:00:07. > :00:16.Order, order. I have to notify the House in accordance with the Royal
:00:17. > :00:20.assent act 1967, Her Majesty has signified her royal assent to the
:00:21. > :00:31.following acts. Small charitable donations and childcare payments act
:00:32. > :00:34.2017, savings, government contributions act 2017. Questions to
:00:35. > :00:46.the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
:00:47. > :00:51.Number one, please. Sajid Javid. Good -- happy New Year. Councils
:00:52. > :00:53.have long campaigned for 100% business rates retention. Last week
:00:54. > :00:56.we introduced a local government Finance Bill which will establish
:00:57. > :01:00.the framework for the reformed system. We will continue to work
:01:01. > :01:03.closely with local governments during the passage of the
:01:04. > :01:08.legislation to shape the detail of the reforms.
:01:09. > :01:11.I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. I welcome the decision
:01:12. > :01:16.for Cornwall to be a pilot area for the retention of business rates.
:01:17. > :01:22.However business rates and Cornwall are low, particularly compared to
:01:23. > :01:26.urban areas. , counsel will not lose out as a result of any of these
:01:27. > :01:32.changes? I am pleased Cornwall will be one of
:01:33. > :01:36.the areas to pilot sum of the elements of the 100% business
:01:37. > :01:39.retention rates. It will help us develop the system, one that works
:01:40. > :01:42.for all Local Authorities including rural authorities. We have always
:01:43. > :01:46.been clear that in setting up the system we will ensure there is
:01:47. > :01:52.redistribution between councils, so areas do not lose out just because
:01:53. > :01:55.they currently correct address in local business rates.
:01:56. > :01:59.Buckinghamshire is the entrepreneurial heart of England.
:02:00. > :02:03.What assurance can he give that the people of Whickham, that the needs
:02:04. > :02:07.base review and the new business rates system will result in
:02:08. > :02:13.rebalanced service funding to better reflect economic growth in
:02:14. > :02:17.entrepreneurial areas like ours? I have visited the area a number of
:02:18. > :02:22.times with my honourable friend. He is right entrepreneurial. Under the
:02:23. > :02:25.new business rates retention system there will be redistribution of
:02:26. > :02:31.resources with baseline set through the fair funding review so
:02:32. > :02:35.authorities are treated fairly. When the select committee looked at
:02:36. > :02:38.this issue they were supportive in principle of the Government's
:02:39. > :02:43.proposals, but wanted a lot of details answered. One of the major
:02:44. > :02:47.details that need resolution is that in the future the demand for adult
:02:48. > :02:51.social care is likely to grow rather more quickly than the growth in
:02:52. > :02:55.business rates. Does the Secretary of State realise as well as having
:02:56. > :02:59.100% retention of business rates, Local Authorities need additional
:03:00. > :03:03.funding for adult social care and will he agree a review to look at
:03:04. > :03:07.that? Mr Speaker, first of all I'm sure
:03:08. > :03:11.the chair of the select committee welcomes the recent announcement
:03:12. > :03:14.last month of additional resources for adult social care. What he
:03:15. > :03:17.points to quite rightly is the need for longer term reform, and that is
:03:18. > :03:24.something the Government is taking very seriously.
:03:25. > :03:28.The Government's plans to did evolve an allowance as part of business
:03:29. > :03:31.rates retention has caused distress to the orderly who rely on it to
:03:32. > :03:35.maintain independence and remain in their own homes. Can the Secretary
:03:36. > :03:40.of State reassure them here today that this reform will not strip them
:03:41. > :03:45.in any way of this vital allowance? Mr Speaker, what the honourable lady
:03:46. > :03:48.highlights is when the 100% retention reform does take place at
:03:49. > :03:54.warming collectively councils will have an additional ?12.5 billion a
:03:55. > :03:57.year. Of course, more responsibilities do need to be
:03:58. > :04:02.pushed down to councils with that and the honourable lady is asking
:04:03. > :04:05.what might make up those responsibilities. We have not made a
:04:06. > :04:09.decision but will do so in due course.
:04:10. > :04:13.In a two tier area of local government it's the district that
:04:14. > :04:17.decides where to allocate land for very important commercial
:04:18. > :04:20.development. With the Secretary of State ensure the district are
:04:21. > :04:25.appropriately rewarded for taking what are often difficult decisions?
:04:26. > :04:29.My honourable friend makes a very good point about districts on the
:04:30. > :04:32.role they have in promoting business and development. I'm sure he'll
:04:33. > :04:36.welcome, with the Bill we introduced to Parliament last week, the council
:04:37. > :04:39.is now outside of London can also promote business development
:04:40. > :04:44.districts. The Government's Autumn Statement
:04:45. > :04:49.showed an increase of ?2.4 billion income to the Treasury from business
:04:50. > :04:54.rates 2017-18. It is still an allocated. Will he protect local
:04:55. > :04:58.people from massive council tax increases by investing this money
:04:59. > :05:03.into social care and ending the precept, as suggested by Unison, the
:05:04. > :05:08.largest trade union supporting care workers, in October last year?
:05:09. > :05:13.The honourable lady will be fully aware that in 2010 this country had
:05:14. > :05:17.a huge Budget deficit thanks to the last government. All areas of
:05:18. > :05:21.government had to make a contribution to that, including
:05:22. > :05:25.local government. I'm sure when it comes down on social care she will
:05:26. > :05:31.be pleased with the changes announced last month. Allow Local
:05:32. > :05:35.Authorities any discretion with regards to business rates levied on
:05:36. > :05:39.hospitals like Southampton Hospital, which following a revaluation faces
:05:40. > :05:45.a rather large increase in business rates?
:05:46. > :05:49.I could tell my honourable friend it does allow some discretion to
:05:50. > :05:54.councils, but I don't think the hospitals it will apply. It will
:05:55. > :05:57.apply to businesses and only in one direction, but it is something,
:05:58. > :06:01.since my honourable friend has made the point, I will take a further
:06:02. > :06:05.look at. Mr Speaker, further to the question
:06:06. > :06:09.my honourable friend asked, when the Government is committed to writing
:06:10. > :06:12.and Local Authorities keep 100% of business rate income, it promised
:06:13. > :06:17.alongside commensurate further cuts to their funding from Whitehall.
:06:18. > :06:20.Given the LGA estimate councils are already underfunded for their legal
:06:21. > :06:24.responsibilities, including social care, to the tune of almost ?6
:06:25. > :06:28.billion, when can the Secretary of State tell the House what further
:06:29. > :06:32.cuts in funding the people of England can expect their local
:06:33. > :06:37.services to suffer? Mr Speaker, the honourable member
:06:38. > :06:42.will be aware, should be aware, since we've publicly announce the
:06:43. > :06:46.numbers, that 97% of councils have accepted the four year budget deal,
:06:47. > :06:50.where they have come forward with efficiency offerings and in return
:06:51. > :06:56.the Government has guaranteed funding. That doesn't mask the
:06:57. > :06:59.fact... It is challenging for so many councils dealing with their
:07:00. > :07:01.settlement, but many councils are able to deal with that and the
:07:02. > :07:08.honourable gentleman should look at that carefully.
:07:09. > :07:12.Number two, Mr Speaker. Our actions through the spending
:07:13. > :07:16.review in 2015 and the provisional local finance that have brought the
:07:17. > :07:22.total dedicated funding for adult social care to 7.6 billion over the
:07:23. > :07:27.four years 2016-2020. How much I local council spends an adult social
:07:28. > :07:31.care is a matter for local councils, who knows these areas best.
:07:32. > :07:37.The local government Association say the money is raised for the social
:07:38. > :07:41.care precept is not enough to address the ?2.6 billion gap facing
:07:42. > :07:45.adult social care by 2020. Instead of exacerbating the existing
:07:46. > :07:48.postcode lottery, will the Secretary of State not commit to additional
:07:49. > :07:55.ring fenced resources into social care to tackle this crisis?
:07:56. > :07:58.Mr Speaker, in their last spending review the Government allocated an
:07:59. > :08:02.additional three and a half billion pounds a year by 2020 to adult
:08:03. > :08:06.social care. A few weeks ago I announced additional help of ?900
:08:07. > :08:11.million over the next two years. Local councils do have to play a
:08:12. > :08:14.role in this. I know it in Sunderland the average council tax
:08:15. > :08:20.Bill is down in real terms since 20 tenths and if they choose to
:08:21. > :08:24.allocate more in Sunderland, they can do that. -- since 2010. For my
:08:25. > :08:29.constituents the fundamental problem into many cases is we still separate
:08:30. > :08:32.health care funding and social care provision. It makes no sense to my
:08:33. > :08:39.constituents and increasingly little to me. Can I urge the Secretary of
:08:40. > :08:42.State to speed up interrogation of health and social provision, so we
:08:43. > :08:47.can deal with patients needs first and not budgetary arguments?
:08:48. > :08:50.Mr Speaker my honourable friend makes a very important point. That
:08:51. > :08:54.is when it comes to adult social care, it's not all about money. Of
:08:55. > :08:58.course money and resources have a huge role to play, but it's about
:08:59. > :09:02.how those services are delivered. We have seen for many councils where
:09:03. > :09:05.they are able to approach that integration in a better way, that
:09:06. > :09:10.they have seen significant efficiencies. I think we can all
:09:11. > :09:15.learn from that. Can I appeal to the Secretary of State to face the House
:09:16. > :09:21.so we can benefit from his mellifluous tones.
:09:22. > :09:25.Around ?40 million will have been taken out of the adult social care
:09:26. > :09:29.budget in Hull by 2020. You can see the effect of that Justice began,
:09:30. > :09:33.when you see what's happening in our local NHS hospitals. Will the
:09:34. > :09:36.Minister think again and make sure that the problem is that Local
:09:37. > :09:42.Authorities like Hull are facing are addressed by central government ring
:09:43. > :09:45.fenced money? Mr Speaker, I'm sure the honourable
:09:46. > :09:50.lady would welcome the announcement that was made a few weeks ago, which
:09:51. > :09:53.is trying to recognise just those pressures she identifies. That is an
:09:54. > :09:59.additional funding, on top of the 3.5 by 2020, an additional 900
:10:00. > :10:02.million over the next two years. What she rightly highlights as this
:10:03. > :10:08.is a situation that we need to keep looking at and see what more can be
:10:09. > :10:11.done. Further to what the honourable
:10:12. > :10:15.member for Hartford said, I couldn't agree more... I guess most members
:10:16. > :10:18.have had in their constituency surgery somebody who desperately
:10:19. > :10:25.needs help. The local government agree they need help, social care,
:10:26. > :10:28.the health service agrees they need help, but the health service and
:10:29. > :10:32.local government blame each other and it becomes a complete mess.
:10:33. > :10:34.Would it not be a good idea, on a cross-party basis, to look at a new
:10:35. > :10:46.model for social care? My honourable friend is right to
:10:47. > :10:50.point that out, many situations like that, I see them on my own
:10:51. > :10:54.constituency but also he highlights the need for lovers to talk about
:10:55. > :11:01.this issue and see what we can do working together. According to
:11:02. > :11:07.Stoke-on-Trent's commissioning group there is an average of 26 days delay
:11:08. > :11:12.between somebody leaving the hospital and getting social care in
:11:13. > :11:16.place. That's despite the ?6 million subsidy from the CCG, is that
:11:17. > :11:21.Stoke-on-Trent City Council's fault or the government's lack of funding?
:11:22. > :11:31.The normal member will welcome the
:11:32. > :11:37.recent announcement that we made for additional funding on top of the
:11:38. > :11:40.funding settlement that was allowed announced on the spending review in
:11:41. > :11:43.2015 but the government does also recognise that there needs to be a
:11:44. > :11:49.long-term sustainable solution and that's a reform he would welcome.
:11:50. > :11:54.Having spent a day with carers just before Christmas seeing their
:11:55. > :11:57.amazing work, they like me feel frustrated that they are constantly
:11:58. > :12:02.under financial pressure. With the minister look at what can be done
:12:03. > :12:04.about increasing funding for social care in addition to what we've
:12:05. > :12:08.already done and making sure that subject to a cast-iron ring fenced
:12:09. > :12:15.to make sure the money goes where it's needed most. I can assure my
:12:16. > :12:20.honourable friend that we continue to look at the resources applied to
:12:21. > :12:25.adult social care in local councils and central government to make sure
:12:26. > :12:30.that they are adequate. Also we will continue to push the case for reform
:12:31. > :12:40.to also make sure all councils realise there's more that can be
:12:41. > :12:42.done besides just more funding. What steps is the Secretary of State
:12:43. > :12:48.taking to ensure that local authorities are able to move
:12:49. > :12:53.patients in need of social care from hospitals to a more appropriate
:12:54. > :12:59.facility in a timely manner and prevent bed blocking? The honourable
:13:00. > :13:03.lady will know that there is a role in doing just that both from my
:13:04. > :13:07.department in working with local authorities and the Department of
:13:08. > :13:12.Health. Both the farmers are working very closely together on integration
:13:13. > :13:17.plans with local councils and that is why part of the funding, one and
:13:18. > :13:22.a half billion pounds by 2020 to improve better care and designed to
:13:23. > :13:31.do just that, money that goes towards trying to promote such
:13:32. > :13:38.integration. The House of Commons library figures show that in the
:13:39. > :13:42.period from November 20 13th to November 2016, instances of bed
:13:43. > :13:51.blocking where social care was solely responsible increased by 89%.
:13:52. > :13:57.In the 12 months to November 2016 alone, bed blocking has increased by
:13:58. > :13:59.39%. Does the Minister recognise that the preset package brought
:14:00. > :14:05.forward by the government in December is insufficient to solve
:14:06. > :14:13.the crisis in our social care system and is putting further pressure on
:14:14. > :14:16.our already stretched NHS. What the Minister recognises is that the
:14:17. > :14:20.additional funding announced in December will make a big difference.
:14:21. > :14:26.There's ?240 million additional coming in from the New Homes Bonus
:14:27. > :14:31.repurposed Singh, an additional ?600 million, it is new money and an
:14:32. > :14:39.initial ?600 million that is coming in from the changes. When it comes
:14:40. > :14:42.to using that money and we also want to see a delayed reduction in
:14:43. > :14:46.transfers of care, she'll be aware of big difference is between local
:14:47. > :14:47.councils and delayed transfers of care and councils could learn from
:14:48. > :14:59.others. I will answer this question together
:15:00. > :15:04.with question number 15. 97% of councils have accepted our historic
:15:05. > :15:08.offer of four year funding certainty and local government Finance Bill
:15:09. > :15:14.will ensure councils keep 100% of locally collected taxes by the end
:15:15. > :15:16.of this Parliament. The Secretary of State will be particularly aware
:15:17. > :15:19.that Worcestershire is a very attractive place to live, work and
:15:20. > :15:24.visit and a particularly attractive place to retire which is why we have
:15:25. > :15:26.a disproportionately large elderly population. How was the Department
:15:27. > :15:36.factoring in the additional needs of the more elderly population? I thank
:15:37. > :15:39.my honourable friend for the question and I wholeheartedly agree
:15:40. > :15:43.with his opinion of our great county. It's a great place for
:15:44. > :15:46.everyone to visit, live and to holiday Inn. I recognised the
:15:47. > :15:51.demographic pressures are affecting different areas in different ways,
:15:52. > :15:55.that's why we are under undertaking a fair funding review to introduce a
:15:56. > :16:03.more transparent and Federer needs assessment formula, something my
:16:04. > :16:07.friend will welcomed. The Secretary of State has received a proposal
:16:08. > :16:12.from Buckinghamshire County Council to create the new unitary authority.
:16:13. > :16:19.He's also a meeting with the District Council who are submitting
:16:20. > :16:22.a proposal to him for two unitary authorities. Can the Secretary of
:16:23. > :16:27.State confronted us that he will give both those proposals are equal
:16:28. > :16:31.and full consideration including consulting local residents as
:16:32. > :16:35.happened in Dorset and can he assure me that unitary status will not lead
:16:36. > :16:41.to any reduction in funding for Buckinghamshire residents. I can
:16:42. > :16:45.give my right honourable friend the assurance she seeks. Of course I
:16:46. > :16:50.will give careful consideration to all proposals received from local
:16:51. > :16:52.authorities such as those in Buckinghamshire including any
:16:53. > :16:57.financial implications, we need to ensure that any reform is right for
:16:58. > :17:01.local people and can deliver better services and strong local
:17:02. > :17:06.leadership. I should declare that I'm an elected member in the London
:17:07. > :17:08.Borough of Redbridge and local authorities like men face a double
:17:09. > :17:14.whammy of pressures through an ageing population but also a high
:17:15. > :17:19.birth rate which has real funding pressures on the authority. Does the
:17:20. > :17:25.Secretary of State accept that even by diverting resources from other
:17:26. > :17:29.services and by charging the maximum social care preset available, local
:17:30. > :17:33.authorities like mine will still face a shortfall in funding for
:17:34. > :17:40.vital services for older people and what's he going to do about it? The
:17:41. > :17:44.measures be announced in December will help his local authority. They
:17:45. > :17:48.will help every local authority in the land to deliver more adult
:17:49. > :17:52.social care services but as I've said, as well as more money, we need
:17:53. > :18:03.reform and some councils do need to learn from others. The 2015 account
:18:04. > :18:06.committee outlined the reduction in reduction in the support of local
:18:07. > :18:11.authorities, what does the Secretary of State may have to say to my
:18:12. > :18:13.Bristol South constituents concerned about the ?64 million cuts announced
:18:14. > :18:22.by Brit stole City Council last week will affect them -- Bristol City
:18:23. > :18:27.Council. I would say that don't forget where a Labour government
:18:28. > :18:32.gets you, the deepest deficit of any developed country, the biggest
:18:33. > :18:35.recession in almost 100 years, the largest banking bailout, all of that
:18:36. > :18:39.has meant that this government has had to make some difficult decisions
:18:40. > :18:47.and every part of local government has had to contribute. Does my right
:18:48. > :18:50.honourable friend had amused me that the long-term financial stability of
:18:51. > :18:55.local government is not only a function of funding from government
:18:56. > :19:00.that good management with the local authorities. What does my right
:19:01. > :19:03.honourable friend think we can do to attract people with business
:19:04. > :19:10.experience to run good local government? My honourable friend
:19:11. > :19:17.makes a very good point. It's also about leadership and that means
:19:18. > :19:20.having many businesses in your area and promoting them and you need
:19:21. > :19:24.someone with a good track record, someone who has that experience that
:19:25. > :19:32.local people will benefit from, I can think of some of them in the
:19:33. > :19:38.West Midlands. Andy Street. He knows full well that leaving patients in
:19:39. > :19:42.hospital when they are medically fit to be discharged like the 130
:19:43. > :19:47.currently at Aintree Hospital is a very expensive way of looking after
:19:48. > :19:51.people. Why isn't he shouting from the rooftops for the 4.6 billion
:19:52. > :19:56.that was cut from social care to be reinvested so councils can address
:19:57. > :20:03.this problem now and then the long term? Helping with adult social care
:20:04. > :20:06.is about resources, that's why I know the honourable gentleman will
:20:07. > :20:10.welcomed the announcement of a few weeks ago, an additional ?900
:20:11. > :20:14.million over the next two years but also I'm sure he'll agree to back
:20:15. > :20:17.reform as well and he would have noticed himself the big difference
:20:18. > :20:28.in delayed transfers of care between one authority on the other. The
:20:29. > :20:30.government has listen to calls from local government and representations
:20:31. > :20:34.made by honourable and right honourable members across the House.
:20:35. > :20:37.New changes outlined in the provisional local government finance
:20:38. > :20:44.settlement in December provide access to an additional ?900 million
:20:45. > :20:48.over the next two years. The social care preset would raise about 2.5
:20:49. > :20:53.million but Sutton is losing 8 million in revenue support grant is.
:20:54. > :20:57.The one-off social care grant will give Sutton ?750,000 pot sat is
:20:58. > :21:02.losing 1.5 million from the New Homes Bonus changes which are paying
:21:03. > :21:06.for the one-off grant resulting in a loss of ?800,000. Does the Minister
:21:07. > :21:11.agree that as long as the government are robbing Peter to pay Paul we
:21:12. > :21:16.will see cancer operations cancelled and patients left in distress
:21:17. > :21:22.because of bed blocking? As a result of the spending review, the
:21:23. > :21:27.announcement of the 5p extra into adult social care by 2020, three 5p
:21:28. > :21:32.per year and the announcement I made a few weeks ago of ?900 million over
:21:33. > :21:34.the next two years, all councils including Sutton will have more
:21:35. > :21:40.resources to deal with adult social care challenges. The Secretary of
:21:41. > :21:46.State will agree with me that the progress in Torbay was very welcome.
:21:47. > :21:50.We also agree that that it was concerning to see that very strict
:21:51. > :21:54.financial rules from NHS England are prompting a renegotiation in terms
:21:55. > :21:58.of a risk agreement even though no extra money was spent. Would he want
:21:59. > :22:04.with the council, the trust and colleagues to see if we can resolve
:22:05. > :22:10.this one? I'm happy to work with my honourable friend and see what can
:22:11. > :22:14.be done and listen to the issue in Torbay he's raised. Torbay is a good
:22:15. > :22:25.example of how integration can want and how it can really help local
:22:26. > :22:29.people. The government is committed to tackling homelessness, we have
:22:30. > :22:37.launched a ?50 million homelessness prevention package and up in the
:22:38. > :22:42.most ambitious legislative reforms. I'm delighted to Chelmsford will be
:22:43. > :22:48.one of the first areas announced by the Prime Minister last month. With
:22:49. > :22:51.the Minister agree with me that rough sleeping in the 20th century
:22:52. > :22:58.is totally unacceptable. Can the Minister tell me more about what is
:22:59. > :23:01.being done, not only an England as a whole but also in Chelmsford to end
:23:02. > :23:09.this stain on our society? I think the whole house will agree
:23:10. > :23:12.with my right honourable friend that it's totally unacceptable and we
:23:13. > :23:20.should do all we can to end rough sleeping. Our ?20 million rough
:23:21. > :23:22.sleeping grant will fund 54 projects working to provide rapid response
:23:23. > :23:26.support for rough sleepers across England, it will help prevent people
:23:27. > :23:29.from spending a night on the streets in the first place. I'm delighted to
:23:30. > :23:34.tell my right honourable friend that Chelmsford will receive almost
:23:35. > :23:38.?900,000 funding for presenting homelessness in partnership with
:23:39. > :23:44.neighbouring local authorities. The inspirational lady's football player
:23:45. > :23:48.Fara Williams Will Thomas at 17 but went on to captain and play 137
:23:49. > :23:53.times for England and is now at Arsenal. She is supporting the
:23:54. > :23:57.centrepoint appeal for funds to setup the first national freephone
:23:58. > :24:01.helpline for 16-25 adults who are homeless and risk of life on the
:24:02. > :24:05.streets as she was. With the Minister agree this is a tremendous
:24:06. > :24:09.initiative, long overdue and should be government funded? I think the
:24:10. > :24:15.honourable lady quite rightly brings to our attention a prime example of
:24:16. > :24:21.the fact that just because somebody is homeless, somebody is rough
:24:22. > :24:24.sleeping, they don't have the ability to actually reach their full
:24:25. > :24:30.potential and that is what we need to encourage. I would say to the
:24:31. > :24:36.honourable lady that the government currently pays for a service called
:24:37. > :24:41.straight link where people can ring in or use an app where they can
:24:42. > :24:44.report people who are sleeping rough which is then brought to the
:24:45. > :24:51.attention of the local housing needs department. With the Minister
:24:52. > :24:54.congratulates Kettering Borough Council and its inspirational
:24:55. > :24:58.housing director John Conway for the measures they've taken during the
:24:59. > :25:02.recent cold weather to get all rough sleepers of the streets and
:25:03. > :25:07.Kettering and give them the appropriate housing advice they
:25:08. > :25:11.need? I thank my honourable friend for Kettering to bring that very
:25:12. > :25:16.important and heartening example, some of our local authorities are
:25:17. > :25:19.doing excellent work to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping on
:25:20. > :25:22.the type of initiative that my honourable friend is talking about
:25:23. > :25:29.is the type of initiative that should be followed by other local
:25:30. > :25:33.authorities. On Wednesday Glasgow City Council will consider a report
:25:34. > :25:37.that shows the devastating impact that universal credit rollers are
:25:38. > :25:41.having on homeless services. So far this resulted in 73 homeless
:25:42. > :25:47.individuals racking up debts to the Council of ?144,000. An average of
:25:48. > :25:50.1971 per person which is completely under sustainable board for the
:25:51. > :25:51.individuals and for the Council. Can the Minister tell me what impact
:25:52. > :26:04.these roll-outs are having I concede to the Honourable lady
:26:05. > :26:10.that we have increased the special housing payments to ?17 million
:26:11. > :26:14.across this Parliament to mitigate some of the short-term challenges we
:26:15. > :26:24.are facing from the real fear changes being made. I would also say
:26:25. > :26:33.that the local housing rates, 30% of that is going to be repaid, with
:26:34. > :26:40.regard to the challenges of affordability. That is completely
:26:41. > :26:44.inadequate. The homelessness services in Glasgow have seen cups
:26:45. > :26:52.of over ?6 million in the past five years. Does the Minister not accept
:26:53. > :26:56.that to help rough sleepers and those who are homeless, there has to
:26:57. > :27:05.be a coordinated approach across all government departments? That is a
:27:06. > :27:14.good point. I can assure her that we are working extremely hard on this.
:27:15. > :27:18.We are working across governmental working group that they cheer, I can
:27:19. > :27:23.also see with regard to accommodation, the temporary
:27:24. > :27:28.accommodation management fee is being devolved to local authorities.
:27:29. > :27:36.In her case, being devolved to the Scottish Government. Should the
:27:37. > :27:49.government not be apologising for sweeping to be doubling since 2010.
:27:50. > :28:01.Under the last Labour government, Street homelessness was cut by three
:28:02. > :28:07.quarters. Will he commit to an extra 4000 homes to end rough sleeping
:28:08. > :28:14.forever. During the period of the Labour government, at 2003,
:28:15. > :28:21.homelessness was actually at its peak. This government is absolutely
:28:22. > :28:25.committed to making sure that we eradicate rough sleeping and we are
:28:26. > :28:32.working extremely hard. A ?20 million fund has been put to local
:28:33. > :28:39.authorities. A ?10 million social impact fund to get the most
:28:40. > :28:52.entrenched sleepers of the street. We have taken significant action.
:28:53. > :29:05.Figures from the estate agent sure that investment in the retail factor
:29:06. > :29:11.was down 7% from the previous year. The local authority does what it can
:29:12. > :29:17.but it is limited in its authority. Will the Minister agree to meet with
:29:18. > :29:24.me and other college to discuss the transfer meat of measures that are
:29:25. > :29:30.required. I discussed the issue of regeneration with the cheer of the
:29:31. > :29:38.business partnership just before Christmas. We are looking at how we
:29:39. > :29:46.can share best practice. This is very much an issue which affects all
:29:47. > :29:52.of the country. Many small towns are being stripped of the banks. Will
:29:53. > :29:57.the Minister try and encourage more competition in the retail banking
:29:58. > :30:05.sector so we can see a return to more banks with a times? This is an
:30:06. > :30:15.important point. -- this is something I am interested in talking
:30:16. > :30:30.about with them. It has a big impact on many constituencies. We recognise
:30:31. > :30:36.the pleasures faced by the social care system. On top of the funding
:30:37. > :30:41.we announced two years ago, ?3.25 billion a year, we are providing an
:30:42. > :30:46.additional main hundred million pounds over the next two years for
:30:47. > :30:55.social care. The ROM has already had to meet ?55 million worth of cuts.
:30:56. > :31:02.There is another 40 million in the pay claim. What we are facing some
:31:03. > :31:08.villages where private contractors cannot afford to inflate any social
:31:09. > :31:15.care whatsoever. Can I suggest that the Minister that the goods back to
:31:16. > :31:19.the Treasury and asks for a no another relevance. The honourable
:31:20. > :31:23.lady will know that the city will benefit from main hundred million
:31:24. > :31:29.pounds that the government is giving local authorities access to over the
:31:30. > :31:35.next two years. They will significantly benefit from
:31:36. > :31:40.improvements to the key fund. ?825 million the following year and ?1.5
:31:41. > :31:46.billion in the term of this Parliament. Given that so much of
:31:47. > :31:52.the funding goes towards care homes. Many of these care homes are failing
:31:53. > :31:58.inspections, with the Minister think there are cheerful reform should be
:31:59. > :32:02.included in the social care bill. Should local authorities have to
:32:03. > :32:07.build nuclear homes just as they have to build new schools? Thank you
:32:08. > :32:29.for these constructive suggestions. We are always willing to listen to
:32:30. > :32:32.them. -- new care. . Funding per head of population in Westminster
:32:33. > :32:42.and Chelsea is almost double that received by Edinburgh. Could the
:32:43. > :32:48.Minister confirm that not only were delicate ring fencing these payments
:32:49. > :32:57.but also properly reflecting the assessed needs of the people within
:32:58. > :33:02.our community. I met with the chief finance officer of Enfield last week
:33:03. > :33:07.along with my honourable friend. That was as part of the local
:33:08. > :33:14.government finance settlement consultation. The local authorities
:33:15. > :33:17.across the country are getting the benefit of this main hundred million
:33:18. > :33:35.pounds level of access to over the next two years. The neighbourhood
:33:36. > :33:39.planning Bill. Ensuring that communities have the ability to
:33:40. > :33:47.control what is built in the area, not speculative developers. It has
:33:48. > :34:00.been encouraging to see these plans being put forward in recent years.
:34:01. > :34:06.Will the Minister ensure that the plans carry the fuel weight over
:34:07. > :34:15.that period of time? The government expectation is that plans will be
:34:16. > :34:25.reviewed every five years. I can reassure her on that point. We need
:34:26. > :34:35.to involve local and national businesses more in this procedure.
:34:36. > :34:38.So much of the street sees money sucked out of the local communities
:34:39. > :34:46.and very little investment group back. What will they do to stop
:34:47. > :34:50.this. There is a proposal to have neighbourhood plan simply for
:34:51. > :34:56.business. But there is a way that issue of ensuring that we make sure
:34:57. > :35:06.that its value when planning up permission is applying for. Can we
:35:07. > :35:10.paid tribute to the hundreds of people who devote lots of time in
:35:11. > :35:17.Sussex to put forward neighbourhood plans. It is further in that it is
:35:18. > :35:23.essential that we ensure the integrity of these plans. He has
:35:24. > :35:31.been a huge advocate of neighbourhood planning in Sussex. I
:35:32. > :35:41.hope some of the concerns will be addressed. The pressure local
:35:42. > :35:50.authority budgets encourages the building of a cost, high cost
:35:51. > :35:58.housing, to increase council tax income. But that is missing the
:35:59. > :36:03.point. What will be done to encourage local authorities to make
:36:04. > :36:11.sure housing needs are met? The framework is very clear on that.
:36:12. > :36:16.They are not looking at the total number of posters required, but also
:36:17. > :36:28.catering for the demographic in the area. I welcome the increased
:36:29. > :36:36.neighbourhood Housing starts. That has more than doubled but we need a
:36:37. > :36:49.resurgence for the small and medium-sized house-builder. Will the
:36:50. > :36:54.involve all parts of the business when these plans come to fruition?
:36:55. > :37:00.My honourable friend is absolutely great. We need to involve all sizes
:37:01. > :37:09.of the industry, rather than just relying on a few of the bigger
:37:10. > :37:15.companies. There will be a ?2 billion accelerated construction
:37:16. > :37:28.plan. There will also be support for 17 Garden towns and villages. As my
:37:29. > :37:34.honourable friend knows, we published findings into the quality
:37:35. > :37:39.of new-build houses. Is my honourable friend willing to meet
:37:40. > :37:47.with the all-party group to see what could be included in the forthcoming
:37:48. > :37:52.white paper? I attended a meeting with regard to the Private sector,
:37:53. > :37:58.which he is also the chairman. He is quite great to see that we need to
:37:59. > :38:03.face the fundamental challenge of building the house we need, but not
:38:04. > :38:11.losing sight of the quality we need, not just the quantity. Our
:38:12. > :38:20.Westminster Council rate to expect other local authorities to take on
:38:21. > :38:31.the responsibility of housing as well as social care? I would hope
:38:32. > :38:39.everybody would expect that as much as possible local authorities should
:38:40. > :38:44.help meet the housing needs. Some local authorities have placed people
:38:45. > :38:48.in wealthier areas shows you feel your overall has 30-40 years to
:38:49. > :39:03.build more houses. We will put that rate. Very few residents are we are
:39:04. > :39:09.and do not see the Dean development. Should be more of an explanation as
:39:10. > :39:15.to how the housing is spent? There is a way that issue. Communities
:39:16. > :39:26.have to see the benefit of the housing. There's also the lady and
:39:27. > :39:36.the idea that communities know the benefits of what they are getting.
:39:37. > :39:46.There has been an increase of 20%, with regard to 1% in the south. Over
:39:47. > :39:53.Christmas, hard-working local people had to take CDs unimpeded leave,
:39:54. > :40:01.effectively a pay cut. Openly set there and tell me that the cuts
:40:02. > :40:08.being imposed on Dudley are anyway fear? I would point out that over
:40:09. > :40:20.the course of this Parliament, the government is doubling the capital
:40:21. > :40:30.budget. The government concluded the business rates review. The NIC 6.7
:40:31. > :40:34.billion pounds cut in rates business. As a result, 600,000 small
:40:35. > :40:48.businesses will benefit. This is of little benefit to people
:40:49. > :40:58.who are struggling on the high Street. There is no doubt there are
:40:59. > :41:08.many challenges facing the retailers in our high Street. But of the ?6.7
:41:09. > :41:12.billion. He may want some of the businesses on his street to check
:41:13. > :41:18.the recent evaluation of the rates business.
:41:19. > :41:26.Question number 12, Mr Speaker. 01 should ever have to sleep rough. Our
:41:27. > :41:32.?20 million grant should help those new the streets. ?10 million for
:41:33. > :41:37.social bonds covering 48 areas will build on the success of the world's
:41:38. > :41:41.first social impact bond which we funded in London. This has helped
:41:42. > :41:46.over 400 in trench rough sleepers get back on their feet and into
:41:47. > :41:50.accommodation. I appreciate that response yet called a council tell
:41:51. > :41:53.me the number of non-statutory rust ethers in our district has never
:41:54. > :41:56.been higher and while local territories are doing everything
:41:57. > :42:02.they can to tackle homelessness, the council is supporting people budget
:42:03. > :42:06.has been slashed. Because the Minister agree that unless we
:42:07. > :42:10.support councils to do this job properly, we have no hope of
:42:11. > :42:14.reducing these numbers? As the Honourable Lady will know, this
:42:15. > :42:17.Government is backing me homelessness reduction Bill
:42:18. > :42:20.currently going through the House. That will put a number of
:42:21. > :42:23.obligations through local authorities to help people earlier
:42:24. > :42:26.so they do not become homeless and stop the announcement in terms of
:42:27. > :42:33.funding for that bill will be made very, very shortly and we are also,
:42:34. > :42:36.as the honourable lady has heard, providing ?50 million to help that
:42:37. > :42:40.work at this point so that we do not waste time waiting for the
:42:41. > :42:43.legislation to come into effect. Mr Speaker, in Derby city, we are
:42:44. > :42:48.currently looking at alternative ways to give in to homeless people
:42:49. > :42:52.such as vouchers, an app or three website. Can I ask the Minister to
:42:53. > :42:58.consider looking at those tenets of giving methods and see if it is
:42:59. > :43:02.possible to take forward? I think my honourable friend makes a very good
:43:03. > :43:05.point and it is generally for members of the public to consider
:43:06. > :43:11.the way in which they might want to give to people that are homeless. As
:43:12. > :43:15.I have said, a number of times today, the Government is absolutely
:43:16. > :43:19.focused on helping rough sleepers. The social impact bond, ?10 million
:43:20. > :43:22.being put to that, will help some of the most entrenched rough sleepers
:43:23. > :43:29.of the street and I'm sure that all we all want to see. Number 30, Mr
:43:30. > :43:32.Speaker. Pubs are at the heart of community life and that is why we
:43:33. > :43:38.have made provision for the community value to be placed on the
:43:39. > :43:41.register by Republicans at the Valley of the pub and that takes
:43:42. > :43:47.away the development right automatically. The cooperative pub
:43:48. > :43:52.mole is saving bible locals across the country but the impact of
:43:53. > :43:56.community valuable treatment value which enables this in the first
:43:57. > :44:00.place can often be far too clunky and lengthy. Would not better
:44:01. > :44:07.approach be to remove permitted development right and protect by
:44:08. > :44:11.default? There are 1750 pubs, in excess of that listed as assets of
:44:12. > :44:15.community value. The mundane nomination goes in, the right are
:44:16. > :44:18.already removed and of course, local authorities are free if they wish to
:44:19. > :44:26.apply for an article for designation and remove those rights across a
:44:27. > :44:31.whole area. As he now knows, the Minister, the Honourable Jazmine for
:44:32. > :44:35.Croydon, was misled by the British Pub Association about the fact that
:44:36. > :44:40.permissible rights would not have any effect on improvements to pubs.
:44:41. > :44:46.Can the department is now confirmed that it would simply change the user
:44:47. > :44:49.class order? As I have made clear, we think that this is an area where
:44:50. > :44:53.we have two balance competing interests. It is something I am keen
:44:54. > :44:57.to continue looking at as I continue in this role but we want to support
:44:58. > :45:03.community pubs and that is why I can also announce today that we are
:45:04. > :45:08.providing ?50,000 of funding to pub is the hub which will help more pubs
:45:09. > :45:11.to transform and to be valued by their communities and IP particular
:45:12. > :45:16.tribute to the member from Weaver Vale who lobbied me quite hard on
:45:17. > :45:23.this. Number 16, Mr Speaker. Speaker, we are in the process of
:45:24. > :45:32.bringing in civil purposes, a doosras of Rod Laver Lloyds,
:45:33. > :45:35.mandatory registering of MMO 's. Manchester is doing some innovative
:45:36. > :45:38.work on cracking down on rogue landlords but there are issues
:45:39. > :45:43.currently with the geographical scope of the licensing scheme. But
:45:44. > :45:45.the minister meet with me and Manchester authorities and the
:45:46. > :45:50.residential landlords Association see how we can raise standards
:45:51. > :45:53.together? We have in the past provided ?100,000 of funding to
:45:54. > :45:55.Manchester for this work. I would be delighted to meet with the
:45:56. > :45:58.honourable gentleman. This is a critical area. We need to drive out
:45:59. > :46:04.rogue landlords of the decent landlords are not facing unfair
:46:05. > :46:09.competition. The City Council is about to commence a selective
:46:10. > :46:14.licensing scheme to crack down on rapacious slum landlords and protect
:46:15. > :46:20.vulnerable tenants under the Housing act 2004. They ask the Minister
:46:21. > :46:22.whether he will keep in review the bureaucratic burden that falls on
:46:23. > :46:28.local authorities because the whole process from start to finish is not
:46:29. > :46:30.timely and takes far too long. I would be very happy to give an
:46:31. > :46:33.undertaking to do that and to meet with my honourable friend if he
:46:34. > :46:42.wishes to discuss this in more detail. Question 18. Mr Speaker, as
:46:43. > :46:47.announced by my right honourable friend the chance that the Autumn
:46:48. > :46:50.Statement, we will shortly publish a strategy to include ?392 million for
:46:51. > :46:55.our local growth funds for the Midlands engine local enterprise
:46:56. > :47:00.partnership. I was delighted to see that he met the first ever Midlands
:47:01. > :47:07.engine trade mission last year. Can updaters with progress on that? Mr
:47:08. > :47:10.Speaker, first of all I will say that my friend has done a lot to
:47:11. > :47:14.champion businesses and economic growth in the Midlands. That first
:47:15. > :47:18.mission, the trade mission to North America went well. It went so well
:47:19. > :47:21.we went ahead with a second mission to China for the Midlands region and
:47:22. > :47:25.my honourable friend will be pleased to know that we are working with the
:47:26. > :47:28.Department for International trade in other departments across
:47:29. > :47:30.Government and we will surely be publishing a millions energy
:47:31. > :47:41.strategy reaffirming our commitment to the Midlands. Number one, Mr
:47:42. > :47:45.Speaker. We are starting 2017 as we mean to go on. The housing White
:47:46. > :47:48.Paper is nearing completion. The local Government Finance Bill was
:47:49. > :47:51.published last week and as we have heard it creates the framework for
:47:52. > :47:56.business rates retention. It also features what my briefing refers to
:47:57. > :48:02.as discretionary relief on public toilets. I'm sorry to say is not
:48:03. > :48:09.quite what the name suggests. I will try not to follow that joke anyway.
:48:10. > :48:12.Can I thank the Minister for the northern powerhouse for his help for
:48:13. > :48:16.comments in support of the Sheffield city region in the last few days.
:48:17. > :48:18.Could I ask the Secretary of State asked whether the Government will
:48:19. > :48:23.confirm they want the city region deal to go ahead as agreed? They do
:48:24. > :48:26.not support this vague concept of a mayor for Yorkshire which will not
:48:27. > :48:28.deliver better looks services and improve economic growth and is
:48:29. > :48:36.arguably at the out with legal framework from the devolution act?
:48:37. > :48:39.It's very different that share of the select committee to thank the
:48:40. > :48:43.northern powerhouse Minister. Very good of him. I can tell the
:48:44. > :48:46.honourable gentleman that we remain strongly committed to the devolution
:48:47. > :48:50.deal for Sheffield city region. We will continue to work with local
:48:51. > :48:53.readers who have now proposed a mayoral election for May 20 18. We
:48:54. > :48:59.will also continue to discuss with local partners devolution deals
:49:00. > :49:06.elsewhere in Yorkshire including in Leeds. Can I welcome the Secretary
:49:07. > :49:11.of State's commitment to commit the Reed create a housing market that
:49:12. > :49:15.works for everyone. In my area in Leicestershire, new housing starts
:49:16. > :49:19.have now hit 273% higher than the year ending September 20 ten. Can I
:49:20. > :49:24.give the Secretary of State a challenge as he set out his new
:49:25. > :49:29.Housing White Paper? Can we do even better? I hope we can rise to the
:49:30. > :49:32.challenge. Every local authority was building at the rate at his local
:49:33. > :49:39.authority is building then we would be building 370,000 homes a year in
:49:40. > :49:42.this country. That is a sign, I think, that it is possible to build
:49:43. > :49:46.the homes this country needs it just requires political will. My question
:49:47. > :49:50.is for the Secretary of State. Where is your Housing White Paper? We were
:49:51. > :49:54.promised it in the autumn. We were then promised it alongside the
:49:55. > :49:57.Autumn Statement. Then before the end of the year, then first thing in
:49:58. > :50:01.the New Year and we were told, Mr Speaker, that it was in the
:50:02. > :50:04.Government's grip for publication to date. It has been delayed more times
:50:05. > :50:14.then a trip on Southern rail. LAUGHTER
:50:15. > :50:18.So I say, what is the problem? Mr Speaker, the right honourable
:50:19. > :50:22.gentleman does not have to work the Reed wait long. When he does see it,
:50:23. > :50:25.he will see does a lot more than what happened under the last Labour
:50:26. > :50:30.Government which when he was the Housing Minister, understand
:50:31. > :50:34.house-building felt was those levels as the 1920s. He has shown us
:50:35. > :50:40.exactly what the problem is which that the huge gap between the
:50:41. > :50:45.Government's rhetoric on housing and their records. Under Labour, we saw
:50:46. > :50:48.2 million new homes, 1 million more homeowners and the largest
:50:49. > :50:51.investment programme in social housing for a generation. For seven
:50:52. > :50:55.years under Tory ministers, we have seen failure on all fronts. Higher
:50:56. > :51:02.homelessness, fewer holders and less affordable housing. Even the Housing
:51:03. > :51:05.minister has said its affordable housing is an acceptably low and
:51:06. > :51:09.feeble. Does the Secretary of State agree and what is he going to do in
:51:10. > :51:16.his White Paper to deal with this crisis? Mr Speaker, under Labour, we
:51:17. > :51:23.saw Housing affordability measured by medium prices to the average
:51:24. > :51:28.house price double going up from 3.5 times 27 times. Was the number of
:51:29. > :51:32.first-time buyers fall by 55%. We saw the number of units available
:51:33. > :51:39.for social rent declined by 421,000th. That is Labour's record
:51:40. > :51:44.on housing. Question and answers please. Citizens will do. Giazzon
:51:45. > :51:48.and South Bucks District Council are providing a new local plan and have
:51:49. > :51:51.consulted on the problems of meeting development needs using the green
:51:52. > :51:55.belt. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that green belt land
:51:56. > :52:00.is vital to preserving the character of places like Amersham and the 80
:52:01. > :52:05.NBA and should not be developed other than in truly exceptional
:52:06. > :52:09.circumstances? I agree with my right honourable friend. The purpose of
:52:10. > :52:12.the green belt is very clear. It should preserve the setting and
:52:13. > :52:16.special character of historic towns for example like those in her
:52:17. > :52:21.constituency. Where councils do look at green belt, they should always
:52:22. > :52:26.make sure that the NPP F rules are met and stop Brownfield should
:52:27. > :52:30.always be prioritised. The recent publication of the voluntary right
:52:31. > :52:33.to buy pilot schemes were Housing association tenants show that very
:52:34. > :52:36.few completions were achieved in return for the enormous time and
:52:37. > :52:40.effort expended. New affordable housing is a key element in
:52:41. > :52:43.Cambridgeshire's devolution deal. For the minister promised no
:52:44. > :52:48.distraction for the opportunity this gives us to build a supply of homes
:52:49. > :52:51.in our area? Right to buy provides replacement affordable housing. The
:52:52. > :52:54.honourable judgment should be supporting it because it allows
:52:55. > :52:58.people to own their own home when they could not do so otherwise and
:52:59. > :53:02.provides new housing. Earlier this year the Secretary of State
:53:03. > :53:05.announced next ?7 billion fund to expand the Government's affordable
:53:06. > :53:08.housing programme. I welcome to this and it will help constituents. But
:53:09. > :53:12.there is also a concern that the need for new homes will outweigh the
:53:13. > :53:18.need to protect our greenfield land so can the Minister Shami and my
:53:19. > :53:23.constituents that it remains... I can get heard the assurance. Ie
:53:24. > :53:26.Congratulate her on championing Brownfield and the new registers
:53:27. > :53:31.that we are introducing will help make sure that a register doing the
:53:32. > :53:35.building is focused on Brownfield. Available housing provision is the
:53:36. > :53:38.key to reducing homelessness and stop his Government should look to
:53:39. > :53:43.the Welsh Labour Government legislative pledges of 5.6 million
:53:44. > :53:46.in 2015 and 3 million in the following years to help fund
:53:47. > :53:52.affordable homes to rent as well as to buy. The honourable lady will
:53:53. > :53:55.have heard the Austin statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer adding
:53:56. > :53:59.?1.4 billion to the affordable housing budget. We are doubling the
:54:00. > :54:02.housing capital budget over this Government and that is a rhetoric
:54:03. > :54:06.that is proof of our commitment to delivering the housing that is
:54:07. > :54:10.needed. Together with the starter homeland fund the new locally led
:54:11. > :54:13.garden Village will deliver new homes and support first-time buyers.
:54:14. > :54:16.Will my right arm for frantically in how the Government is working with
:54:17. > :54:20.local authorities to deliver the new garden villages and will he agree to
:54:21. > :54:26.visit to see how the local community will benefit from this new scheme?
:54:27. > :54:30.It was a pleasure to announce 40 new garden villages that between will
:54:31. > :54:33.provide 48,000 new homes and it will be a pleasure to come and visit the
:54:34. > :54:38.honourable lady's constituency and see the progress made.
:54:39. > :54:46.Stoke-on-Trent's City Council is proposing to cut children's centres.
:54:47. > :54:50.Does he think that is acceptable? Mr Speaker, every council has a certain
:54:51. > :54:53.statutory service in needs to provide including children's
:54:54. > :54:57.services. We want to make sure every council is properly funded and
:54:58. > :55:00.Stoke-on-Trent council and many others have accepted before you
:55:01. > :55:04.submit and that is good news. Labour City Council in Lincoln are
:55:05. > :55:07.determined to build homes on the swap and flood plane in the heart of
:55:08. > :55:13.our city even though a private developer divided the area was
:55:14. > :55:17.unsuitable. What advice would he give council to act as a director 's
:55:18. > :55:20.Manor? I got my honourable friend will understand as I cannot comment
:55:21. > :55:25.specifically on any individual planning case but we have however
:55:26. > :55:28.very strict, clear rules that say councils must consider a strict
:55:29. > :55:31.tests under the National planning policy framework that protect people
:55:32. > :55:38.and property from flooding. Where these tests are not met, that
:55:39. > :55:44.development should not go ahead. A year ago, local authorities were hit
:55:45. > :55:48.with a ?200 million cut in public health support. The select committee
:55:49. > :55:51.described these as a false economy is adding to future health costs.
:55:52. > :55:55.What impact does the Minister believe these cuts are going to have
:55:56. > :55:59.on health inequalities and would he meet with me in representatives from
:56:00. > :56:01.Hounslow to raise their concerns about the impact on children and
:56:02. > :56:20.others in the community? I would see 25% of government
:56:21. > :56:29.expenditure is being spent through local government, there are always
:56:30. > :56:39.situations when that is not always the case. The health budget is being
:56:40. > :56:49.hugely increased. I am sure local government is more than able to meet
:56:50. > :56:54.the challenge. Councils have not been in touch with neighbouring
:56:55. > :57:01.councils who may be more affected by the redevelopment proposals with
:57:02. > :57:10.regard to new garden villages. Can he please contact them as a matter
:57:11. > :57:20.of urgency? I thank him for bringing up the situation with regarding that
:57:21. > :57:28.challenge. There were 40,000 social rented homes who were building but
:57:29. > :57:37.that has now been hugely reduced. Why is that? The Moto social rented
:57:38. > :57:42.homes declined under Labour. We have invested billions in social rented
:57:43. > :57:58.homes. That included the huge increase in the Autumn Statement.
:57:59. > :58:02.The council received ?14,000 to help with the sleepless programme. Any
:58:03. > :58:06.join me in congratulating me on the work we have done to prevent people
:58:07. > :58:13.sleeping rough during the winter. That is exactly what we wanted to
:58:14. > :58:14.achieve, by putting local charities working in tandem with charitable
:58:15. > :58:40.organisations. Today is Martin Luuther King Day.
:58:41. > :58:52.Can we please celebrate the 50 years since the honourable gentleman
:58:53. > :58:59.visited Newcastle and was given the freedom of the city. The appointed
:59:00. > :59:08.to great work. Can we emphasise the need to jump champion the values
:59:09. > :59:15.exemplified by Doctor King. Would he agree that freedom city 2017
:59:16. > :59:22.provides is not opportunity, and 81, first to do that. Mr Speaker, I
:59:23. > :59:28.wholeheartedly. She is quite rate to talk about the importance of Martin
:59:29. > :59:38.Luuther King honour at this stage is a celebration of his life and work.
:59:39. > :59:42.We should all do well to remember that we have still able to live
:59:43. > :59:49.together and we could all learn from that, whether you are here or in the
:59:50. > :59:53.United States. Why did the free paper not envisage a greater role
:59:54. > :59:58.for the public sector? I can reassure my honourable friend that
:59:59. > :00:08.the government wants to see everyone getting involved. The more people
:00:09. > :00:16.getting involved the better. Councils across the country are
:00:17. > :00:22.highlighting the enormous gap between the increased costs of
:00:23. > :00:28.social care and the budgets, because of the implementation of the minimum
:00:29. > :00:32.wage. Will the Secretary of State approach accept that his approach to
:00:33. > :00:36.social care funding is simply not credible and will he go on a
:00:37. > :00:41.different approach to make sure people across the country get the
:00:42. > :00:47.care they need. We have taken the issue very seriously. There was an
:00:48. > :00:52.announcement a few weeks ago that the added ?2 billion over the next
:00:53. > :01:02.two years. But we do accept there is still a lot to do. Elaine Dorset
:01:03. > :01:10.councils submitted proposals to establish one authority. Could this
:01:11. > :01:15.be brought forward in sufficient time so that it could be set up at
:01:16. > :01:22.the beginning of April. We have only just received the proposals. We want
:01:23. > :01:33.to make sure we take the right amount of time to consider them
:01:34. > :01:39.carefully. I welcome the fact that this is being named as one of the
:01:40. > :01:43.trailblazers for homelessness. But there are places which are far more
:01:44. > :01:52.attractive for developers and landlords. It is sometimes more in
:01:53. > :01:59.the interest to provide emergency accommodation, rather than decent
:02:00. > :02:06.family homes. I except to point with regard to temporary accommodation.
:02:07. > :02:10.We hope that through the devolution of accommodation management, it will
:02:11. > :02:19.make it more attractive for people to be able to maintain temporary
:02:20. > :02:26.accommodation. The new garden village will bring thousands more
:02:27. > :02:28.homes into Northamptonshire. Can my constituents be reassured that the
:02:29. > :02:39.infrastructure needed to support these homes will be instigated. That
:02:40. > :02:43.is all part of the concept. If we are going to accept more housing, we
:02:44. > :02:48.simply have to get the infrastructure rate. That is why the
:02:49. > :02:58.new funding for the infrastructure fund was so welcome. Can I ask the
:02:59. > :03:04.Health Secretary how many local authority leaders he has met to
:03:05. > :03:09.discuss social health care. The answer was not encouraging. Will he
:03:10. > :03:15.meet them to discuss the deal crisis in social care. I concede to the
:03:16. > :03:23.honourable gentleman I have met a number of local authority leaders in
:03:24. > :03:27.the past few weeks. I met them as part of the local government finance
:03:28. > :03:38.settlement. We will continue to do that. It is important that we
:03:39. > :03:39.understand the challenges the house. I like to receive the honourable
:03:40. > :03:40.gentleman