:00:00. > :00:13.Good and welcome BBC Parliament's live coverage of the Commons. In an
:00:14. > :00:19.hour, the Labour backbencher Alistair McGuffin will be asking an
:00:20. > :00:25.urgent question about the situation in Aleppo. A Foreign Office minister
:00:26. > :00:30.will reply for the government. After that, MPs will discuss the Digital
:00:31. > :00:34.economy Bill, which covers the controversial area of sharing
:00:35. > :00:42.personal data. Christina Cooper will be here with the best in both Houses
:00:43. > :00:48.of Parliament later tonight. First, questions to the communities
:00:49. > :00:52.minister and his team. Order, order. Questions to the
:00:53. > :00:55.Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Question
:00:56. > :01:05.number one, Mr Speaker. The government has guaranteed
:01:06. > :01:10.support for projects which have signed agreements for EU funding.
:01:11. > :01:19.There is applies even when these projects continue beyond EU exit. A
:01:20. > :01:22.key aim of European funding for community groups is to promote
:01:23. > :01:27.skills employment. Last weeks Autumn Statement appeared to have no
:01:28. > :01:30.long-term strategy for investment in skills and employment. Given how
:01:31. > :01:33.important it is for the UK to compete globally posed Brexit does
:01:34. > :01:37.the Secretary of State agree that this should yet again that the
:01:38. > :01:45.government simply has no plan for Brexit? I completely disagree. One
:01:46. > :01:52.thing that I have noted is that in her own constituency we see a 49%
:01:53. > :01:56.fall in and employment since 2010. What we did see in the Autumn
:01:57. > :02:00.Statement is further measures to keep the strengthen our economy,
:02:01. > :02:03.including the announcement of regional allocations of the local
:02:04. > :02:10.growth fund which will go on to generate growth and jobs. Will he
:02:11. > :02:15.confirm that for every ?2 we give to the European Union we only get ?1
:02:16. > :02:19.back so that under our own scheme we could be more generous potentially
:02:20. > :02:23.than the EU is at the moment and we could give to community groups in
:02:24. > :02:29.line with national priorities rather than EU priorities? As usual, my
:02:30. > :02:34.honourable friend makes a good point. Once we have left the EU will
:02:35. > :02:39.be able to design schemes for local growth and support through funding
:02:40. > :02:42.that meet all of national priorities and provide value for money for
:02:43. > :02:47.British taxpayers that would lead to jobs and growth. The government
:02:48. > :02:51.announced that it would be making an application to the EU Solidarity
:02:52. > :02:56.fund to provide extra support for flood hit communities across the UK.
:02:57. > :03:00.Given that we have had the vote to leave the EU, can they asked the
:03:01. > :03:04.Minister for an update on the process of this application is the
:03:05. > :03:08.still dealing with the consequences of Islamic flooding will be
:03:09. > :03:14.reassured that they will get this money? I am happy to say that we
:03:15. > :03:19.have made an application. It is now being considered by the EU
:03:20. > :03:24.Commission and we hope to update the house as soon as we can. Would he
:03:25. > :03:32.agree with me that there is no such thing as EU money, it is taxpayers
:03:33. > :03:34.money? And that when business rates are kept locally by local
:03:35. > :03:38.authorities thanks to this government, local community groups
:03:39. > :03:44.will be able to benefit from that funding? That is a very important
:03:45. > :03:49.reminder from my honourable friend. It is all our money at the end of
:03:50. > :03:54.the day and it reminds us that we didn't use it locally as we wish
:03:55. > :03:58.when we leave the EU. His connection that he is made to business rates is
:03:59. > :04:09.the right one. Number two please, Mr Speaker. 100,900 planning permission
:04:10. > :04:15.for a granted in the quarter to June 2,000 and 16. This is a 6% increase
:04:16. > :04:20.from last year. However people cannot live or work on planning
:04:21. > :04:27.permission so developers need to move ahead to build. What measures
:04:28. > :04:29.can be brought forward to give to developers who are sitting on land
:04:30. > :04:31.with planning permission to actually get give to developers who are
:04:32. > :04:34.sitting on land with planning permission to actually get to get
:04:35. > :04:36.building two or three bedroom properties, affordable to actually
:04:37. > :04:40.get to get building two or three bedroom properties, affordable to my
:04:41. > :04:42.constituents? My honourable friend raises an important point. We are
:04:43. > :04:46.clear that sites with planning permission should move ahead without
:04:47. > :04:50.delay and we are taking steps to speed up development through the
:04:51. > :04:53.neighbourhood planning Bill and the ?3 billion home-builders fund. The
:04:54. > :05:02.National planning policy framework expects councils to plan for a mix
:05:03. > :05:05.of housing to meet local needs. Planning permissions mean absolutely
:05:06. > :05:10.nothing if homes are not actually built, so can the Secretary of State
:05:11. > :05:17.confirmed that figures released last week showed that just over 141,000
:05:18. > :05:22.homes were built in the year to September 2016? 20% lower than the
:05:23. > :05:32.hundred and 76,000 homes which were built at the peak under Labour in
:05:33. > :05:35.2017 -- 2007. It is true that under the previous Labour government that
:05:36. > :05:42.housing starts fell to the lowest level since the 1920s. When you look
:05:43. > :05:50.at housing supply numbers for the latest years that they are available
:05:51. > :05:53.they are actually up 9%. Does he understand the anger and
:05:54. > :05:57.disappointment felt throughout Sutton Coldfield at his decision
:05:58. > :06:02.last week to back Labour's wholly unnecessary plans to build on
:06:03. > :06:06.Sutton's green belt? Does he realise this is a breach of the Conservative
:06:07. > :06:11.Party's manifesto and his own words from just a few weeks ago? Does he
:06:12. > :06:16.not understand that we will seek to oppose his decision by all legal
:06:17. > :06:19.means and amend future legislation in this House to give the protection
:06:20. > :06:28.that he has shown himself unable to provide? My right honourable friend
:06:29. > :06:32.has been passionate and committed campaigner on this issue and I
:06:33. > :06:36.respect that tremendously. The reason the government placed a hold
:06:37. > :06:40.on the Birmingham local plant was precisely because the government
:06:41. > :06:45.values to green belt. It is very, very special. Where you have a local
:06:46. > :06:49.community that has come forward with a robust plan, that has looked at
:06:50. > :06:52.the alternatives, prioritised Brownfield sites and with the
:06:53. > :06:56.independent planning Inspectorate has said that it meets all the rules
:06:57. > :07:03.and regulations, than the government has no valid reason to stand on its
:07:04. > :07:10.way. Where on earth does the Communities Secretary get his
:07:11. > :07:15.figures from? I have got his own department's official figures here.
:07:16. > :07:20.A fewer permissions last year than I the peak year under Labour. The
:07:21. > :07:25.Communities Secretary is right, people cannot live in planning
:07:26. > :07:28.permissions. What people need are decent, affordable homes.
:07:29. > :07:31.Under-Secretary of State tell the house how many new affordable homes
:07:32. > :07:41.were built in this country last year? Unlike the honourable
:07:42. > :07:45.gentleman I get my figures from the Office for National Statistics and
:07:46. > :07:54.they show that in the year 2015 up to 2016, it was an increase of 11%,
:07:55. > :07:57.the highest for eight years. The honourable gentleman was the Housing
:07:58. > :08:04.Minister I believe that housing fell to its lowest level since the 1920s.
:08:05. > :08:08.We have given more money to affordable homes than any other
:08:09. > :08:16.parliament previously and seen an increase of 304,000 since 2010.
:08:17. > :08:23.Again, these figures are just not accurate. Even with the money that
:08:24. > :08:31.has been announced, the government's investment in affordable homes are
:08:32. > :08:34.still out on behalf of the level of Labour's last year. The number of
:08:35. > :08:41.affordable homes built last year was the lowest for 24 years. That is
:08:42. > :08:48.despite 750 separate announcement on affordable housing since 2010. Let
:08:49. > :08:52.me say to the Communities Secretary, this is a disaster for families
:08:53. > :08:56.struggling to cope with housing costs, so when will we after six
:08:57. > :09:01.years of failure see a serious plan to help people on ordinary incomes
:09:02. > :09:04.that housing to rent and buy, and when will we see from the government
:09:05. > :09:16.at proper plan to fix the housing crisis? What was a disaster was a
:09:17. > :09:19.decline of 410,000 units, social housing units, during the 13 years
:09:20. > :09:24.of Labour government. Since then they are actually up by more than
:09:25. > :09:28.60,000. If he doesn't agree with me perhaps he can agree with his former
:09:29. > :09:32.colleague, neither Mayor of London but said that the money allocated in
:09:33. > :09:36.last week's Autumn Statement to affordable housing, this is the
:09:37. > :09:52.largest sum of money ever secured by City Hall for affordable housing.
:09:53. > :09:56.To create more opportunities for small and medium-size
:09:57. > :10:03.house-builders, does the Minister agree that we need to allocate more
:10:04. > :10:07.small sites and local plans? Yes, Mr Speaker, I do agree with my
:10:08. > :10:10.honourable friend. He will be pleased to note that the new
:10:11. > :10:15.accelerated construction fund will also make sure that these kinds of
:10:16. > :10:19.allocations are more forthcoming and also the ?3 million home-builders
:10:20. > :10:27.fund will provide more support to small and medium-sized builders.
:10:28. > :10:30.Number three, Mr Speaker, please. This government is committed to
:10:31. > :10:34.neighbourhood planning which enables communities to shape the development
:10:35. > :10:36.and growth of the local area in a positive manner. The neighbourhood
:10:37. > :10:40.planning Bill will further strengthen and future proof the
:10:41. > :10:48.process while ensuring communities have the support they need. While
:10:49. > :10:54.agreed local plans are critical to good local planning and housing, how
:10:55. > :11:00.does the Secretary of State" was too kind who failed to deliver an agreed
:11:01. > :11:05.and well supported local plan by early 2017, and those councils who
:11:06. > :11:07.failed to support local neighbourhood plans, and therefore
:11:08. > :11:15.the right mix of local housing? We expect authorities to have a plan
:11:16. > :11:19.in place and keep the plaid up-to-date. We have put the
:11:20. > :11:24.requirement beyond doubt by legislating in the neighbourhood
:11:25. > :11:28.planning Bill. In my honourable friend's local council, easily, it
:11:29. > :11:32.has not taken the issue seriously and let down residents. She is right
:11:33. > :11:41.to stand up for constituents and her council should follow her example.
:11:42. > :11:48.Is the Secretary of State aware that as part of the neighbourhood plan in
:11:49. > :11:51.my constituency a selective licensing system was introduced for
:11:52. > :12:00.private landlords that reduced all types of anti-social behaviour by
:12:01. > :12:04.between 20-45%? Will he look at how these schemes can be extended and
:12:05. > :12:09.will he also look at how the planning process can be modified to
:12:10. > :12:12.allow councils to make quicker decisions about houses in multiple
:12:13. > :12:22.occupation that can often be linked to anti-social behaviour? The right
:12:23. > :12:26.honourable lady makes a good point. We should always be looking at what
:12:27. > :12:31.more can be done to combat anti-social behaviour. She raises an
:12:32. > :12:35.excellent example. I will take a closer look at this and see if we
:12:36. > :12:44.can extend that. Number four, Mr Speaker. The government is committed
:12:45. > :12:48.to supporting high streets where cutting business rates and
:12:49. > :12:52.developing digital high pilots in Gloucestershire. In the run-up to
:12:53. > :12:57.Christmas, with his background in retail, I hope we can support the
:12:58. > :13:03.local high street and support small business Saturday this weekend. A
:13:04. > :13:09.Chamber of Commerce is starting a programme to help businesses and use
:13:10. > :13:14.of social media to promote the high street. What is the government doing
:13:15. > :13:20.to support initiatives such as those demonstrated in Chipping Sodbury? He
:13:21. > :13:27.makes an important point. Last week I chaired my first Future
:13:28. > :13:30.high-streets Forum. We heard about digital pilots in Gloucester,
:13:31. > :13:36.Cheltenham and Stroud. This is an important tool where we can attract
:13:37. > :13:43.people back to the high street and we will work further through the
:13:44. > :13:49.forum on these digital roll-outs. Many small towns in my constituency,
:13:50. > :13:54.such as Flint, have to impose car parking charges because of the
:13:55. > :13:57.financial situation yet large out-of-town retail developments like
:13:58. > :14:02.Cheshire Oaks over the border in England have free parking. As he had
:14:03. > :14:07.a chance to look at how he can help support small businesses on town
:14:08. > :14:11.centre parking? I am happy to welcome him to North Lincolnshire
:14:12. > :14:19.Council, where and when we took control from the Labour Party,
:14:20. > :14:23.scrapped charges and introduced free parking which had a wonderful effect
:14:24. > :14:30.and I would delight in seeing him to discuss that further. When it comes
:14:31. > :14:34.to supporting high streets, will the minister joined me in welcoming
:14:35. > :14:39.small business Saturday this weekend because it plays an important part
:14:40. > :14:44.in helping smaller independent retailers? Particularly when it
:14:45. > :14:48.comes to Barnstaple, will he join me in congratulating North Devon
:14:49. > :14:52.council who have just announced some free parking in the run-up to
:14:53. > :14:57.Christmas? I am more than happy to congratulate them on their free
:14:58. > :15:02.parking. In my area it has made a huge difference to bringing people
:15:03. > :15:12.back to the town centre. I hope members will support Small Bicester
:15:13. > :15:16.Saturday across the country. At the recent summit in Edinburgh there
:15:17. > :15:20.were many things on display including apps that allowed people
:15:21. > :15:24.to put entire towns including high streets and small traders online.
:15:25. > :15:28.What plans to the government in the UK have in this regard? We are
:15:29. > :15:31.working through the future high-street 's Forum on the issue of
:15:32. > :15:38.Connecticut people better to the high street through digital media
:15:39. > :15:42.and social media. I would point to the example in York that won the
:15:43. > :15:47.great British high-street award, and used winnings to develop a lap with
:15:48. > :15:55.Newcastle University to do that. A lot of work is going on in this
:15:56. > :15:59.regard. The crack cocaine of gambling have led to an explosion of
:16:00. > :16:03.betting shops on the high-street. What will the government do about it
:16:04. > :16:06.and what is in the neighbourhood planning Bill to tackle the
:16:07. > :16:16.explosion in betting shops nobody wants? I welcome his comments. It is
:16:17. > :16:20.important on the high-street we have a mixture of outlets. I know there
:16:21. > :16:25.are concerns in many town centres about this. It is for local councils
:16:26. > :16:29.to make appropriate use of powers available and I will look into the
:16:30. > :16:37.issue further and discuss further if required. The bid referred to
:16:38. > :16:44.alternative uses in the town centre. Does he agree a great example is
:16:45. > :16:48.provided by rugby council in their development with World rugby in
:16:49. > :16:52.creating a hall of fame that opened this month? In the most appropriate
:16:53. > :16:57.place, being the birthplace of the game of rugby? There could be no
:16:58. > :17:00.better place for such a venue and I congratulate rugby on the
:17:01. > :17:06.development of this. It is true we need to bring a space in town
:17:07. > :17:13.centres into a mix of different use to attract people back to the towns
:17:14. > :17:18.to support the retail offer there. It is a remarkable facility if it is
:17:19. > :17:26.in the high-street. It has to be acknowledged. Mr Michael Gove.
:17:27. > :17:30.Number five, please, sir. The government is investing over ?25
:17:31. > :17:35.billion over the spending review period. Our home-builders fund will
:17:36. > :17:38.help small builders and programme will see more homes built faster and
:17:39. > :17:44.we announced a further 1.4 billion the affordable homes programme in
:17:45. > :17:48.the Autumn Statement. Can I thank him for his response. He will be
:17:49. > :17:52.aware communities welcome development all the more if the
:17:53. > :17:57.architecture is sympathetic to the local vernacular. If art is our
:17:58. > :18:01.builders are involved in the development, and if the environment
:18:02. > :18:08.is respected. In achieving that, what role do garden villages have to
:18:09. > :18:13.play? I can tell him that garden villages, we will be supporting a
:18:14. > :18:17.number of them, those committed to well-designed communities, that will
:18:18. > :18:23.stand out as examples of good development. We will ensure they are
:18:24. > :18:31.real and important benefits secured with quality, design, cutting edge
:18:32. > :18:36.technology, local employment opportunities, Greece space and
:18:37. > :18:41.fantastic public transport. Will he give more information about the
:18:42. > :18:46.statement last week. The extra money for additional affordable homes to
:18:47. > :18:50.rent, will that be additional affordable homes to rent that has
:18:51. > :18:54.been lacking from the government programme? Will the relaxation of
:18:55. > :18:59.restrictions on government grants mean that the whole of the ?8
:19:00. > :19:06.billion funds can be bit forward packages involving affordable homes
:19:07. > :19:09.to rent and will he an indication of 106 agreements, continuing to allow
:19:10. > :19:14.priority to be given to affordable homes to rent. There are a number of
:19:15. > :19:21.questions from the chairman of the Select Committee. I will answer most
:19:22. > :19:28.of his questions and then we have a number of opportunities is to speak
:19:29. > :19:32.-- opportunities to speak. What was made clear by the Chancellor is the
:19:33. > :19:38.priority the government holds that in. The ?1.4 billion announced is
:19:39. > :19:43.additional money. We estimate it would lead to around 40,000
:19:44. > :19:48.additional units, the types of unit whether rent or otherwise, we are
:19:49. > :19:58.giving the flexibility to housing associations, which they asked for.
:19:59. > :20:01.Before there was not the investment and infrastructure in constituencies
:20:02. > :20:05.like mine in Basingstoke, which has changed under this government,
:20:06. > :20:09.particularly with the announcement of the housing infrastructure fund.
:20:10. > :20:14.Can he confirmed to my constituents they will see the investment we need
:20:15. > :20:21.in roads and rail, particularly the Wessex route, which is overcrowded?
:20:22. > :20:26.She makes an excellent point about the importance of infrastructure if
:20:27. > :20:30.we are to unlock housing sites. She referred to the 2.3 billion
:20:31. > :20:35.additional funding announced last week but also there was over ?1
:20:36. > :20:40.billion new money for transport projects, that will go towards
:20:41. > :20:48.easing congestion which is something she can make use of locally. The
:20:49. > :20:54.Secretary of State was vague in his answer, the chair of the Senate
:20:55. > :20:59.committee, and the intention to build homes for social rent which
:21:00. > :21:03.should be a significant part of government intentions to help people
:21:04. > :21:08.who cannot afford to buy homes. Will he bring forward a plan such as the
:21:09. > :21:15.Scottish Government's plan to build socially rented houses, for England?
:21:16. > :21:20.I have referred to this number of times at the despatch box, a key
:21:21. > :21:24.point about the massive increase we have seen in England for affordable
:21:25. > :21:28.homes, over ?8 billion this parliament with the additional
:21:29. > :21:32.billion announced last week will stop it is leading to thousands of
:21:33. > :21:39.affordable homes which is something Scotland can learn from. I thank him
:21:40. > :21:50.for the answer. In terms of affordable and starter homes,
:21:51. > :21:54.Shelter said starter homes are a nonstarter for some. Would he do
:21:55. > :22:02.better to look to Scotland where we invest in affordable housing for
:22:03. > :22:08.people who are just about managing? The honourable lady might be
:22:09. > :22:12.interested to know Shelter's chief executive responded to the Autumn
:22:13. > :22:16.Statement and welcomed it for increasing the number of affordable
:22:17. > :22:22.homes and for providing flexibility asked for and Shelter is an
:22:23. > :22:28.organisation we work with and listen to and will continue to do so. Given
:22:29. > :22:32.that half the new homes will be leasehold and given the past
:22:33. > :22:36.problems and difficulties and future possibilities of abuse, would he
:22:37. > :22:41.please get together with the Sunday Times and Guardian and others
:22:42. > :22:44.covering these abuses to make sure ordinary people do not find their
:22:45. > :22:51.home cannot be sold when they come to leave it? He makes an important
:22:52. > :22:56.point about this. We must make sure the kind of abuses he has mentioned
:22:57. > :22:59.are stamped out and we continue to do everything and work with
:23:00. > :23:10.stakeholders and we will see how we can do more. Question six, Mr
:23:11. > :23:13.Speaker. We have recently consulted on increasing planning fees and will
:23:14. > :23:21.set out our response of the forthcoming White Paper. I have been
:23:22. > :23:25.pursuing the issue of protection of family homes. I am not against
:23:26. > :23:31.permitted development that against rogue developers who cause untold
:23:32. > :23:35.misery for ordinary homeowners through ruthless exploitation and
:23:36. > :23:40.breaches of permitted development because they are better resourced
:23:41. > :23:45.when it comes to enforcement and local authorities. When he agreed to
:23:46. > :23:52.look again at the issue of enforcement in this area? I share
:23:53. > :24:01.his concern that local authorities use the enforcement powers they
:24:02. > :24:07.have. This House in the form of the planning have been given additional
:24:08. > :24:11.powers to increase a database, banning orders, and penalties, the
:24:12. > :24:15.powers are there and I'm happy to meet to discuss how they can be
:24:16. > :24:20.used. One of the best ways to ensure planning departments have resources
:24:21. > :24:24.to carry out duties is to allow them to charge the full cost of planning
:24:25. > :24:29.applications, which the government promised a long time ago. I hope
:24:30. > :24:35.this minister will bring it in. I thank him for his comments. We have
:24:36. > :24:40.consulted on the issue of greater resource Inc for local authority
:24:41. > :24:44.departments and virtually everybody I have met as minister has said
:24:45. > :24:53.there is an issue that needs to be addressed and he will see a solution
:24:54. > :24:55.in the housing White Paper. The minister will know that due to
:24:56. > :25:02.government cuts, spending on planning in local authorities has
:25:03. > :25:05.fallen by a massive ?1 billion since 2010 stop we have heard warm words
:25:06. > :25:09.from the minister in terms of plucking the huge funding gap
:25:10. > :25:16.particularly in relation to allowing fees to rise, but can he say what
:25:17. > :25:21.more he plans to resource planning departments properly so they can
:25:22. > :25:24.produce local plans plan for the new settlements and new towns and garden
:25:25. > :25:30.cities we need to solve the housing crisis? She is quite right to say
:25:31. > :25:36.local authority planning departments have a crucial role. That is in
:25:37. > :25:41.tackling housing problems. I think she undersell is the records they
:25:42. > :25:45.have achieved under this government, talking about local plans. When the
:25:46. > :25:51.Labour Party left office 17% had local plans and today it is 72%.
:25:52. > :25:56.With the minister bear in mind not only that there is great support for
:25:57. > :25:59.flexibility on planning fees but that many respectable developers and
:26:00. > :26:06.builders would value that flexibility provided his -- it is
:26:07. > :26:09.ring-fenced and reinvested in planning authorities? Would he bear
:26:10. > :26:12.in mind it is important in areas like London where cost pressures are
:26:13. > :26:22.great. He makes a very important point. It
:26:23. > :26:25.is essential that the money is spent on extra resourcing in planning
:26:26. > :26:28.department and he's quite right to say that the local authorities
:26:29. > :26:39.themselves and developers are pressing the case to this issue. Our
:26:40. > :26:42.guidance is clear that word decisions on planning applications
:26:43. > :26:46.are taken by local authorities planning inspector who be taken in
:26:47. > :26:53.accordance with development plan unless the material considerations
:26:54. > :27:00.that with the two being otherwise. A housing developer has recently put
:27:01. > :27:07.in an application for a 300 homes in an area that was not in the local
:27:08. > :27:11.framework. 95% of local residents who responded did not want to see
:27:12. > :27:14.this site developed. I know the Minister cannot comment on specific
:27:15. > :27:18.planning application but would he agree with me that if permissions
:27:19. > :27:23.granted on sites that are not allocated for development, it does
:27:24. > :27:28.to promote the confidence of the public in the planning process? I
:27:29. > :27:33.share his determination that we have a plan and lead system in this
:27:34. > :27:37.country. Councils must have a plan in place. I am delighted that the
:27:38. > :27:41.Cornwall Council decided to adopt the local plan this month. Does the
:27:42. > :27:49.Minister agree with me that the actions of the Secretary of State
:27:50. > :27:54.last week completely undermined the timing in my constituency. It denied
:27:55. > :28:03.percentiles people in the area voted for that plan. Neighbourhood plans
:28:04. > :28:07.are a vital part of the development plan for an area. Or a local
:28:08. > :28:11.authority does not have a five-year land supply in place my honourable
:28:12. > :28:14.friend is quite right that that is an alternative consideration and one
:28:15. > :28:17.of the things that we want to do in the White Paper is to look at how we
:28:18. > :28:20.can change policies so is that people who work hard to produce
:28:21. > :28:24.these plans have more confidence that they will have an effect on all
:28:25. > :28:30.the applications before them. I must gently reminds you that you should
:28:31. > :28:36.not leave the chamber until all the exchanges on the question that they
:28:37. > :28:45.have been involved and have concluded. One fellow has just
:28:46. > :28:55.popped out, it is in breach of a very long-standing convention of
:28:56. > :29:04.this House. Kindness means I will not mention the name of the
:29:05. > :29:09.individual on this occasion. I know my honourable friend's interest in
:29:10. > :29:13.this question as chairman of the Parliamentary group. I am happy to
:29:14. > :29:22.work with local authorities to help develop the community pubs. We have
:29:23. > :29:28.supported this community buying through the ?3.6 million more than a
:29:29. > :29:33.pub programme. I know many pubs would have welcomed the news on the
:29:34. > :29:36.roll rate relief in the Autumn Statement but they've still face an
:29:37. > :29:40.immense challenge with business rates. What further steps could my
:29:41. > :29:46.friend take in conjunction with local authorities to help ease the
:29:47. > :29:49.burden of business rates on pubs? We are permanently doubling from next
:29:50. > :29:54.year at the level of small business rate relief. That means 600,000
:29:55. > :29:59.small businesses will pay no business rates at all and from April
:30:00. > :30:03.the 1st next year 17,000 pubs may be eligible for small business rate
:30:04. > :30:07.relief, which obviously depends on the rateable value, with around
:30:08. > :30:16.13,000 potentially a la butchered -- eligible for 100% relief, compared
:30:17. > :30:19.to 4,000 now. Why business rates on pubs calculated using a different
:30:20. > :30:26.method rather than on other business premises? Before the review we
:30:27. > :30:29.agreed methodology with the industry on which the revaluation to take
:30:30. > :30:37.place and that is the reason why that mechanism is used. Pubs in my
:30:38. > :30:42.constituency are grateful for the raising of the thresholds for the
:30:43. > :30:46.payment of rates, but suffer from some bizarre reassessment decisions
:30:47. > :30:50.by the valuation office agency which cancel out the benefits. As local
:30:51. > :30:56.authorities are not highly dependent on growing the rates revenue and
:30:57. > :31:03.having 100% retention of that, how can it be right that business faces
:31:04. > :31:06.uncertainty from this source? This is an independent process, it
:31:07. > :31:10.wouldn't be appropriate for ministers to intervene. To the
:31:11. > :31:17.businesses that are affected by the revaluation, we have provided ?3.6
:31:18. > :31:20.billion of transitional relief. I refer back to the statistics I gave
:31:21. > :31:28.up by the number of businesses that could not qualify for 100% relief.
:31:29. > :31:37.We want to see all areas with an up-to-date plan in place that needs
:31:38. > :31:41.housing needs. We will be announcing further measures, some specific to
:31:42. > :31:50.rural areas, in the forthcoming white paper. I am keen to see more
:31:51. > :31:54.local housing. 75% of my constituency is designated as areas
:31:55. > :31:57.of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the district councils are in the middle
:31:58. > :32:01.of coming up with a five-year land supply. Will the government
:32:02. > :32:07.implement robust measures to stop opportunist developers applying to
:32:08. > :32:12.build anywhere in our areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the
:32:13. > :32:15.meantime? I am delighted to hear that his councils are getting the
:32:16. > :32:19.five-year land supply in place. I can reassure him that the National
:32:20. > :32:24.planning policy framework says the great weight should be given to
:32:25. > :32:29.conserving landscape and areas of beauty, so the protection is the
:32:30. > :32:34.international policy. Can the Minister in form the house about
:32:35. > :32:39.what he will be doing to ensure that British made to ram max, in terms of
:32:40. > :32:44.tiles and bricks, will be used for parole housing, and for that matter
:32:45. > :32:50.all housing? It is a very good question and I am happy to meet with
:32:51. > :32:58.the honourable lady to explore what possibilities are there. Can my
:32:59. > :33:02.honourable confirmed that under the national planning policy framework,
:33:03. > :33:05.unmet housing needs does not constitute an exceptional
:33:06. > :33:14.circumstance necessary to warrant holding in the green belt? That is a
:33:15. > :33:18.very timely question. The answer is that the national planning policy
:33:19. > :33:21.framework does not define what the exceptional circumstances our
:33:22. > :33:25.adventure justified changing green belt values. Rightly, that is a
:33:26. > :33:35.matter for local communities to decide upon. Number ten, Mr Speaker.
:33:36. > :33:38.Any individual or organisation can make representations on planning
:33:39. > :33:41.applications for infrastructure projects. It is for the
:33:42. > :33:48.decision-makers to decide what weird if any should be given to those
:33:49. > :33:52.representations. Can I tell him that for over a year my constituents have
:33:53. > :33:56.been battling to get rid of a 40 mile an hour speed limit on the main
:33:57. > :34:00.motorway to the Port of Dover, a road of national strategic
:34:01. > :34:06.importance, yet the infrastructure for this to happen is being held up
:34:07. > :34:10.by the OMB. What measures can be taken by the Department war through
:34:11. > :34:17.legislation to make sure a better balance is struck? I am aware of
:34:18. > :34:22.this issue. It is clear that that legislation does require Highways
:34:23. > :34:26.England to have regard to the purpose of an expanding area of
:34:27. > :34:30.natural beauty to conserve and enhance the natural beauty. I will
:34:31. > :34:34.of course be more than happy to meet with my honourable friend or pass
:34:35. > :34:40.his concerns on to the appropriate department over this particular
:34:41. > :34:43.issue. The Minister's colleague has just confirmed that the national
:34:44. > :34:48.planning policy framework makes it clear that areas of natural beauty
:34:49. > :34:51.should have a higher status protection, yet the children
:34:52. > :34:57.conservation board, the public body set up protect the children's, had
:34:58. > :35:02.the proposals for us the leaderboard tunnel under the children's
:35:03. > :35:06.rejected. I have to say when it comes to projects like HS2 it
:35:07. > :35:11.appears that there is a rule for one area of natural beauty, and another
:35:12. > :35:17.rule for the children's area of natural beauty. What can he do to
:35:18. > :35:22.promote the idea of having a fully bored tunnel under the children to
:35:23. > :35:26.live up to his promise of protecting the areas of natural beauty? It is
:35:27. > :35:30.right that these areas receive the protection that they do in the
:35:31. > :35:34.planning process. I am more than happy to pass on her concerns with
:35:35. > :35:37.regard to the tunnel in the children's to the Secretary of State
:35:38. > :35:49.for Transport. Number 11, Mr Speaker. Between 2012 in 2015 newly
:35:50. > :35:52.120,000 families on the troubled families programme saw their lives
:35:53. > :35:57.improve. In October we published a report on the programme's costs and
:35:58. > :36:01.potential fiscal benefits based on local authority information. The
:36:02. > :36:05.first assessment on the cost effectiveness of the new programme
:36:06. > :36:10.will be available next year. I am not sure if he has had a chance of
:36:11. > :36:14.the early read the report on the scheme which found no evidence of
:36:15. > :36:18.significant or systematic impact on the key objectives of the programme.
:36:19. > :36:21.We'll Minister set up by the decision was taken to spend hundreds
:36:22. > :36:27.of millions of pounds expanding the programme before they could even
:36:28. > :36:31.know if that was money well spent? I would say to the honourable lady
:36:32. > :36:37.that this party is absolutely focused on outcomes and not progress
:36:38. > :36:41.-- process. Nearly 120,000 families have seen their lives improved. I am
:36:42. > :36:46.proud that there are more children back in school, youth crime is down
:36:47. > :36:51.and 18,000 adults involved with this programme on now back into work.
:36:52. > :36:55.With the Minister accept that what the report shows is that although
:36:56. > :36:59.this was purported to be designed around a payment by results model it
:37:00. > :37:02.was no such thing and local authorities simply delivered the
:37:03. > :37:06.number of families through the programme that the funding was there
:37:07. > :37:11.to meet. Will the Minister say what the government intends to learn from
:37:12. > :37:16.this failure and ensure it in the future that taxpayer money is well
:37:17. > :37:22.spent? We are confident that a significant number of families have
:37:23. > :37:27.benefited from this programme. I can say that the new programme will see
:37:28. > :37:31.a more robust evaluation, particularly in terms of its cost
:37:32. > :37:40.effectiveness. Number 13, Mr Speaker. I fully recognise the
:37:41. > :37:44.pressures on adult social care which provided a vital service to millions
:37:45. > :37:49.of people across the country. This is why this government is providing
:37:50. > :37:53.extra funding for adult social care without a ?3.5 billion available
:37:54. > :37:58.during this Parliament. Yesterday the former Health Secretary
:37:59. > :38:02.commented on the Autumn Statement saying that it was a mistake not to
:38:03. > :38:07.provide extra investment in the social care system which is said --
:38:08. > :38:12.inadequately funded. Directors of social services described social
:38:13. > :38:17.care being in real jeopardy. The Conservative leader of one
:38:18. > :38:21.constituent save -- one constituent who said that it was in crisis. When
:38:22. > :38:24.is this government going to whip up and provide the funds that are
:38:25. > :38:32.actually needed to prevent the whole system from collapse? During this
:38:33. > :38:37.Spending Review last year we consulted carefully with the sector
:38:38. > :38:42.and spoke with the LGA and looked at what they said. They said that we
:38:43. > :38:49.should have ?2.9 billion extra funding available for adult social
:38:50. > :38:53.care, and we provided up to 3.5. Social care should not be a party
:38:54. > :38:58.political matter and there are concerns on both sides of the house.
:38:59. > :39:01.Wouldn't it be a good idea if the government worked with the
:39:02. > :39:07.opposition to see we could agree on our way so that social care in the
:39:08. > :39:11.future progress is satisfactorily, maybe by creating an independent
:39:12. > :39:17.body responsible for social care, not leaving it to local government
:39:18. > :39:23.and the NHS? I think my honourable friend makes a sensible point that
:39:24. > :39:27.these issues are quite often important in the fact that we need
:39:28. > :39:31.to speak to a wide group of people to make the right decisions. I would
:39:32. > :39:37.say to my honourable friend that we are certainly interested in speaking
:39:38. > :39:40.to anybody who wants to come up with sensible and practical solutions in
:39:41. > :39:46.relation to this important and vital issue. The Care Quality Commission
:39:47. > :39:50.has said that the social care system is about to topple over. The Local
:39:51. > :39:54.Government Association says the councils can't cope with the cost
:39:55. > :39:58.pressures and much of the funding that the Minister is talking about
:39:59. > :40:01.is either repackage funding or funding that will kick in until late
:40:02. > :40:05.in this decade. When will he come clean about the scale of the crisis
:40:06. > :40:09.and lobbied the Treasury to make sure that the promised money for
:40:10. > :40:16.2020 is prop forwards we get to grips with this care crisis? This is
:40:17. > :40:21.not repackage money, it is new money for adult social care, up to ?3.5
:40:22. > :40:27.billion across the spending review period. He mentioned the LGA and the
:40:28. > :40:32.report. What I would say is that they are absolutely right that the
:40:33. > :40:35.key to this is better integration between Health and Social Care Board
:40:36. > :40:39.and the ?1.5 billion we are providing through the better care
:40:40. > :40:47.fund is the best way we can continue to promote that. I am loathe to come
:40:48. > :40:57.between sisters, especially between twins, but, Angela Eagle. Thank you,
:40:58. > :41:03.Mr Speaker. You may cause me some trouble later this evening. In the
:41:04. > :41:10.last six years this government has cut social care funding I nearly ?5
:41:11. > :41:17.billion. In my own authority there is now are ?3.5 million hole in the
:41:18. > :41:22.budget only have read through the year. This system is on its knees
:41:23. > :41:26.and there is an 18% increase in emergency admissions to hospital as
:41:27. > :41:31.a result of this. The Prime Minister did not have an answer to this last
:41:32. > :41:38.Wednesday, when is the Minister responsible point to have an answer?
:41:39. > :41:43.Well, we have enabled councils to raise additional funding through the
:41:44. > :41:47.adult care preset what I would say to the honourable lady that this is
:41:48. > :41:51.all about priorities in the way in which the local governments allocate
:41:52. > :41:55.its finance and what I would say it is that she might you want to have a
:41:56. > :42:01.word with their local council leader who has sought to spend ?270,000 on
:42:02. > :42:05.a rock and a newspaper. Is that good value for money when they say they
:42:06. > :42:14.need more for social care? At back on propaganda. Thank you. I'm very
:42:15. > :42:20.grateful to follow my sister. As I always have.
:42:21. > :42:26.LAUGHTER Liveable City Council, which covers
:42:27. > :42:30.most of my constituency, raises ?146 million in council tax every year.
:42:31. > :42:37.At the Liverpool. Because of the council tax base it has. They share,
:42:38. > :42:44.it spent 100 thousand pounds in adult social care. The predecessor
:42:45. > :42:54.got 58% of the budget that liveable City Council has two fulfil its
:42:55. > :43:00.obligations. -- Liverpool. Are you saying that Liverpool City Council
:43:01. > :43:09.has been a more without money coming from central dominant? --
:43:10. > :43:16.Government. I would direct the Lady to be net again find, which takes
:43:17. > :43:19.into account the ability for local councils to raise council tax. I
:43:20. > :43:26.would also say that Liverpool in terms of their average spending
:43:27. > :43:33.power than dwelling gets ?100 more and have -- than the average
:43:34. > :43:39.national. The collection of council tax is also below average in
:43:40. > :43:42.Liverpool. Thank you. It has been interesting listening to the
:43:43. > :43:50.responses but it just demonstrates to me that the table sat opposite
:43:51. > :43:56.view not except the real crisis. This denial leaves me with real
:43:57. > :44:02.worried about the 1.2 million people who cannot even access the service.
:44:03. > :44:09.Local authorities have had a cut between 40-80% the budgets.
:44:10. > :44:17.Blackburn Council raises ?900,000 with a 2% preset to stand still the
:44:18. > :44:25.needs -- recess. To stand still, they need more. They have... At are
:44:26. > :44:28.you seriously saying that we will wait and have conversations with
:44:29. > :44:34.people to see how we take a follows? There a crisis. It is happening now.
:44:35. > :44:41.We are heading for winter. We are putting old people in danger. I
:44:42. > :44:49.would like the secretary of state to find a ?2.6 billion that is needed
:44:50. > :44:52.now. Well, I'm not sure whether the secretary of state has that money
:44:53. > :44:56.down the back of the south of the green benches but I will say to be
:44:57. > :45:00.honourable lady that this is an extremely important issue and we
:45:01. > :45:02.recognise that. That is my we have given the additional preset
:45:03. > :45:06.imbalance which will have a cumulative effect over time. I knew
:45:07. > :45:11.now that she is looking for an extra ?2.6 billion off the cuff. I think
:45:12. > :45:15.that is very interesting made on the fact that only general election, the
:45:16. > :45:20.Shadow Chancellor said that local governments, if the local Labour
:45:21. > :45:29.Party was in power, would have you find themselves. My honourable
:45:30. > :45:37.friend is right to raise concerns. That is why we are trying to make
:45:38. > :45:40.your property management agents and address the scheme. I am currently
:45:41. > :45:43.working with individuals who, despite the number of complaints
:45:44. > :45:47.about management services on a relatively newly built estate,
:45:48. > :45:52.cannot find the management agents prepared to meet them as a group,
:45:53. > :45:55.provided the local parish council has been discontinued with contact
:45:56. > :45:59.with the management agents and they cannot help an AGM as they promised
:46:00. > :46:06.in the agreement. If this is anyway familiar, Kenny say what Wayne
:46:07. > :46:11.individuals can do to balance the palate between people who have an
:46:12. > :46:14.over a barrel? Sadly, Mr Speaker, the situation may honourable friend
:46:15. > :46:17.described a similar. It is something he Government is looking to address.
:46:18. > :46:21.May honourable friend raise the issue earlier about existing legal
:46:22. > :46:30.powers but we are exploring whether there is further way we can explore
:46:31. > :46:34.this. Thank you. Speaking of regulation, two months ago, the
:46:35. > :46:39.Housing Minister. A ban on fees was a bad idea. Would you agree that, if
:46:40. > :46:44.you want a security and affordability in the housing market,
:46:45. > :46:49.in addition signing up to that, you should sign up to Labour's other
:46:50. > :46:57.manifestos of three yet tendencies and control of inflationary rent
:46:58. > :47:00.increases any private sector? Mr Speaker, it certainly would be a
:47:01. > :47:06.good thing is the longest tendencies any private sector but regulating to
:47:07. > :47:11.force all private letters would mean new tattoo look in our own country
:47:12. > :47:15.and around the world to see the results of such policies. -- we
:47:16. > :47:23.would have to look. Otherwise it would make the situation worse.
:47:24. > :47:30.Number one. Mr Speaker, I'm sure you'll have full well come the next
:47:31. > :47:32.numbers. Staging a new high in housing numbers. There's still a lot
:47:33. > :47:37.we have to do. That is why the Autumn Statement contained a lot of
:47:38. > :47:41.numbers and why a white paper which is due be published in the annual
:47:42. > :47:46.sent them access out a range of radical ambitions. We will start to
:47:47. > :47:52.announce global growth fund ambitions and I have having
:47:53. > :47:55.announced by Christmas. Following my recent aggression to the rear of the
:47:56. > :47:57.house and make written parliamentary session, I would like to raise one
:47:58. > :48:04.leg any importance of protecting ancient woodland from hostile
:48:05. > :48:08.development -- raise the importance. But he Housing Minister agree with
:48:09. > :48:13.me that, once you bulldoze ancient woodland, it can never come back.
:48:14. > :48:16.This has been seen in emerging local plans which are completely
:48:17. > :48:23.inappropriate and will destroy valued local community landscape? My
:48:24. > :48:27.honourable friend is right. Ancient woodland is irreplaceable as a
:48:28. > :48:31.habitat. The framework is clear, planning permission should be
:48:32. > :48:36.reviewed from developing resulting in the model of irreparable
:48:37. > :48:40.habitats. Including ancient woodland. Unless they are very
:48:41. > :48:43.exceptional circumstances. That a little plan, local people do not
:48:44. > :48:46.have the certainty that they need and, once again, she has
:48:47. > :48:52.demonstrated that Eastleigh Borough Council are letting their residence
:48:53. > :48:57.down. Changes to the local government pension scheme recently
:48:58. > :49:00.came into effect and were debated in statutory committee last week.
:49:01. > :49:05.During that debate, the minister indicated that EU directive 41 does
:49:06. > :49:14.not live to the LG BS. Yet in your letter I have here, good -- LGPS.
:49:15. > :49:24.The good they confirm if it has been applied? -- Coogee confirm. It does
:49:25. > :49:31.not apply. If you want to discuss the issue further, I would be happy
:49:32. > :49:35.to do so. At the click of a malice, it seems to be able to change the
:49:36. > :49:40.way a large sites, such as Vodafone headquarters and the weapons
:49:41. > :49:43.Establishment are they are wiping millions of the income of a small
:49:44. > :49:50.unitary local authority like west Berkshire. Will you look into this
:49:51. > :49:54.matter? My honourable friend raises a very important question, where a
:49:55. > :50:02.councils in common is impacted by successful business rate appeal, is
:50:03. > :50:07.there a safety net, there is. I'm sure he is and where. He will be
:50:08. > :50:11.reassured by the fact that the design of the new retention scheme,
:50:12. > :50:17.we are certainly looking at how risks around business rate income
:50:18. > :50:20.will be managed in the future. As north-east Lincolnshire Council is
:50:21. > :50:24.being forced to shut down its credit union services, but the Secretary of
:50:25. > :50:37.State agree that his department's funding cuts have been detrimental?
:50:38. > :50:42.We have provided long-term funding of ?592 million to the bed cover
:50:43. > :50:50.this Parliament. In addition, the two places in the area have between
:50:51. > :51:01.hundred and 14- will be making further and ads in Shotley. -- 114 -
:51:02. > :51:06.124. Will improve the access to housing or the access to living
:51:07. > :51:08.standards of working families? I could not agree more. Definitive
:51:09. > :51:12.action is required and that is exactly the action Government is
:51:13. > :51:17.putting forward. The Autumn Statement details investment in
:51:18. > :51:20.housing, the biggest dedicated investment in housing in a
:51:21. > :51:25.generation. This Government expected in the 288 in real terms, capital
:51:26. > :51:34.spending over Parliament. This is great news for ethics -- great news
:51:35. > :51:42.for ethics and the country. -- Essex. Full to an issue of Hull's
:51:43. > :51:49.devolution, with the Northern Power has minister agree to meet with
:51:50. > :51:52.local MPs and councillors to discuss what has worked elsewhere in the
:51:53. > :52:01.country and have we can take Hull followed? -- Northern Powerhouse.
:52:02. > :52:07.Yes, I met just on Friday and we discussed devolution. She can turn
:52:08. > :52:11.up this afternoon to the APPGG when she will see a double whammy with
:52:12. > :52:17.the secretary of state and myself to... Yorkshire devolution. As my
:52:18. > :52:23.honourable friend will now, bass and North East Somerset Council voted in
:52:24. > :52:27.favour of the west of England devolution deal, which he joined the
:52:28. > :52:31.hunting act and then on devolving powers to the region and investing
:52:32. > :52:37.an affordable project across the area? I absolutely congratulate the
:52:38. > :52:40.ground up approach and local leaders in the west of England and other lay
:52:41. > :52:46.honourable friend for his work on this deal which will bring an
:52:47. > :52:50.additional ?1 billion of investment into infrastructure as well as
:52:51. > :52:57.devolving powers from this place into the area. The HDTV shocking
:52:58. > :53:05.report last week from the Alzheimer's Society -- did he see.
:53:06. > :53:10.That people with dementia feel like their own crime there are -- their
:53:11. > :53:15.home carers do not have adequate training? I watched you not have
:53:16. > :53:18.adequate training at all and some do not have accredited training the
:53:19. > :53:23.dreadful consequences for dementia sufferers and their families and
:53:24. > :53:28.carers. Will he accept that until social care is properly funded, the
:53:29. > :53:35.situation will just get worse? Thank you. This is an important issue that
:53:36. > :53:46.the honourable gentleman has raised. By 2020, we want all dementia carers
:53:47. > :53:50.to have training, brokerage trading -- appropriate training. With regard
:53:51. > :53:53.to the funding of adult social care, we have provided a package which
:53:54. > :54:01.will provide up to ?3.5 billion of extra funding during the spending
:54:02. > :54:06.review period. Thank you. Leeds City Council are developing a local plan
:54:07. > :54:11.and it reports suggest it is unable to them straight have a five-year
:54:12. > :54:18.land supply. That is endangering the land that it deems to sales. Good we
:54:19. > :54:21.find out about only way to councils who are developing such a plan so
:54:22. > :54:27.they don't have to have such a long-term housing supply plan? My
:54:28. > :54:32.honourable friend is quite right to underline the importance of local
:54:33. > :54:35.authorities having a five-year land supply and an up-to-date local plan
:54:36. > :54:41.in place because this ensures that local communities decide where it is
:54:42. > :54:46.appropriate for development, and what sites should be developed. I'm
:54:47. > :54:49.looking forward to visiting the constituency shortly and I want to
:54:50. > :54:56.discuss this in more detail. The amount of money that has been cut
:54:57. > :55:00.from social care since 2010 dwarfs what his department will be bridging
:55:01. > :55:03.in everyday next five years. The men may wish to deny it but there is a
:55:04. > :55:07.crisis in our health and social care services with too many people start
:55:08. > :55:11.in our hospitals because there's no care available for to come out. Why
:55:12. > :55:14.did the Secretary of State failed to make adequate representation to the
:55:15. > :55:21.Chancellor to ensure that funding was allocated in the Autumn
:55:22. > :55:25.Statement last week? The honourable lady rightly points to a very
:55:26. > :55:27.challenging situation and I'm sure she will welcome the additional
:55:28. > :55:32.funding that has been provided during this Parliament, ?3.5 million
:55:33. > :55:37.in total but the living and occasional welcomer and she wanted
:55:38. > :55:43.it in our question is the need for more integration between the NHS and
:55:44. > :55:46.adult social care. That is something we are seeing in places like
:55:47. > :55:51.Manchester as we once to see it and make sure that it is in place in
:55:52. > :55:57.every local region by 2020. Whilst welcoming the ?55 million funding to
:55:58. > :56:02.south-east local enterprise partnership, this fall well short of
:56:03. > :56:05.the ?229 million applied for that would have the deal of business
:56:06. > :56:10.growth and economic development in the area. Good my honourable friend
:56:11. > :56:13.body in a direction of any future funding that may bring us to each
:56:14. > :56:19.able to secure this economic growth needed?
:56:20. > :56:24.We have only announced regional allocation so it is not correct to
:56:25. > :56:28.say at this point that the Southeast local would receive that figure.
:56:29. > :56:33.Those final figures will be announced in coming weeks and the
:56:34. > :56:41.initial funding allocations made changed somewhat. In Kirklees, the
:56:42. > :56:49.might spend on social care has gone down in real terms by 15.7% since
:56:50. > :56:52.2010, despite demand increasing with rapidly ageing society. What steps
:56:53. > :56:58.is the government taking to help local councils with the ?1.9 billion
:56:59. > :57:07.funding gap in adult social care of this year? I would like to welcome
:57:08. > :57:12.the honourable lady to her place. We are taking this situation extremely
:57:13. > :57:15.seriously. We enable councils to raise an additional amount of
:57:16. > :57:20.funding through the adult social care presets, up to 2% on top of the
:57:21. > :57:24.Council Tax, and in a few weeks the honourable lady will be able to see
:57:25. > :57:34.the allocation of the better care fund, which will come into effect in
:57:35. > :57:38.2017, to the next financial year. With ?3.15 billion allocated for
:57:39. > :57:42.90,000 new homes in London and a doubling of the money spent to
:57:43. > :57:46.combat rough sleeping, what action, it honourable friend take to make
:57:47. > :57:50.sure that this money is used quickly to provide the homes that people
:57:51. > :57:57.desperately need so that no one is forced us to draw? The affordable
:57:58. > :58:04.housing programme will be launched tomorrow. The mayor said this is the
:58:05. > :58:08.largest sum of money ever secured by City Hall for affordable housing. It
:58:09. > :58:11.is just the beginning. Last but the Chancellor announced another 1.4
:58:12. > :58:19.billion and London will get the share of that money. People living
:58:20. > :58:22.close to recreational error feels like Eggleston airfield do not have
:58:23. > :58:27.the same protection from noise and nuisance that people living near a
:58:28. > :58:30.similar recreational activities that stay on the ground has. Will the
:58:31. > :58:35.Secretary of State look into this and see what can be done about it?
:58:36. > :58:40.The Minister will be very happy to meet to discuss those issues. If we
:58:41. > :58:45.are to have a local plan that system, what will the Minister do to
:58:46. > :58:51.make sure that local plans are saluted, especially by planning
:58:52. > :58:55.inspectors? Provided local plans have a five-year land supplied, then
:58:56. > :58:58.the expectation should be the planning applications are decided in
:58:59. > :59:02.accordance with that local plan unless there are clear material
:59:03. > :59:05.considerations pointing otherwise. My message to my honourable friend
:59:06. > :59:11.will be to make sure his local authority has a local plan in place
:59:12. > :59:14.with a five-year land supply. The housing waiting list in my
:59:15. > :59:20.constituency has grown and has done for some time. Can the Secretary of
:59:21. > :59:24.State now cancer early questions and tell us what proportion of the much
:59:25. > :59:30.font of new houses will be rented and what proportion will be social
:59:31. > :59:34.rented? What we have done with the affordable housing programme is to
:59:35. > :59:38.give complete flexibility, so I can't give a specific answer because
:59:39. > :59:42.it will depend on the bits that housing associations make. There was
:59:43. > :59:46.complete flexibility in relation to tenure. The government has had a
:59:47. > :59:53.policy of focusing on affordable rent because that allows us to
:59:54. > :59:57.deliver far more homes. Many of my constituents are keen to see an
:59:58. > :00:00.ambition devolution deal for the West of England. Can the Minister
:00:01. > :00:07.update the house on this devolution deal? And I know my honourable
:00:08. > :00:11.friend is a big fan of this deal. Devolution will support jobs in the
:00:12. > :00:15.West of England and in many other parts of England. The next step in
:00:16. > :00:20.that particular deal is for the government to seek the consent of
:00:21. > :00:24.all three councils involved for the Parliamentary order. We are well
:00:25. > :00:30.down the course of that and once again can I congratulate him for
:00:31. > :00:35.supporting this transformative deal? The new White Paper, will address
:00:36. > :00:40.the fact that more socially rented houses are currently being sold than
:00:41. > :00:44.are actually being replaced? We are very proud of the right to buy a
:00:45. > :00:48.policy which gives ordinary working people the chance to buy their
:00:49. > :00:51.homes. I will agree with the honourable gentleman is that it is
:00:52. > :00:55.absolutely essential that we replaced the affordable rented
:00:56. > :01:01.accommodation that is sold and we are determined to make sure that
:01:02. > :01:09.that happens. Will the Minister meet with me and representatives from the
:01:10. > :01:13.Morriston Hospital to see what more can be done to bring publicly owned
:01:14. > :01:20.land at the sudden hospital site back into use to deliver a
:01:21. > :01:25.world-class London cancer hub? I would be very happy to meet with my
:01:26. > :01:30.honourable friend. I know he supports our accelerated
:01:31. > :01:33.construction programme on land which would support that. The increase in
:01:34. > :01:37.family homelessness has meant that more and more children are in
:01:38. > :01:42.unsuitable temporary -- temporary accommodation. When did any Minister
:01:43. > :01:46.discuss with ministers in the Department for Education the impact
:01:47. > :01:50.of that homelessness on children's achievement and what are they
:01:51. > :01:54.planning to do about it? I can reassure the honourable lady and
:01:55. > :01:58.tell that we have a ministerial working group that covers a
:01:59. > :02:02.multitude of different issues in relation to homelessness. One of the
:02:03. > :02:05.ministers around the table is a Minister for education. What I would
:02:06. > :02:10.also say to her is that we are looking to change the way in which
:02:11. > :02:13.the temporary management fee works and therefore are bachelor provide a
:02:14. > :02:17.far better situation where local authorities are able to plan for
:02:18. > :02:22.temporary accommodation to make sure we don't have people in it so long.
:02:23. > :02:28.Planning over the years has not taken enough notice of local designs
:02:29. > :02:30.and regional designs with the ministers planning authorities to
:02:31. > :02:37.concentrate on that. There is a garden village being promoted in
:02:38. > :02:40.Plumpton that would be a very good design. My honourable friend makes
:02:41. > :02:45.an important point, they getting good quality design is key to
:02:46. > :02:48.building acceptability for more housing and they had the privilege
:02:49. > :02:51.recently to meet with him on some of his constituents about the
:02:52. > :02:56.contribution the neighbourhood planning can make towards that goal.
:02:57. > :03:00.The reason our countryside isn't littered with advertising hoardings
:03:01. > :03:04.is because of the action taken by the Labour government in 1947 under
:03:05. > :03:07.the Town and country planning act. Now lots of farmers and other
:03:08. > :03:12.landowners are circumventing the rules by parking great big lorries
:03:13. > :03:18.with hoardings by roads. What will the government do to stop this? We
:03:19. > :03:24.have made sure that local authorities have the powers in place
:03:25. > :03:28.to take in. We are determined to ensure that local authorities are
:03:29. > :03:34.properly resourced to take that action. Further to the excellent
:03:35. > :03:40.question from my right honourable friend from North East Bedfordshire,
:03:41. > :03:45.it is a complex legal issues that often thwarts residents. What more
:03:46. > :03:50.can the Minister do to share best practice and advise frustrated
:03:51. > :03:54.residents? There are some excellent organisations that provide advice to
:03:55. > :03:58.people dealing with these problems. There is a clear sense across the
:03:59. > :04:01.house that there is an issue here that needs addressing and the
:04:02. > :04:06.government will be looking to take action and I will discuss that with
:04:07. > :04:15.them. Urgent question, Alison McGovern. Will the Minister make a
:04:16. > :04:19.statement on the situation in Aleppo?