourable gentleman is takhng such

interest in my campaigning hn Bridge and cool. Has only been a slall part

of a much larger investment. It will be for the government to set out in

time when we exit the Europdan Union and the funding arrangements and

guarantees we hope to get the certainty we require a cross

government once that process begins. Can I welcome the minister `nd his

colleagues to their place on the front bench. Isn't one of the most

important ways of delivering infrastructure for all commtnities,

speed and certainty of delivery Two things we can do swiftly is a major

reform of the compos repurchase legislation which has been

recommended by the Law Commhssion and long overdue and by following up

the suggestion of many observers that we would do well to increase

the upfront level for infrastructure projects. I can confirm of course

that appointing makes with regard to compulsory purchase is in the

Queen's speech and will be hn the bill. He's right that we want to

have that certainty and delhver on our infrastructure pledges `s

quickly and swiftly as posshble I'm more than happy to work with him as

a former minister to achievd that. Cornwall has received more DU

funding than any other part of the country but there are real concerns

about the current programme and speed of access to the funds

available and could I welcole the Minister to his new role and ask if

he will meet me a gently to listen to these concerns to make stre we

get any penny possible out of the EU before we exit. I'm happy to meet

with him this week to discuss this. ?5.3 billion worth of funds for

local government. Can I point out with respect to the minister who I

welcome to his place, as an MP representing a Northern

constituency, only one of the top 15 infrastructure projects recdiving

the most funding is in the North. What assurance is he going to give

that leaving the EU will not widen the economic divide in our country

and what assurance is he gohng to give that funding from the DU will

remain up until and after Brexit for the UK? If he saw the new Prime

Minister 's speech he will have seen clearly that delivering economic

progress throughout the United Kingdom is absolutely what we are

trained to do. That includes commitments such as HS2 which go way

beyond anything his governmdnt's programme had for the North of

England. We are running latd but we must hear the voice of Shipley,

Philip Davies. Within the green belt most new building is inappropriate

and should be refused plannhng permission except in certain

circumstances. And sure the Minister is disappointed to no longer be my

whip. My constituency Burlex and Wharfedale and other villagds like

Baildon are facing planning proposals for green belt land in

those places, 500 houses in Burley in Wharfedale alone. My constituents

don't trust Bradford Council to look after their interests so thdy look

to the government to protect them, what can my honourable friend do to

protect them and stop buildhng on the green belt? I thank him for his

kind words and wish him luck. Through the national policy

framework he will see a cle`r description of what developlent is

appropriate in the green belt and a strong presumption that

inappropriate development should not be approved except in very special

circumstances. He will need to be a natural optimist.

I'm delighted to have been `ppointed Secretary of State for Commtnities

and Local Government and I can't wait to get on with the job of

delivering the huge number of houses that are vitally needed across the

UK. It is a great department that affects so many lives. The previous

secretary of State will be ` hard act to follow. What does my right

honourable friend think of councils who misused the rules on exdmpt

information because they do not wish to be accountable for incompetence?

My honourable friend is absolutely right to be concerned about this.

All councils have an obligation to disclose information unless there

are compelling reasons not to do so. If he feels this has been ilproperly

applied, I recommend he complains to Lincoln City Council and if it

doesn't work, come to me. I'd like to welcome the new ministers

opposite and particularly the new Housing minister. We were both

elected in 2010 and our London MPs and have both seen our postbag grow

with the crisis in London. Last week, it was shown that a ydar in

the government has only delhvered 72 million worth of sales as opposed to

1 billion. I can say that I know that the Secretary of State and

myself are absolutely committed to doing everything we can in our power

to drive up the number of homes in this country and the releasd of

private land is a key element. Maybe he will want to write to me about

the following question. The Department forecast shows that in

order to meet the commitment to sell land for over 160,000 homes they

will need to release five thmes as much land as they did last xear The

National Audit Office say there is no mechanism to monitor the number

of houses built. Is the minhster confident he will meet his target or

will he revise it? It we ard determined to absolutely maximise

the amount of surplus public land we can. We need to do everything we can

to increase the number of homes In congratulating my right honourable

friend, can I seek confirmation that he will support district cotncils

which wish to retain their independence and status in two tier

local authorities? I can tell my right honourable friend we have no

plans to change that. He has my commitment that it is something we

will take very seriously. Mx local authority measures delivery new

social housing by issuing certificates, does he agree that

like-for-like statistics ard a big con? As we dispose of housing

through the mechanism, the key is the replacement of housing. I am

happy to meet him to address the concerns but that is the exhsting

policy. Given his family connections, he will be aware that

West of England negotiated ` unique deal from his predecessor. Will he

confirm it will still go ahdad? I know this is a deal he had some

involvement in with consensts from local leaders.

We have secured a significant new investment of ?9 million and leaders

will deliver on the deals and I and my officials will continue to work

to make sure the government delivers its side. He refused to confirm that

the money for the potteries would be matched by the government, can I try

with his boss, are the regeneration fronts from Europe going to be

matched by the government or have the Brexiteer 's sold

Northamptonshire down the lhne? He should just accept that Brexit means

Brexit and our focus should be on best to deliver that. When ht comes

to the question of EU funds, it is a fair question and we do need to

reduce uncertainty around that and now a new government is in place we

will be working on that as `n absolute priority. The Minister will

be aware that some people providing social care are booked a just a few

minutes at each job and spending the day travelling at their own expense.

Would the Minister agree th`t it is wrong and should be addressdd? I

absolutely agree with my right honourable friend. The law on this

is clear. Where they are tr`velling as part of their work they should be

paid at least the minimum w`ge if it is not happening it should be

reported and my right honourable friend should be doing that

immediately. By 2020 Wales hs expected to have received 1.9

billion pounds from the European structural investment fund. In the

light of Brexit, will the Sdcretary of State ensured that Wales will

receive that funding of 22020 and will he pledged to continue to match

European funding after we ldave the year you? Again, the honour`ble lady

has a very fair question. A number of local firms in the regions have

been asking this. It is an `bsolute priority for the new governlent to

make clear. Mrs to Reza Vilh is I'll get can I guarantee thd house

during his tenure as Secret`ry of State there will be no that illusion

of protections for the green belt? I thank my right honourable friend for

her words. Green belt is sacrosanct. We have made clear, it was hn the

manifesto and that that will not change. Green belt remains special

and unless there are excepthonal circumstances we mustn't be carrying

out any developments. The proposed expansion of London City Airport

will represent a ?314 million investment increasing airport

capacity in London creating new jobs, when will the Secretary of

State announces planning decision on the application? I do understand the

issues around this. It is a case I've just started looking at. He

will understand if I say I can't say too much on it publicly at this

point but it is being taken very seriously.

Speak seek we must move on. Statement the Home Secretarx.

Secretary Amber Rudd. Thank you Mr Speaker. With

permission I would like to lake a statement about the terrorist attack

in Nice and the threat that we face from terrorism in the UK. The full

horror of last Thursday night's attack in Nice, defies all

comprehension. At least 84 people were killed, when a heavy goods

lorry was driven