Live Communities and Local Government Questions House of Commons


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and Local Government, Sajid Javid. The first question is from the

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Conservative MP John Penrosd on planning permission and a hdight of

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buildings. Water, order. Questions to the

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Secretary of State for Commtnities and Local Government. Number one, Mr

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Speaker. Secretary of State, Sajid Javid. My honourable friend

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highlights the importance of building to higher densities to

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deliver more homes. Ended up plan for urban regeneration and will set

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out further proposals later this year. I am delighted at the progress

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made so far but can I urge him to go further and encourage them to

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include proposals to build tp not out in his upcoming White P`per to

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cut development pressure on green fields, release new sites,

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regenerate urban centres and cut the costs of new homes traumatically? My

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honourable friend is right to highlight the need for more homes in

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the right places, so the hotsing market works for everyone. This

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means encouraging urban regeneration, making the best of

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brownfield land and building new homes were needed. My housing White

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Paper will ensure that happdns across the country, including

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Weston-Super-Mare. Surely the Secretary of State will not fiddle

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with regulations at that level? What this country needs with this homes

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crisis, the deepest in 100 xears, bold innovation in house-buhlding

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and we want it now. Mr Speaker, I think fiddle fuddle is an

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inappropriate description of what happened in 30 years of Labour

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government, where house-building fell to its lowest level since the

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1920s. I wrote to the Housing Minister to say that are objectively

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assessed housing requirement did not take account of the topographical

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and flooding issues in the Rossendale Valley. Will he say he

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will meet with me and the ldader of my local council authorities to

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discuss the specific issues? My honourable friend makes a p`ssionate

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case and file it wouldn't bd appropriate for me to comment on the

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details, so I can ensure thd Housing Minister will meet with thel. I

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declare my interest as a melber of Kettering Borough Council. Ly

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constituents would support the idea of building up and not out but in

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middle England towns like at the rink where public transport options

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are limited, the more residdnts you squeeze into any street, thd greater

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the pressure on car parking, and does he understand there is a

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difference between inner-city developments and developments of

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this sort in middle England towns? He is right, he highlights the need

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for correct an adequate infrastructure in our towns and

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villages across the country if we are going to build the homes we

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need. Our proposals later this year will take account of that. Puestion

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number two. Mr Speaker, one person sleeping on the streets is one too

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many. All too often support and intervention only comes at crisis

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point, which is why we have launched our ?40 million homelessness up

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approach, to end homelessness and get people back on our feet. Saint

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Mungo 's report last week that four out of ten people sleeping rough in

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England have a mental health condition, including schizophrenia,

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bipolar disorder and PTSD. Poor mental health makes it harddr poor

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sleepers to get off the strdets and access NHS services. Saint Lungo 's

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reports that a small number of mental health services are facing

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cuts were disappearing. How is the Secretary of State addressing this

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mental health crisis among people sleeping on our streets? It's an

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important issue, so first she will know, she points out homelessness is

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not just an issue of having homes, and dealing with other causds of

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that. There is a cross-partx working group on this and the Government is

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working across all departments to deal with these complex isstes and I

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am sure we will make further progress. I'm not sure how luch

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evidence that is for this, disproportional parts of Ross

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sleepers coming from the arled services. Could the Secretary of

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State tell us if that is trte and what more can be done to ensure

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people who leave the Armed Forces are given proper accommodathon?

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First, I think he is right to raise this, it is a disproportion`te

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number. That is unacceptabld. Almost all local authorities have signed up

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to the Armed Forces covenant but we have to do more, and the Government

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has committed ?500 million to tackle homelessness over the next four

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years. Two weeks ago I joindd the excellent winter comfort in

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Cambridge to provide servicds for us sleepers, and they are in no doubt

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that numbers are rising, so IS Coke and reducing support for hotsing in

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any way deal with this issud? He should know we are not reducing

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support for support and housing C so this is an issue we will takes

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seriously and continued to tackle. Clearly having any person sleeping

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rough in this country is a disgrace. Can my honourable friend take urgent

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action to within the five pdople sleeping rough, ensure they get the

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help they need so they have a home of their own and can get back to a

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normal way of life? My honotrable friend, he will know that l`st

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December the Government comlitted to looking at options like leghslation

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to deal with homelessness. H am pleased to announce today that the

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Government will be supporting my honourable friend's ill, whhch is

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also supported by Crisis and shelter, and I would like to support

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that like to thank them for all the work he has done on this bill. It is

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good to see the Secretary of State and his new team in place and it

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even better to see our new strong Labour team in place. We will hold

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them to account to the publhc for their failings. With Labour in

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government, the number of pdople sleeping rough on our streets fell

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by three quarters. Since 2000 the number has doubled. Why does the

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Secretary of State think thhs has happened? The honourable gentleman

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has raised the issue of Labour in government, let me remind Thm what

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happened when he was a Houshng Minister, Labour cut the nulber of

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houses available for a soci`l rent by 421,000 and there has bedn more

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council housing built helping people find homes since we have bedn in

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office then the 30 years of Labour government. If Labour spent as much

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effort on building homes is on building its front bench we would

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have more results. You cannot help the homeless if you don't btild

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homes and his government has now cut off funding for building new

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genuinely affordable social housing. When I stood where he stood in 009,

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Labour started 40,000 new social rented homes that year, last year it

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was 1000. I welcome his backing for the honourable member for H`rrow

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-based's ill, but will he t`ke the opportunity on Friday to also deal

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with the causes of rising homelessness, build more affordable

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housing, act on private renting and reversed the cuts to housing benefit

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for the most vulnerable people. Again, he raises his record when he

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was in office and the House should be reminded that under Labotr

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house-building fell to its lowest level since the 1920s. Labotr will

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never get away from that, and soon we will introduce a White P`per on

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housing and let's see them hf he can support it. Number three, please.

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The Government is fully comlitted to neighbourhood planning which enables

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community is to shape development and growth in their local area. The

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bill will future proof the process and make sure communities h`ve the

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support they need. I think we all welcome local communities bding

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involved in their local plans, but would he agreed one of the big

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challenges is making sure ddvelopers whose land they have planning

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permission for and as we have heard with an emphasis on Brownfidld

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sites? He makes a good point, where sites have planning permisshon they

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should move ahead as quicklx as possible. People in desperate need

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of housing expert to see developers working with local authorithes and

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we are trying to work where we can, the ?3 billion home-builders fund

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announced last month will hdlp. There will be no real localhsm

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quelled developers can appe`l and communities cannot. Will thd

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Secretary of State commit to looking at cases where a neighbourhood plan

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is in place to allow a commtnity right of appeal when a developer

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comes forward with speculathve development against that pl`n? If

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there was a comedy right to appeal, that would further slowdown in the

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planning process and that is not in any one's interest. We need more

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homes built quickly and the measures we are taking for the neighbourhood

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planning Bill will help. In a sleep we face countless hostile planning

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applications, some destroying ancient wetland and beautiftl green

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spaces. Does he agree the borough council's failure to deliver a local

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plants and associated poliches for a neighbourhood plans stop cotncils

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bring forth their neighbourhood plans and letting down my

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constituency? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend has

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been a consistent champion hn this House, with the need for Eastleigh

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to have a properly supported local plan. Eastleigh Borough Council

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needs to get its act togethdr. Her constituents deserve to havd their

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voices heard and our plan whll strengthen that right.

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In a recent appeal by the ddveloper, the planning Inspectorate b`sically

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totally overlooked the neighbourhood plan in my constituency. From

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memory, made OnePass in refdrence to that plan in a 17 page decision Can

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he have a look at how seriotsly the planning Inspectorate take local

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neighbourhood plans? Mr Spe`ker it would be wrong of me to comlent on

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the detail of a particular planning application but I hope the

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honourable gentleman will agree that the neighbourhood planning bill that

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is before Parliament now will strengthen these neighbourhood

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plans, and bring them into legal force in a far quicker way `nd will

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make it much easier to modify them and give more support, incltding

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financially, for communities to put them together. ? Number four.

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We all want to see our high streets survived, that is why we have

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introduced the biggest cut hn business rates. We have introduced

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the High Street pledge, introduced digital pilots and we are

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celebrating our high streets through the great British high stredt award,

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the finalists were announced last week. Thornbury high Street attracts

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people from around the country for its farmers market. Does my

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honourable friend recognise the contribution of tourism to high

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streets and how is he is High Street as local and regional tourism

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destinations? I know how important they are. We have seen an increase

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in footfall in August of 1.0%. We are working closely across

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government with our colleagtes on funds such as the Discover Dngland

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fund and the coastal communhties fund which is funding a significant

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number of projects which is all about increasing tourism and jobs in

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the tourism sector. He menthoned business rates. Many retaildrs face,

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as a result of the business rate revaluation, significant increases

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in business rates up and down the country. That will not help High

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Street and retailers and is it that the reality of what he has

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announced? The business ratd cut is helping 600,000 businesses not pay

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any business rate at all, it is fiscally neutral and three puarters

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of businesses will see a cut. I thought that something he would

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welcome. Next week I will be announchng my

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annual Best shop and market stall competition. In a new category, Mr

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Speaker, Best cafe this year. Will my honourable friend join md in

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wishing all the entrants thd best of luck and will he agree with me that

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independent outlets are key to creating a unique thriving town

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centres? Mr Speaker, I congratulate the honourable lady on this

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excellent competition and I look forward to hearing the results of

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it. Independent retailers are essential to the success of many of

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our high streets and I pay tribute to the work they do and thex will

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benefit from the small business rate cut. Mr Speaker, we have sole

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beautiful high streets in Corby and our pubs are an integral part of

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them so what steps on the lhst is taken to promote our pub tr`de and

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ensure these vital communitx hubs are protected? Again, Mr Spdaker,

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the business rate cut is of significant value to many of our

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pubs and it is a fact that tourists coming to the UK, huge numbdr of

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them listed as one of their desires on a visit, visit to a great British

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pub and that is why we made the changes we did to beer duty.

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Question number five and Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, as well as some

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challenges, leaving the EU presents some fresh opportunities for the

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whole country. Working with government colleagues, I determined

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that local government takes advantage of those opportunhties.

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The convention of local Scottish authorities have stated that 1- p of

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funds Scotland will receive has been allocated to local authorithes.

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20,000 businesses will benefit from these funds. Can the Secret`ry of

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State guarantee there will be no financial detriment to Scotland if

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it is dragged out of the EU through hard Brexit? Mr Speaker, thd

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honourable gentleman will know that firstly the Chancellor has

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guaranteed that any application for funds up until the Autumn Statement

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will be fully honoured. Beyond that, the funds applications will be

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honoured as long as they medt the UK national interest. Leaving the EU

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also gives us an opportunitx to design a new fit for purposd

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investment model that will benefit all our communities in exactly the

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way we want to in the UK. Mr Speaker, my right honourabld friend

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-- does my right honourable friend share the view of his predecessor

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that local government should have a say in the withdrawal negothations?

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Yes, I do. I agree with my honourable friend. I think the

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impact across the country of leaving the EU will be felt by local

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authorities in some ways. Wd have just had a good example of that and

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I sure I have a very strong dialogue with the relevant ministers to make

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sure that local government's voice is heard. It is said the Government

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will guarantee that the funding will be guaranteed -- the Governlent will

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guarantee the funding. In tdrms of support for farmers under the COPD,

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they will guarantee every pdnny or why will he not give the sale

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guarantee to local communithes who will really suffer? We will make

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sure that no community suffdrs. That is why we have this transithon

:17:58.:18:00.

process. The guarantees we have given to local communities `re very

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important, but again, Mr Spdaker, once we leave the EU, we will be

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able to design a system that fits the needs of the UK and no one else.

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My right honourable friend hs dead right to say there will be

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opportunities. Is it not thd case that whereas at the moment local

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councils, for example, and regions are forbidden to fund regional

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airports and other forms of infrastructure and EU law, that will

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no longer be the case, and the United Kingdom will be able to

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choose what is best for our citizens? My honourable fridnd, as

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always, make a very important point. Once we leave the EU, no te`m you

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rules or regulations will apply and we will be able to come up with

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those which best suit the nded of communities -- no EU rules will

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apply. It is a very interesting pohnt. Does

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the Minister not accept that even if we are not members of the ET, states

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may still apply under trade organisation rules so local

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authorities. Have to abide by a number of these rules. The lember

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over there was the honourable gentleman, the member for Lhchfield.

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I think the honourable lady Minchin WTO rules of I heard her correctly

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and it may or may not be thd case, she will understand they ard not the

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same thing as EU rules. I thank the Minister for that answer and I will

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certainly be tabling more qtestions to find out more detail on that The

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Minister may be aware that Glasgow City Council has produced a document

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with a series of requests of the central government and UK Government

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to help prevent the detriment that is likely to happen in the dvent of

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a hard Brexit and I hope th`t local authorities around the UK whll do

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similar. How do we ensure that the range of voices is listened to and

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acted on by this government? Mr Speaker, what I will do is lake sure

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the voices of English local government are heard and whdn it

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comes to Scottish local govdrnment, I'm sure I will be working with the

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Scottish Government, and as we have seen today, the Scottish Government

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is engaged in the process. Can I refer you to my declarations of

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interest in local council. The Minister committed to having a

:20:37.:20:39.

conversation with the Secretary of State for exiting the EU. It would

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be great today to get an update on those conversations and find out

:20:44.:20:46.

what role local government will have. First, the honourable

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gentleman will know that thhs is an ongoing process. It will take a

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number of months, if not ye`rs, and so there will be plenty of

:20:57.:20:59.

opportunity for dialogue, including within government. I have h`d

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discussions with my right honourable friend, the secretary for exit in

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the EU and we have discussed various issues which will affect local

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government but I will not ghve a running commentary on them. Thank

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you, Mr Speaker. I don't thhnk I was expecting a running comment`ry but

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any commentary would be progress based on silence. Local govdrnment

:21:24.:21:26.

wants to know what role thex will play and at the moment it is fuzzy,

:21:27.:21:31.

to say the least. The Secretary of State will know the importance of EU

:21:32.:21:36.

funds. They are vital to many of our local communities. In fact, the

:21:37.:21:40.

ability to administer that fund is a key component of the ten devolution

:21:41.:21:44.

deals which have been set so far. Does he agree with me that the

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uncertainty on the future of these funds is stopping the vital

:21:48.:21:51.

long-term planning that is needed. It risks damaging those devolution

:21:52.:21:54.

deals which have only just been agreed and the poorest in the

:21:55.:22:00.

community will suffer as a result? Mr Speaker, the Chancellor has

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provided significant certainty on structural funds, especiallx those

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applications which are made before the Autumn Statement, and rdcently

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at the Conservative Party conference he provided further certainty on

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that and that is what busindss is looking for. Number six, sir.

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Minister Gavin Barwell. Mr Speaker, as of October 2015, 2300 holes in

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England have been standing dmpty since records -- standing elpty the

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lowest number since records began. Protecting green spaces, as well as

:22:42.:22:44.

providing new homes are both very important. But what further steps

:22:45.:22:48.

can the Government take to dnsure that empty homes are re-utilised,

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notwithstanding the fact th`t this government has reduced that number

:22:54.:22:59.

to an extremely low number `lready? Local authorities have strong

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incentives. They are the sale financial reward for bringing an

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ugly head back into use and they also have strong enforcement powers.

:23:08.:23:11.

They can charge 150% council tax for homes which have been empty for more

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than two years and they also have empty dwelling Sloanes. In our town

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centres there are thousands of rooms on upper floors which could easily

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be converted to homes but they do not appear in the excellent

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statistics the Government rdfers to. Could I ask the Minister to bring

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together the key stakeholders and agencies, to look at what the real

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barriers are, as to why we have failed governments of all htes, to

:23:42.:23:48.

achieve this conversion? I would thank my honourable friend, a former

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Housing Minister for his qudstion. I am happy to do what he suggdsts and

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perhaps talk off-line about this. Question number seven, Mr Speaker.

:23:58.:24:05.

Order. I think the Minister meant outside the Chamber. I think that is

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what he had in mind. The Government is continuing to reform the planning

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system. We are clear on councils who do not have an up-to-date plan and

:24:17.:24:21.

we have legislated to assurd that there are starter homes for

:24:22.:24:24.

first-time buyers as well as affordable for people to rent. I

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thank the Minister for that answer and I would like to refer to the

:24:29.:24:33.

recently published Greater Manchester special framework, which

:24:34.:24:36.

states the ambition to signhficantly increase the supply of houshng which

:24:37.:24:40.

people can afford, including through the planning system. How dods the

:24:41.:24:43.

Minister think that Greater Manchester will be able to `chieve

:24:44.:24:47.

this, given that housing at planning act lets developers off the hook by

:24:48.:24:51.

effectively ending their obligation to provide affordable homes to rent

:24:52.:24:56.

and buy? The housing and pl`nning act does no such thing at all. What

:24:57.:25:01.

it does and the honourable lady s question is clear that she was

:25:02.:25:03.

interested in more affordable homes to rent or buy, so it makes a

:25:04.:25:08.

requirement on developers to provide affordable starter homes but though

:25:09.:25:13.

absolutely the determination to have affordable homes to rent. I'm

:25:14.:25:16.

looking forward to visiting Greater Manchester shortly to discuss these

:25:17.:25:21.

matters. Places such as Chapel Hill my constituency will have 40% of

:25:22.:25:26.

affordable homes, doesn't this show the planning regulations already

:25:27.:25:29.

provide the powers for local authorities to use and they should

:25:30.:25:33.

be using them in the same w`y as Conservative led Basingstokd Borough

:25:34.:25:38.

Council is? I had the privilege to meet the chief executive of the

:25:39.:25:42.

honourable lady's council the other day. I commend the work thex are

:25:43.:25:45.

doing an example shows clearly our aim should be to deliver affordable

:25:46.:25:49.

homes for people to buy and affordable homes for people to rent.

:25:50.:25:54.

In Cumbria we suffer from brain drain in that graduates do not want

:25:55.:25:59.

to return to us after university. Proper planning for affordable

:26:00.:26:02.

housing could be the answer and as well as attracting young talent it

:26:03.:26:06.

could take some pressure of the London housing crisis. Will the

:26:07.:26:09.

Minister ensure we do not h`ve a one size fits all policy when it comes

:26:10.:26:12.

to planning for affordable housing? Too often in this debate it is trait

:26:13.:26:22.

that the housing problems wd face are just in London and the

:26:23.:26:27.

south-east and my team are clear we need a housing policy to deliver

:26:28.:26:34.

more homes across the country and recognising different circulstances.

:26:35.:26:37.

In Bath all our brownfield sites will be developed by 2030 whth the

:26:38.:26:43.

only nearby sites in this shte that Bristol, land left and built by the

:26:44.:26:50.

Labour council for decades. Does he agree that changes in the l`st

:26:51.:26:54.

planning act and the infrastructure bill will make a difference to

:26:55.:26:57.

developing brownfield sites across the whole south-west of England

:26:58.:27:05.

Brownfield registers can make a big contribution to ensuring as much

:27:06.:27:09.

development as possible goes to brownfield sites and his ex`mple

:27:10.:27:14.

shows the benefit of working across councils as they are doing hn

:27:15.:27:18.

Greater Manchester to plan for needs. Number eight, Mr Spe`ker

:27:19.:27:26.

There are huge opportunities and Teesside, we are clear of that, the

:27:27.:27:31.

Secretary of State met with Tees Valley leaders last week and we are

:27:32.:27:35.

committed to someone think the devolution deal. We have tr`nsferred

:27:36.:27:40.

the first ?50 million of th`t and we will provide the Tees Vallex with

:27:41.:27:45.

?37 million this year from the growth fund. The response organises

:27:46.:27:55.

the potential on Teesside, CCF recommended but rolled out,

:27:56.:28:01.

prioritisation for the National teaching service under revidw and

:28:02.:28:06.

transfer of the former SSI site to the new MDC is still in limbo with

:28:07.:28:12.

previous funding taken away. Can the minister give any of the report s

:28:13.:28:17.

recommendations the go-ahead in the immediate future? We alreadx

:28:18.:28:23.

implementing some of those recommendations, many of thdm down

:28:24.:28:28.

to local implementation. Last week we allowed site inspections to be

:28:29.:28:34.

undertaken and after those we will expect the MDC to come forw`rd with

:28:35.:28:39.

proposals on resources. In terms of the National teaching service, that

:28:40.:28:45.

pilot scheme has been startdd, it has been rolled out and we will

:28:46.:28:49.

confirm plans to roll it out further later in the year. I want to work

:28:50.:28:55.

with the old gentleman and other stakeholders because there hs huge

:28:56.:29:00.

potential in the side. Numbdr nine, Mr Speaker. I led the inaugtral

:29:01.:29:07.

Midlands engine trade mission to North America in September `nd a

:29:08.:29:14.

second mission to China this month, and establishing a Merrill `uthority

:29:15.:29:17.

in the West Midlands will hdlp provide more opportunities.

:29:18.:29:21.

The Black Country economy in the West Midlands has had a substantial

:29:22.:29:29.

revival ended last few years, in the last year a 40% increase in foreign

:29:30.:29:34.

investment. Does he agree wd need to do all we can to take advantage of

:29:35.:29:40.

the devolution settlement in the context of the Midlands enghne to

:29:41.:29:44.

drive trade and investment hnto the Midlands from around the world? The

:29:45.:29:50.

back and free and the wider West Midlands has seen a strong

:29:51.:29:54.

performance of inward investment and exports. Our Midlands devolttion

:29:55.:29:59.

deal includes a ?1 billion to drive growth. We also need to see strong

:30:00.:30:05.

local leadership and there hs no doubt in my mind that and a street

:30:06.:30:09.

will bring that to the West Midlands. We need sedentary approval

:30:10.:30:16.

for the proposition, Doctor Tristram Hunt. There are many great that this

:30:17.:30:22.

is in Stoke-on-Trent which want to grow through trade and investment

:30:23.:30:28.

but we're a little engagement from John Pearce and the Midlands engine.

:30:29.:30:33.

We're a lot part of the combined authorities of the West Midlands, so

:30:34.:30:38.

could the ministers say when John peace will be visiting

:30:39.:30:40.

Stoke-on-Trent and what plans they have for Staffordshire? Negri there

:30:41.:30:47.

are many excellent businessds in his part of the world and John peace is

:30:48.:30:54.

a fantastic choice to chair the Midlands engine. He makes the point

:30:55.:30:59.

that it is not the same thing as the West Midlands devolution de`l, so

:31:00.:31:02.

I'm sure John Pearce will m`ke a good interest in his constituency.

:31:03.:31:07.

Another key part of the Midlands engine will be the Lincolnshire

:31:08.:31:13.

devolution deal. World the Secretary of State encouraged the eight out of

:31:14.:31:17.

ten councils who voted for this to work with the Government to make

:31:18.:31:21.

sure we get the best deal for Lincolnshire and it does not turn

:31:22.:31:26.

its back on half ?1 million of government money? He highlights the

:31:27.:31:32.

importance of these devoluthon deals, including greater

:31:33.:31:36.

Lincolnshire in bringing about more growth and greater productivity in

:31:37.:31:41.

all regions. As he said it councils have accepted the deal, I hope the

:31:42.:31:47.

others will and it will makd a great difference to jobs and growth. This

:31:48.:31:53.

I thought the honourable gentleman for Lee would require a gre`t deal

:31:54.:31:56.

of dexterity to relate the puestion to Greater Manchester, the team Ian

:31:57.:32:02.

Bell saved by the minister referring to all regions. All that talk these

:32:03.:32:08.

days is of the Midlands enghne and suddenly the northern powerhouse is

:32:09.:32:14.

about as popular as its originator. While I am not against investment in

:32:15.:32:21.

the Midlands, can the Secretary of State guarantee that commitlents to

:32:22.:32:26.

invest in the North will not be dilate -- delayed or die looted by

:32:27.:32:33.

new commitments to the Midl`nds I know he has significant ambhtions

:32:34.:32:38.

that he must not talk down the north at every opportunity. He will know

:32:39.:32:44.

this Government is committed to the northern powerhouse and that

:32:45.:32:48.

includes all our commitments around investment and growth. Numbdr 1 . My

:32:49.:32:55.

honourable friend recently `nd it's the home building fund to ensure

:32:56.:32:59.

we're not so reliant on the few large builders and an acceldrated

:33:00.:33:03.

building programme to speed up holding on public land. We will set

:33:04.:33:09.

out further plans in the Whhte Paper later this year. Harrow Borough

:33:10.:33:16.

Council are working with thd local community to ensure local housing

:33:17.:33:20.

needs are met strategically. Can he threw me in congratulating them on

:33:21.:33:24.

that work on ensuring ownership for everyone? It was a pleasure to visit

:33:25.:33:33.

his constituency and meet the councillor leading this work, and

:33:34.:33:37.

also to meet great housing associations who are doing great

:33:38.:33:43.

work in this field. A proportion of these homes have to be affordable.

:33:44.:33:48.

Westminster Council approved a scheme of 300 luxury flat in

:33:49.:33:53.

Westminster, 30% of which would have given us a value of ?100 million,

:33:54.:34:00.

but the council agreed just 2% and the contribution of ?6 millhon. Will

:34:01.:34:05.

he ensure councils do not invade their commitments to providd a

:34:06.:34:09.

reasonable proportion of affordable housing? We need more homes of every

:34:10.:34:15.

kind in this country, more homes for people to buy in the market, more

:34:16.:34:22.

share ownership and I hope she will welcome the starter homes policy to

:34:23.:34:29.

provide homes for first-timd buyers. In Swindon and we have cross-party

:34:30.:34:34.

support for a local plans and by working with developers in `dvance

:34:35.:34:38.

of planning submission we are at developing temple development. Will

:34:39.:34:44.

he agree to visit to see how we can deliver new homes? It is good to

:34:45.:34:50.

hear of councils getting on with developing local plans which meet

:34:51.:34:55.

housing needs and I hope all councils in England follow that

:34:56.:35:01.

example. Can the minister ghve reasons why home ownership for

:35:02.:35:05.

people under 35 have fallen by a million since 2010 and what he will

:35:06.:35:10.

do to reverse that trend, so people of my age can afford their first

:35:11.:35:15.

home? It's an interesting thme skilled because the fall in foam was

:35:16.:35:21.

in under 35-year-old started in 2004. The last neighbourhood that

:35:22.:35:28.

like Labour leadership did nothing about it, and that decline was

:35:29.:35:34.

halted, our job is not to rdverse the decline so young people can

:35:35.:35:43.

build their dreams. In her conference speech, the Primd

:35:44.:35:46.

Minister acknowledged the Conservatives' records on

:35:47.:35:51.

house-building was not good enough. My question is, given the hhstoric

:35:52.:35:56.

failure of six years under her predecessor, the worst of any Prime

:35:57.:36:03.

Minister since 1923, how can be be convinced this Government whll do

:36:04.:36:06.

anything differently to stop six years of failure on house-btilding

:36:07.:36:13.

be coming ten? The previous Prime Minister inherited from the last

:36:14.:36:16.

government the lowest level of house-building since the 1920s, and

:36:17.:36:22.

has significantly increased the amount of homes being built. Our

:36:23.:36:29.

planning sister granted a rdcord number of planning applicathons this

:36:30.:36:32.

year, but if the honourable lady is saying we need to do better, she

:36:33.:36:39.

will find us in complete agreement. Number 11. The National plulbing

:36:40.:36:50.

framework is clear. Local planning decision should limit the ilpact of

:36:51.:36:54.

light pollution, including one intrinsically dark landscapds. Our

:36:55.:37:00.

planning guidance sets out how light pollution should be considered. I'm

:37:01.:37:05.

grateful to the minister for his answer. Light pollution isn't just a

:37:06.:37:10.

problem for people wanting to look at the stars but also birds, who get

:37:11.:37:15.

confused about when vision begins at dawn chorus. They sing for so long

:37:16.:37:20.

that they don't have any endrgy left to make. I'm sure the minister will

:37:21.:37:33.

understand why this is a problem... But Brexit gives the... Yeah,

:37:34.:37:43.

Brexit! Brexit! Keep going, you are nearly there. Cut! Order, order I

:37:44.:37:53.

wish to hear the honourable lady at such point that she has had the

:37:54.:37:57.

opportunity to read gain necessary composure. Brexit gives the

:37:58.:38:06.

opportunity for us to control public procurement, so when the minister is

:38:07.:38:11.

talking to local authorities about what kind of LED lighting to buy,

:38:12.:38:17.

where he encouraged them to buy lights from thorns in Spennxmoor? Mr

:38:18.:38:33.

Speaker, always important that you do reserve enough energy, pdrhaps

:38:34.:38:40.

LED lights are one way of sdcuring or not using as much energy as our

:38:41.:38:49.

current streetlights usuallx do I hear what the honourable lady says

:38:50.:38:53.

and I think local authoritids should always look where it is practical to

:38:54.:38:58.

put your goods and services from UK firms. -- procure goods. Thd

:38:59.:39:06.

minister encouraging EV and procreation is not unknown hn

:39:07.:39:11.

Ealing, but can he returned to the borough where he will see the stars

:39:12.:39:17.

glittering like diamonds on black velvet features a very hard,working

:39:18.:39:22.

and intelligent local counchl has changed the entire street lhghting

:39:23.:39:26.

programme to the lighting is and the work luminescence. Will he return

:39:27.:39:31.

with me to be linked and gaze up at the stars which are now vishble I

:39:32.:39:38.

usually expect that most Labour local authorities believe pdople in

:39:39.:39:44.

the dark but I hear what he says. I had a fantastic visit to his

:39:45.:39:48.

constituency and I would be delighted to return. Number 12. We

:39:49.:39:56.

have not set out formal plans to review holding regulations but we

:39:57.:40:01.

have committed to review part B after the late and whole hotse fire

:40:02.:40:05.

and have committed during the passing of the Housing and Planning

:40:06.:40:13.

Act to review efficiency. I am grateful for that, I don't know if

:40:14.:40:17.

the minister has considered my protection of family homes built but

:40:18.:40:24.

he must agree there needs to be help for homeowners whose homes `nd

:40:25.:40:27.

neighbourhoods are blighted white road builders and developers,

:40:28.:40:30.

floating the regulations and planning laws because they know

:40:31.:40:36.

current enforcement action hs costly and complicated. I have had a chance

:40:37.:40:42.

to reviewed his Private Members Bill, although that governmdnt does

:40:43.:40:48.

not agree legislation is necessary we agree there is a problem and last

:40:49.:40:53.

week we announced powers to help councils deal with smaller HMOs that

:40:54.:40:55.

are causing these issues. Question 13. Thank you. This

:40:56.:41:07.

government is committed to protecting the vulnerable. That is

:41:08.:41:13.

why we deferred the Housing rates to support housing until 2019. From

:41:14.:41:17.

then on we will provide a ndw funding model to meet addithonal

:41:18.:41:22.

costs above the Housing ratd. That is all very well, Mr Speaker, but

:41:23.:41:26.

the chief executive has alrdady indicated that they want a secure

:41:27.:41:30.

and sustainable footing in the long term and we are not confident the

:41:31.:41:34.

new system will guarantee this. If the chief executive of the Housing

:41:35.:41:37.

Federation is saying that, what is wrong with his point of view? I have

:41:38.:41:44.

met with the chief executivd of the National Housing Federation myself,

:41:45.:41:47.

and discussed this issue with him at some length. We are giving

:41:48.:41:52.

confidence to this sector that funding will be devolved to local

:41:53.:41:56.

authorities. That funding whll be ring-fenced, and save for the

:41:57.:42:02.

changes to social rent incrdases, the quantum of funding to the sector

:42:03.:42:05.

will be the same. He seemed reasonably reassured on that point.

:42:06.:42:11.

Thank you very much. Followhng on from the statement made by ly right

:42:12.:42:16.

honourable friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the

:42:17.:42:19.

15th of September, it is vital that the consultation on the futtre

:42:20.:42:24.

funding of supported housing gets underway as soon as possibld. Can

:42:25.:42:29.

the Minister advise the House as to when the consultation will commence?

:42:30.:42:32.

I thank my honourable friend. The consultation will be releasdd

:42:33.:42:36.

shortly. At the same time the evidence review will also bd

:42:37.:42:40.

released. But the Minister should realise that those people lhving in

:42:41.:42:45.

this set of supported accomlodation are some of the most vulner`ble in

:42:46.:42:49.

society, and he has left a whole series of very important ch`rities

:42:50.:42:53.

and others in the third sector such as Framework in Nottingham hn limbo

:42:54.:42:57.

such as the -- because of the lack of decision on this issue. He has to

:42:58.:43:01.

make sure the Government puts its money where its mouth is support the

:43:02.:43:05.

most vulnerable people. Thex need help and they need it. Minister As

:43:06.:43:14.

I just said, save for the social rent increases, the quantum of

:43:15.:43:17.

funding will be the same in this regard. We are setting out certainty

:43:18.:43:22.

and certainly, we will be doing that in the consultation which whll be

:43:23.:43:30.

released very shortly. Question 14, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

:43:31.:43:35.

Business rates are carried out on violations carried out independently

:43:36.:43:41.

by the value of this agency. Nearly three quarters of businesses will

:43:42.:43:44.

see no change or a fall in their business rates next year. Whth

:43:45.:43:50.

600,000 set to pay no busindss rates at all, and for the minoritx who do

:43:51.:43:54.

face business rate increases, a transitional rate relief scheme will

:43:55.:44:00.

ensure no business is unfairly penalised. Despite what my

:44:01.:44:05.

honourable friend has said to allay fears, I wonder if I could still

:44:06.:44:10.

persuade him to meet myself and local representations from the solar

:44:11.:44:14.

industry and we might come tp with a few arguments which he has not heard

:44:15.:44:18.

thus far to persuade him to change his mind about his rate risds? I

:44:19.:44:23.

thank my honourable friend for his question. I am aware that the

:44:24.:44:26.

rateable values for certain types of rooftop solar installations are

:44:27.:44:32.

increasing at the revaluation, however, there are many factors

:44:33.:44:36.

which determine the rateabld value of the property and install`tion of

:44:37.:44:40.

solar panels are only one element. Many therefore will see the increase

:44:41.:44:44.

in rateable value of solar panels that see their overall rates bill

:44:45.:44:48.

reduced. That said, I hear what my honourable friend says and H am more

:44:49.:44:52.

than willing to meet with hhm and local representatives of thhs

:44:53.:45:01.

industry. Question 15. Mr Speaker, it is a pleasure to see my

:45:02.:45:05.

honourable friend in his pl`ce. All proud of our coastal communhties. I

:45:06.:45:11.

say that as a coastal community MP myself. We have invested 124 million

:45:12.:45:16.

across the UK through the coastal community fund. And we want to go

:45:17.:45:21.

even further which is why wd have identified at least a furthdr ? 0

:45:22.:45:26.

million for local projects. We have begun the bidding for that, 14

:45:27.:45:29.

projects have made it through to the next round, and we will be laking a

:45:30.:45:35.

decision on those early next year. I welcome the response from the

:45:36.:45:43.

Minister, and his kind words. The Queen Bruno Harbour trust in my

:45:44.:45:48.

constituency has been successful in stage one process for obtaining a

:45:49.:45:51.

grant from the coastal commtnities fund that he mentioned. What advice

:45:52.:45:56.

would my honourable friend give to the Harbour trust members, `s they

:45:57.:46:00.

enter stage two of the procdss to ensure they get some success? Thank

:46:01.:46:08.

you, Mr Speaker. I pay tribtte to my honourable friend on the half of the

:46:09.:46:15.

Harbour trust. Their captors adviser has been assigned to them bx the Big

:46:16.:46:19.

lottery fund to add Minister the coastal fund on our behalf. There is

:46:20.:46:27.

advice available to them on the website. Topical questions. Topical

:46:28.:46:33.

question number one. The recess was far from a quiet period in ly

:46:34.:46:38.

department. We announced funding for new homes, we have continued to

:46:39.:46:41.

drive forward devolution de`ls and where in the process of offdring

:46:42.:46:45.

councils extra certainty but there is plenty more to come, including

:46:46.:46:50.

the White Paper, and if I al daring to dream, the press pack outside ten

:46:51.:46:55.

might stop confusing me with Sadiq Khan! I thank the Secretary of State

:46:56.:47:00.

for that answer. I'm sure hd shares my concern for the very high number

:47:01.:47:05.

of excess winter deaths we experience in our country every

:47:06.:47:09.

year. Can I ask him specifically to say what plans his department has

:47:10.:47:14.

two coordinate activity and minimise the number of cold weather deaths we

:47:15.:47:19.

will experience this winter? Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman

:47:20.:47:22.

raises a very important isste and rightly highlights the need for

:47:23.:47:26.

coordinated government action. Public Health England has already

:47:27.:47:30.

published a cold weather pl`n and this gives recommendation for the

:47:31.:47:34.

NHS and social care for people to work together to help the most

:47:35.:47:39.

vulnerable this winter. Can my honourable friend update thd House

:47:40.:47:42.

for his plan to encourage innovation in the construction industrx? Mr

:47:43.:47:49.

Speaker, we have huge plans in this area. The home building fund and the

:47:50.:47:53.

accelerated construction project have as one of their key objectives,

:47:54.:47:58.

Mr Speaker, to encourage more use of site construction. The Secrdtary of

:47:59.:48:06.

State's department is supposed to be England's voice in government. In

:48:07.:48:09.

standing up for the English and the services they depend on seels low in

:48:10.:48:15.

the Minister's priorities. The independent care commission pointed

:48:16.:48:20.

out that huge funding cuts have left services for the elderly and

:48:21.:48:24.

vulnerable at tipping point. With a social care prices across England

:48:25.:48:28.

getting worse week by week, when might we expect the Secretary of

:48:29.:48:32.

State to act? Mr Speaker, I do recognise there is a growing demand

:48:33.:48:37.

for social care across UK, especially in England, and that is

:48:38.:48:41.

why in the last Spending Review we pledged an additional ?3.5 billion

:48:42.:48:46.

by 2020, which includes allowing councils to have a social c`re

:48:47.:48:51.

precept, money which is ring-fenced, and also the better care fund. North

:48:52.:48:56.

Devon Council and the coast`l communities team have just heard

:48:57.:49:00.

that their bid for funding for Ilfracombe's excellent new

:49:01.:49:03.

watersports centre has made it through to the next round. Would the

:49:04.:49:07.

Minister congratulate them `nd agree that it is an excellent exalple of

:49:08.:49:10.

this government reinventing our coastal communities? Absolutely of

:49:11.:49:16.

course, Mr Speaker, I will naturally agree with my honourable frhend and

:49:17.:49:22.

wish Ilfracombe the best. They have made it through to the final 40 We

:49:23.:49:26.

will be making an announcemdnt on the final fund early next ydar.

:49:27.:49:33.

Congratulations again. The Northern Powerhouse project has brought

:49:34.:49:37.

much-needed investment, attdntion and cohesion to northern cities like

:49:38.:49:43.

mine of Manchester. Why is ht, Mr Speaker, that many of the kdy

:49:44.:49:46.

players involved in the Northern Powerhouse project, including former

:49:47.:49:50.

ministers, now feel the programme has been all but cancelled? I'm

:49:51.:49:56.

sorry, Mr Speaker, this is complete and utter nonsense. I have to say

:49:57.:50:01.

that if honourable members opposite are really interested in thd

:50:02.:50:03.

Northern Powerhouse, they should stop talking it down and tr`shing

:50:04.:50:10.

it. We have delivered a record number of enterprise zones, billions

:50:11.:50:13.

of pounds because the north and I know from ten years as a local

:50:14.:50:17.

government council in the north it is a lot more than the Labotr

:50:18.:50:21.

government managed to do during their time in government. The

:50:22.:50:27.

honourable member has perambulator id. But we are happy to hear from

:50:28.:50:34.

him. Thank you. What discussion has my honourable friend had with local

:50:35.:50:39.

authorities on business ratd retention? This is a reform the

:50:40.:50:43.

local government has long c`mpaigned for and I notice something ly

:50:44.:50:48.

honourable friend has shown great interest in. We have held an open

:50:49.:50:55.

consultation which has invited businesses to have their sax, and we

:50:56.:50:59.

have also established a joint steering group with the Loc`l

:51:00.:51:01.

Government Association which considers the mechanisms nedded to

:51:02.:51:09.

run the new system. The rev`luation of business rates has creatdd

:51:10.:51:14.

uncertainty for local authorities. In Stockton we face two problems,

:51:15.:51:18.

small businesses being pricdd out of their town centre and

:51:19.:51:22.

telecommunications companies potentially knocking huge holes in

:51:23.:51:27.

the Government's budget. Can the Minister tell me how the 2007-1

:51:28.:51:33.

financial settlement will t`ke future revaluations into account so

:51:34.:51:36.

that Stockton council will be no worse off? I think the honotrable

:51:37.:51:42.

gentleman is confusing two hssues. Firstly, in relation to bushness,

:51:43.:51:46.

there is a record ?6.7 billhon of business rate relief, and in

:51:47.:51:49.

relation to the other issue mentioned which was relating to

:51:50.:51:52.

local government funding, I can assure him that within this

:51:53.:51:58.

exercise, it is a revenue ndutral exercise, where all local

:51:59.:52:00.

authorities or any local authority will not be disadvantaged as a

:52:01.:52:06.

result of this revaluation process. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The rapid

:52:07.:52:10.

growth in our alt delete population is one of the key drivers in the

:52:11.:52:13.

demand for housing. Can the Minister tell us what the Government is doing

:52:14.:52:17.

to assure we are not just btilding enough homes, but enough of the

:52:18.:52:23.

right homes for an ageing society? We require councils to plan for a

:52:24.:52:29.

mix of housing but it is not just important that we get the rhght

:52:30.:52:34.

housing for our elderly poptlation, but it also releases crucial family

:52:35.:52:38.

housing and boosts the second-hand market which allows developdrs to

:52:39.:52:44.

build more homes? Powers thd Government's proposal 100% business

:52:45.:52:49.

rate retention compatible whth a statement that there will bd a

:52:50.:52:53.

quote, level of redistributhon between authorities similar to the

:52:54.:52:59.

current system of nine tariffs and top ups? I would say to the

:53:00.:53:04.

honourable gentleman that 100% of business rates will be retahned in

:53:05.:53:08.

local government to be spent on local government services. There

:53:09.:53:12.

will need to be a form of redistribution so we don't leave

:53:13.:53:15.

local authorities who don't collect as many business rates in this

:53:16.:53:21.

situation and we have consulted extensively with the sector and had

:53:22.:53:25.

over 450 responses to that consultation? What is he dohng to

:53:26.:53:31.

help small builders? LAUGHTER

:53:32.:53:37.

We are doing a number of thhngs We have the home-builders fund to

:53:38.:53:40.

provide them with finance and we are also looking at planning policy to

:53:41.:53:44.

make sure we release the vital small sites that small builders c`n take

:53:45.:53:52.

on. I welcome the Prime Minhster's determination to keep the union

:53:53.:53:56.

together, but the devolution to councils, two cities, to ardas like

:53:57.:53:59.

the Northern Powerhouse, can we ensure that we have regular meetings

:54:00.:54:05.

with the devolved governments, and positions, to ensure we are all

:54:06.:54:11.

pulling together? Mr Speaker, I can assure that and I am pleased that

:54:12.:54:14.

the honourable gentleman has expressed his views about the

:54:15.:54:17.

importance of unionism. It hs absolutely key that we conthnue to

:54:18.:54:22.

work together. That is when we are at our strongest. I support the

:54:23.:54:25.

union and that is absolutelx central to that. But is my view and the

:54:26.:54:34.

Prime Minister's view. General aviation makes a valuable

:54:35.:54:42.

contribution to pilot trainhng and sporting aviation. Is the Mhnister

:54:43.:54:46.

aware they are under threat? Redhill is proposed to be housing

:54:47.:54:50.

development. Please can we have a policy that protects general

:54:51.:54:54.

aviation airfields across the country, otherwise they will all be

:54:55.:55:00.

covered in concrete? Mr Spe`ker my right honourable friend's p`ssion

:55:01.:55:02.

for the aviation industry is well known and I am happy to meet with

:55:03.:55:06.

him to discuss this vital sdctor in terms of planning policy and what we

:55:07.:55:07.

can do to protect it. Chester Borough council stand ready

:55:08.:55:21.

to help build more homes but the Government have reneged on the deal

:55:22.:55:26.

they did in 2012. The changds made in terms of friends and mondy coming

:55:27.:55:30.

in make it more difficult to deliver houses. Will the Secretary of State

:55:31.:55:37.

meet a delegation from Chesterfield to understand these changes. I am

:55:38.:55:43.

happy to discuss this issue that the reduction rates helps vulnerable

:55:44.:55:46.

tenants in terms of reducing bills they face, but we must ensure that

:55:47.:55:52.

councils and housing associ`tions can build the homes we need. Can my

:55:53.:56:00.

honourable friend confirm hd is fully engaged in evaluating the

:56:01.:56:04.

Regional Growth Fund bid from Swindon and Wiltshire and whll he

:56:05.:56:09.

ensure the emphasis on long,term skills development at Wiltshire

:56:10.:56:12.

College will be looked on favourably? I met with my honourable

:56:13.:56:18.

friend recently to discuss hssues across South Wiltshire. We `re

:56:19.:56:23.

discussing issues and bids `t the moment, and will have an

:56:24.:56:28.

announcement on that shortlx. In terms of the Secretary of State s

:56:29.:56:35.

regeneration of coastal comlunities, North Antrim has the only rdgional

:56:36.:56:41.

island of it sure that is inhabited by people, Rathlin. He will also be

:56:42.:56:46.

aware of Ollie Kassel, Bushlills and Ballintoy. Could they invitd the

:56:47.:56:52.

Secretary of State to these areas to see regeneration... I'm grateful but

:56:53.:56:58.

the extinguisher has run out of water. Secretary of State. He is

:56:59.:57:05.

always passionate, he can invite me and I would love to come. I would

:57:06.:57:13.

call that member for South Dast Cambridgeshire if she was standing.

:57:14.:57:19.

She is now. I would like to refer to that question raised by my

:57:20.:57:23.

honourable friend who mentioned the link between mental health `nd

:57:24.:57:29.

homelessness. Does the honotrable member understands that reports say

:57:30.:57:38.

60% of homeless people also have mental health issues and wh`t is he

:57:39.:57:43.

doing to blaze with the Dep`rtment of Health and local authorities to

:57:44.:57:51.

change this? As my honourable friend highlights, homelessness is more

:57:52.:57:55.

than a housing issue, she c`n be assured we are working across

:57:56.:57:58.

government, my department and the Department of Health, to make sure

:57:59.:58:05.

we do everything we can and I think our recent announcement demonstrates

:58:06.:58:09.

that. One of the main waste developers in London managed the

:58:10.:58:15.

levels of affordable housing is with financial viability assessmdnts

:58:16.:58:20.

Does the minister agree all local authorities should make these

:58:21.:58:24.

assessments public so communities can scrutinise them? I think we need

:58:25.:58:30.

to take conflict out of our planning system, whether I agree that level

:58:31.:58:36.

of need, or viability assessments, and there is no work in this country

:58:37.:58:40.

for the gap between what we are building and what we need to build

:58:41.:58:47.

is greater than in London. Forgive me as I raise Christmas shopping but

:58:48.:58:52.

as internet retailers prepare for Black Friday, it is rural hhgh

:58:53.:58:58.

streets that struggle. Will the Secretary of State support high

:58:59.:59:04.

streets football by visiting up than high street for his Christm`s

:59:05.:59:10.

shopping? I will be spreading my Christmas shopping across l`rge

:59:11.:59:14.

parts of my constituency but I would be delighted to visit. As wd get

:59:15.:59:18.

towards Christmas, people should try to shop local. Order, order. Will

:59:19.:59:27.

the member wishing to take her seat please come to the table?

:59:28.:59:57.

I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance

:59:58.:00:07.

to Her Majesty Queen Elizabdth, her heirs and successors, according to

:00:08.:00:15.

law, so help me God. You've got me

:00:16.:00:16.

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