:00:08. > :00:13.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from
:00:14. > :00:16.Westminster. In an puzzlement time the Shadow Health Secretary John
:00:17. > :00:21.Ashworth will ask an urgent question on the loss of confidential NHS
:00:22. > :00:24.correspondence by NHS shared business services. The company
:00:25. > :00:29.failed to forward confidential documents about patient are removed
:00:30. > :00:32.or changed GP surgeries. Around half a million medical documents,
:00:33. > :00:37.including cancer test results, were put into storage rather than being
:00:38. > :00:42.sent to family doctors. After that, two new MPs will be introduced to
:00:43. > :00:47.the Commons following last week's by-elections. MPs will then spend
:00:48. > :00:51.the rest of the day debating public spending for future flood prevention
:00:52. > :00:55.and health and social care in England. In the House of Lords peers
:00:56. > :00:59.begin their detailed debate on the legislation triggering the UK's exit
:01:00. > :01:05.from the EU. You can watch that lifts using the BBC's red button
:01:06. > :01:12.service or via our website/ Parliament. Do remember to join me
:01:13. > :01:14.for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock
:01:15. > :01:19.tonight, and before we have questions to the communities and
:01:20. > :01:21.Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid and his ministers, the Speaker
:01:22. > :01:24.will pay tribute to the Labour MP and father of the House, who passed
:01:25. > :01:43.away yesterday. Order, order. It is with great
:01:44. > :01:54.sadness that I have to report to the House the death of the Right
:01:55. > :02:01.Honourable Sir Gerald Kaufman. He will be sorely missed by his
:02:02. > :02:04.relatives, by his friends, by his constituents and by his
:02:05. > :02:08.parliamentary colleagues, not to mention very large numbers of people
:02:09. > :02:18.across this country and around the world. Colleagues before Gerald
:02:19. > :02:27.entered Parliament and after leaving Oxford University, Gerald worked as
:02:28. > :02:30.assistant General Secretary of the Fabian Society and a journalist on
:02:31. > :02:34.the Daily Mirror and for the new statesman. Thereafter he was
:02:35. > :02:40.Parliamentary press liaison officer for the Labour Party, working
:02:41. > :02:47.closely with Harold Wilson. He entered this house as colleagues
:02:48. > :02:54.will know, in June 1970 as the member of Parliament for Manchester
:02:55. > :02:59.Ardwick, which constituency he represented until 1983. Thereafter
:03:00. > :03:06.and following boundary changes, he represented Manchester Gorton from
:03:07. > :03:11.1983 without interruption. He was, as we know, the father of the House.
:03:12. > :03:18.He served in this place belligerently, with principal and
:03:19. > :03:27.utter dedication for well over 46 years. Under Harold Wilson and Jim
:03:28. > :03:31.Callaghan, Gerald served as a minister with responsibility for the
:03:32. > :03:37.environment and subsequently with responsibility for industry. In
:03:38. > :03:43.opposition he was a long serving and distinguished member of Labour's
:03:44. > :03:48.Shadow Cabinet, serving as Shadow Secretary of State for the
:03:49. > :03:53.environment, Shadow Home Secretary and, indeed, as Shadow Foreign
:03:54. > :03:57.Secretary. Many people will know he was a prolific writer, the author of
:03:58. > :04:04.several books, not least and perhaps most memorably a book entitled How
:04:05. > :04:09.To Be A Minister. After he ceased to serve on the front bench, Gerald
:04:10. > :04:16.chaired initially the select committee on National Heritage for,
:04:17. > :04:21.if memory serves me correctly, a full parliament, and then when the
:04:22. > :04:26.committee took its new form the culture media and sport select
:04:27. > :04:34.committee, it Gerald chaired that committee for two hold parliaments.
:04:35. > :04:39.Since 2010, Gerald has been the longest serving Labour member of
:04:40. > :04:44.Parliament and since 2015 he has, of course, been Father of the House. In
:04:45. > :04:47.more recent years I have been privileged to be supported by Gerald
:04:48. > :04:53.on the speakers committee on the Electoral Commission, of which he
:04:54. > :05:01.was, if I can put it this way, a highly distinguished ornament.
:05:02. > :05:08.Gerald was, of course, a passionate, eloquent, relentless campaigner for
:05:09. > :05:14.social justice at home and abroad. I will not pretend that he was always
:05:15. > :05:19.the easiest of colleagues. If you were lauded or praised by Gerald you
:05:20. > :05:23.doubtless took delight in the experience. If you were attacked or
:05:24. > :05:30.denounced by Sir Gerald, you could be in no doubt on the matter. But
:05:31. > :05:34.there was that fidelity to principle, that commitment causes,
:05:35. > :05:41.that insistence on doing his duty by his constituents, by his party and
:05:42. > :05:48.by his country. Gerald will be mourned very widely indeed, and
:05:49. > :05:52.expressing, I hope on behalf of the House, our condolences to his
:05:53. > :05:55.relatives and friends, I should perhaps just take this opportunity
:05:56. > :06:03.to say to the House that colleagues will have a chance to pay tribute to
:06:04. > :06:07.Sir Gerald later this week. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State
:06:08. > :06:17.for Communities and Local Government. Question number one, Mr
:06:18. > :06:18.Speaker. The Secretary of State for
:06:19. > :06:24.Communities and Local Government. If I Mayowa my like -- would like to
:06:25. > :06:27.join you in paying tribute to the late honourable member for
:06:28. > :06:30.Manchester Gorton. He showed it was possible for the children of
:06:31. > :06:33.immigrants to treasure their roots are still increasing their
:06:34. > :06:37.Britishness and the active role they can play in public life. I'm sure I
:06:38. > :06:41.talk for the whole house when I say he will be deeply missed my
:06:42. > :06:46.sympathies go to his family and friends, Mr Speaker. If I may now
:06:47. > :06:48.turn to question number one, Mr Speaker.
:06:49. > :06:54.One person sleeping on the street is one too many. All too often support
:06:55. > :07:00.is provided at point. This is why we are supporting 84 projects through
:07:01. > :07:05.?50 million homelessness prevention programme and seek to tackle
:07:06. > :07:11.homelessness and rough sleeping. Thank you, Mr Speaker. May I also
:07:12. > :07:14.associate myself with your comments regarding the late Father of the
:07:15. > :07:19.House. It's a sad day, a sad loss and we shall miss him dearly.
:07:20. > :07:23.Official figures confirm rough sleeping has more than doubled since
:07:24. > :07:27.2010, after falling by more than three quarters under Labour. Why
:07:28. > :07:30.does the Secretary of State thinks homelessness fell under Labour but
:07:31. > :07:35.has risen so dramatically under the Tories?
:07:36. > :07:38.Secretary of State. The honourable lady, she touches on
:07:39. > :07:42.the record of the last government, the last Labour government. It would
:07:43. > :07:46.be fair to point out the level of statutory homelessness acceptances
:07:47. > :07:50.was higher in every year of the last Labour government bar one than is
:07:51. > :07:53.today. It does show that homelessness, whether it's rough
:07:54. > :07:56.sleeping or other forms of homelessness, is a chronic long-term
:07:57. > :07:59.issue that has been challenging for successive governments. I think if
:08:00. > :08:05.we can all work together on this issue, take a more cross-party
:08:06. > :08:10.approach it can help. Support from members across the House for the
:08:11. > :08:13.homelessness prevention Bill is a great example of how we can work
:08:14. > :08:24.together. Mr Richard Fuller. Thank you. The
:08:25. > :08:27.site the great efforts of voluntary groups Bedford is one hot spot for
:08:28. > :08:33.people sleeping rough. What will the Minister do to make sure the
:08:34. > :08:39.measures coming up will have an impact they are intended for? Mr
:08:40. > :08:42.Speaker, I know my honourable friend cares deeply about this issue. He
:08:43. > :08:45.has raised it with me in the past. What I would like to reassure him is
:08:46. > :08:50.the Government does take the issue of rough sleeping very seriously. I
:08:51. > :08:54.can point to the recent announcement of the ?20 million rough sleeping
:08:55. > :08:59.fund and also the work we're doing on social impact bombs to find new,
:09:00. > :09:07.creative ways that also help. Will you take the short trip up the
:09:08. > :09:13.M5 where he can visit the YMCA's brilliant open-door project which
:09:14. > :09:18.finds homes with families, in stable homes for homeless young people in
:09:19. > :09:22.the Black Country. It is phenomenal, getting the majority into work and
:09:23. > :09:26.even into university. Will he come and look at that and consider
:09:27. > :09:31.whether he can fund a similar scheme nationwide, because it really does
:09:32. > :09:34.achieved remarkable results? Mr Speaker, I would join the
:09:35. > :09:38.honourable gentleman in commending the work of the YMCA in this area,
:09:39. > :09:42.particularly their open-door project. I would like to learn more
:09:43. > :09:48.about that. It is just these kinds of projects that we want to see more
:09:49. > :09:51.of and provide support. That's why think our ?50 million homelessness
:09:52. > :09:55.prevention fund, which already is supporting over 80 projects, can
:09:56. > :09:58.help. With the good efforts of my right
:09:59. > :10:02.honourable friend's department not be assisted by a cross-party effort
:10:03. > :10:13.which would deal with some of the underlying issues such as addiction
:10:14. > :10:18.and inspiring the Department of Health to aid in this?
:10:19. > :10:22.Mr Speaker, and please my honourable friend speaks again about a
:10:23. > :10:28.cross-party approach to this very, very important issue. He highlights
:10:29. > :10:33.the need to look at the causes of homelessness. When any member of the
:10:34. > :10:37.houses come across anyone homeless, they will see their needs are often
:10:38. > :10:41.complex. It can be addiction, for example, it can be mental health
:10:42. > :10:46.issues. I think we would all do well to take those more seriously.
:10:47. > :10:52.With the Secretary of State that one of the reasons why people end up
:10:53. > :10:58.homeless, sleeping on the streets is because of the actions taken by
:10:59. > :11:02.private landlords? Very often in houses of multiple occupation? Would
:11:03. > :11:06.he look at what more could be done to regulate the private rented
:11:07. > :11:11.sector, to prevent conditions arising that drives people onto the
:11:12. > :11:15.streets? I thank the right honourable lady,
:11:16. > :11:18.she makes a good point. I don't think that's the primary cause, nor
:11:19. > :11:21.do I think she is suggesting that. It is something worth looking at. I
:11:22. > :11:28.hope she would welcome the decision we've made to extend licensing to
:11:29. > :11:31.smaller HMOs, I think that can help with the situation.
:11:32. > :11:34.While there remains much still to do, the Scottish Government has
:11:35. > :11:39.pushed ahead with measures to help those who need it most, such as the
:11:40. > :11:45.Scottish welfare fund, which has issued grants totalling ?116 million
:11:46. > :11:49.since the scheme was established. Ground-breaking homelessness
:11:50. > :11:51.legislation and regulation over private landlords and rents. What
:11:52. > :11:59.similar measures has the UK Government taken?
:12:00. > :12:08.There are some similar measures that have been taken in England, for a
:12:09. > :12:14.example in terms of providing enough funding, ?550 million has been set
:12:15. > :12:19.aside to tackle homelessness, I mentioned the prevention programme
:12:20. > :12:23.and also ?100 billion, a new programme to deliver at least 2000
:12:24. > :12:30.low-cost accommodation places. Number two, please. With your
:12:31. > :12:36.permission I will answer this with question number nine. The Government
:12:37. > :12:41.is committed to building the homes we need. Measures in the White Paper
:12:42. > :12:45.will ensure homes are built more quickly when they have planning
:12:46. > :12:53.permission and we will diversify the housing market. What action is his
:12:54. > :12:57.department taking to make sure unused public sector land in London
:12:58. > :13:04.is brought forward more quickly for housing development? My honourable
:13:05. > :13:11.friend is right to raise the broken housing market in London, I know he
:13:12. > :13:15.has done much to help in his own area, and I can tell him the
:13:16. > :13:21.minister for Housing and planning, who co-chairs the London land
:13:22. > :13:26.commission, is working to identify new opportunities to release public
:13:27. > :13:30.land for housing, and in the last Autumn Statement we allocated ?3.15
:13:31. > :13:35.billion to affordable homes in London. We have done our bit, I
:13:36. > :13:44.expect to see the Mayor of London to his. Gloucester City Council have
:13:45. > :13:48.put together a strong bid to support the state regeneration programme,
:13:49. > :13:55.which will transform the old estate in my constituency. Would he agree
:13:56. > :13:58.to meet briefly to hear our case and could he advised when he thinks
:13:59. > :14:07.decisions will be made on these bids? My honourable friend has been
:14:08. > :14:12.a strong advocate of regeneration, he has talked about this to me a
:14:13. > :14:16.number of times and he should know my department has received a number
:14:17. > :14:21.of bids for regeneration across England. We will make funding
:14:22. > :14:31.announcements shortly that I would be happy to meet him and discuss
:14:32. > :14:33.this further. We'll do Secretary of State come to Huddersfield Giants
:14:34. > :14:38.see how many private sector new homes have been cold? Unfortunately
:14:39. > :14:45.they are nearly all for students. Isn't it about time elderly people
:14:46. > :14:51.up and down the country had the right kind of homes for them? Could
:14:52. > :15:00.we not have more councils given the liberation to build those homes? One
:15:01. > :15:03.thing that may help is if the Labour run Kirklees Council when it put
:15:04. > :15:10.together its local plan had thought about all the different people who
:15:11. > :15:15.live in the area. He might be happy to learn that into White Paper we
:15:16. > :15:19.have set out further requirements for all local authorities to make
:15:20. > :15:27.sure they looked at the needs of the area, including older people. Could
:15:28. > :15:33.I extend the condolences of the SNP to the family, friends and
:15:34. > :15:37.colleagues of Gerald Coffman. He has had a considerable impact, more than
:15:38. > :15:43.many, who will miss his dignity and his contributions. Write to buy is
:15:44. > :15:52.not just right to buy but to buy at a discount. And Baxendale of shelter
:15:53. > :15:56.has said its extension would jeopardise any profit needed for
:15:57. > :16:00.future house-building. Can the Secretary of State explain why he
:16:01. > :16:07.wants to make it harder for people to access truly affordable housing?
:16:08. > :16:13.The Government believes their right to buy policy, whether for council
:16:14. > :16:17.housing for the extension of that to housing association homes, is
:16:18. > :16:23.important and we will continue to like that and were paid ten and
:16:24. > :16:28.exercises that right, we expect to see that home replaced.
:16:29. > :16:33.Neighbourhood plans have incentivised councils to build more
:16:34. > :16:41.houses by giving them 25% of the community infrastructure Levy. With
:16:42. > :16:49.that subject to review, is there a plan to continue with that same
:16:50. > :16:51.proportion for local parishes? I agree, the importance of
:16:52. > :16:59.neighbourhood plans of getting more ownership at that local level is why
:17:00. > :17:05.the measures we have taken in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill are
:17:06. > :17:10.welcome to do that. When it comes to the levy, it is important to
:17:11. > :17:15.maintain that principle. We'll do Secretary of State consider bringing
:17:16. > :17:21.forward legislation to end the practice of land banking? My
:17:22. > :17:23.constituency are fed up of seeing properties sat on by developers
:17:24. > :17:33.without seeing new homes which we need. In the year to September 2016
:17:34. > :17:40.277,000 planning permissions were granted in England, a record high
:17:41. > :17:46.since 2007. We want to see those turned into homes. People cannot
:17:47. > :17:52.live in a planning permission and in our White Paper there are measures
:17:53. > :17:58.to deal with this. Fabricated dwellings are now built to high
:17:59. > :18:06.standards, and so will the Secretary of State visit prestige homes in
:18:07. > :18:10.Kettering which are an exceptional quality, to see how these sort of
:18:11. > :18:18.dwellings might help him address problems in this country? I agree
:18:19. > :18:22.with the point, we want to see more innovation and creativity in
:18:23. > :18:29.house-building, factory build and modular homes, they have an
:18:30. > :18:33.important role to play. I have seen factories in Bedford and Leeds and
:18:34. > :18:41.would be happy to visit one in Kettering. Can buy from the Labour
:18:42. > :18:46.front bench the fulsome tribute you paid to our dear friend and
:18:47. > :18:52.colleague, Gerald Kaufmann? Those of us who knew him best will miss him
:18:53. > :18:57.most. After seven years of Conservative failure on housing, we
:18:58. > :19:01.were told by the Secretary of State that is White Paper would be a
:19:02. > :19:07.radical plan yet when he launched it he said his top priority was a
:19:08. > :19:12.proper conversation about housing need. After new figures showed that
:19:13. > :19:18.new house-building last year fell, though White Paper was meant to fix
:19:19. > :19:23.the housing crisis, so how many more new homes will be built by the end
:19:24. > :19:32.of this Parliament as a result of the White Paper? The honourable
:19:33. > :19:39.gentleman time and again get up and talks about the failure to build
:19:40. > :19:45.homes when the evidence is very different but he never refers to his
:19:46. > :19:51.own track record when we saw housing fall to its lowest level since the
:19:52. > :20:00.1920s. He asks me about though White Paper and the reception of that, let
:20:01. > :20:03.me share with him the response, the National Housing Federation calls of
:20:04. > :20:07.a positive step in the right direction, the world town and
:20:08. > :20:15.planning Institute say they welcome the measures and maybe she can guess
:20:16. > :20:20.where this came from, yesterday's housing White Paper points us in a
:20:21. > :20:25.better direction and shows promising signs for Londoners. That came from
:20:26. > :20:35.the Mayor of London. Number three, Mr Speaker. All those organisations
:20:36. > :20:45.will be interested in the question he cannot answer, how many homes
:20:46. > :20:52.will be built. The White Paper was a white flag for first-time buyers.
:20:53. > :20:56.Home ownership rose by 1 million under Labour and has fallen since
:20:57. > :21:05.2010 and is in freefall for young first-time buyers, so given this,
:21:06. > :21:10.why is help to by helping 20,000 people who aren't even first-time
:21:11. > :21:16.buyers? Why is it helping over 3000 people who earn more than ?100,000 a
:21:17. > :21:21.year, and will he used the budget next week to target better this
:21:22. > :21:30.taxpayer 's' help and do more for first-time buyers? First of all, the
:21:31. > :21:34.honourable gentleman will know since July we have taken actions to boost
:21:35. > :21:42.home-building, not just as outlined in the White Paper, 3 billion
:21:43. > :21:47.house-builders fund, 2.3 billion infrastructure fund and 1.4 point
:21:48. > :21:51.for building for affordable homes. He should know, having being a
:21:52. > :21:57.Housing Minister, that home ownership rates under Labour fell
:21:58. > :22:03.and I have another quote here from him, which says, I am not sure the
:22:04. > :22:13.decline in home ownership is such a bad thing. Number three, Mr Speaker.
:22:14. > :22:18.In the last few weeks the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the
:22:19. > :22:24.Midlands engine, and then sink to new enterprise zones. The first ever
:22:25. > :22:32.Midlands engine trade summit will take place in Birmingham on the 9th
:22:33. > :22:38.of March. Can he outlined to me how the Midlands engine will help
:22:39. > :22:45.Northampton? As the Midlands MP I am pleased to see a successful Midlands
:22:46. > :22:50.engine and economic profits. For Northampton small businesses will be
:22:51. > :22:55.eligible for the investment fund which will open soon and Northampton
:22:56. > :23:04.will benefit from over ?5 billion in infrastructure investment. London
:23:05. > :23:11.gets shed loads of network, as the West Midlands MP, what discussion
:23:12. > :23:16.has the Secretary of State had with the Secretary of State for Transport
:23:17. > :23:22.on extending the tram network in the West Midlands? The honourable
:23:23. > :23:28.gentleman will know about some of the work going on around Birmingham
:23:29. > :23:33.to extend the tram network, and about the recent allocation we
:23:34. > :23:39.announced our ?392 million of local growth funding. There will be more
:23:40. > :23:48.detail shortly but a large part of that is going to transport projects.
:23:49. > :23:55.Question five. Our recent White Paper underlines the commitment to
:23:56. > :23:57.the green belt. Land should only be removed in exceptional
:23:58. > :24:00.circumstances, when taken demonstrate they have fully examine
:24:01. > :24:08.all other options for meeting housing need. In cases where a plan
:24:09. > :24:14.is proposing large-scale development on the green belt such as in the
:24:15. > :24:20.case of big Greater Manchester framework, will my honourable friend
:24:21. > :24:23.assures me he will carefully assessed how realistic the
:24:24. > :24:31.projections and assumptions are such as population growth and household
:24:32. > :24:35.size? I can assure him that the approach taken will be robustly
:24:36. > :24:40.tested by a planning inspector and he will give evidence, and he is
:24:41. > :24:47.quite right that before looking at releasing green belt land, councils
:24:48. > :24:52.should look at Brown Belt, surplus council land and how their
:24:53. > :24:57.neighbours can meet housing need? Plans to build on the green belt and
:24:58. > :25:03.Bury are part of the Greater Manchester special strategy. Does
:25:04. > :25:06.the minister agree with me that councils across Greater Manchester
:25:07. > :25:14.should look up looking brownfield and other sites and perhaps
:25:15. > :25:19.increasing density to do so? I agree, though White Paper sets out
:25:20. > :25:25.what exceptional circumstances mean, it is a phrase in the plan work that
:25:26. > :25:33.has not been defined before so it is about looking at public sector land
:25:34. > :25:40.and what neighbouring areas can do. Question six, Mr Speaker. Small
:25:41. > :25:45.builders tell us the two key constraints they face are accessed
:25:46. > :25:50.two lines and finance. Or home-building fund includes ?1
:25:51. > :25:56.billion of funding to small builders and our White Paper will make sure
:25:57. > :26:01.councils make small sites available. The time that it takes to get a site
:26:02. > :26:06.through the planning process often is a challenge for small builders
:26:07. > :26:11.who are less able to bear the risk involved, so will he continue with
:26:12. > :26:14.the reforms he is making to the planning system to ensure local
:26:15. > :26:21.authorities can deal speedily with small sites? He is right to raise
:26:22. > :26:25.the challenges small builders face. They plan to boost the capacity of
:26:26. > :26:32.planning authorities by allowing them to increase planning fees,
:26:33. > :26:37.councils can take action where decisions are not taken sufficiently
:26:38. > :26:41.quickly and a new principal regime means small builders can see what
:26:42. > :26:47.the planning certainty of a site is without having to do the full
:26:48. > :26:52.preparation. My local authority flinch is just over the border from
:26:53. > :26:58.England but is currently building 500 new council homes, putting
:26:59. > :27:04.people into housing and creating jobs in the private sector as well.
:27:05. > :27:09.We absolutely want councils to get back into the business of building
:27:10. > :27:13.homes. There is a huge need for more housing and the more people are
:27:14. > :27:20.involved in building, the happier if the Government will be. Question
:27:21. > :27:25.number seven. After White Paper sets out methods to increase modern
:27:26. > :27:31.methods of construction. The key is to encourage suppliers to invest in
:27:32. > :27:32.new plans and we will do that to accelerated construction and the
:27:33. > :27:42.growing customer build markets. Wouldn't he agree custom-built homes
:27:43. > :27:46.that can be built more quickly and more cheaply have a real part to
:27:47. > :27:51.play in this, in solving the housing supply issues in this country? My
:27:52. > :27:56.honourable friend is absolutely right. Not only can we get homes
:27:57. > :27:58.built more quickly, not only is their environmental performance
:27:59. > :28:02.better, which means cheaper for people to live in when they move in,
:28:03. > :28:05.but in terms of the real skills challenge we face, if we're going to
:28:06. > :28:10.build many more homes in this country, it's a way of getting more
:28:11. > :28:12.new people involved in building homes.
:28:13. > :28:19.I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of the partners of the
:28:20. > :28:22.architects behind a new housing development in Dalston, Hackney,
:28:23. > :28:26.which uses more timber than any other company in the world. Is this
:28:27. > :28:32.on the Government's radar and what is the Minister doing to support
:28:33. > :28:34.architects who are exploring this sustainable material? It's
:28:35. > :28:40.absolutely on our agenda. The term covers a wide range of different
:28:41. > :28:44.techniques and the key policy areas are the home building fund,
:28:45. > :28:47.providing ?1 billion worth of funding to people who are
:28:48. > :28:50.innovating. Too many homes are built in the same way they were 100 years
:28:51. > :28:55.ago and we are determined to change that. I'm happy to hear of the
:28:56. > :28:59.example of the lady provides. A number of constituents have
:29:00. > :29:04.recently contacted me concerned that the quality of new-build homes that
:29:05. > :29:08.are currently being constructed. What encouragement scan the
:29:09. > :29:12.Department give to builders, to ensure these homes are robust for
:29:13. > :29:15.many years in the future? My honourable friend is quite right
:29:16. > :29:20.to say it's not good enough just to get new homes built, they need to be
:29:21. > :29:24.built well and stand the test of time. Our building inspectors check
:29:25. > :29:32.that requirements are met but we also considering a report by the
:29:33. > :29:40.committee are making sure the recommendations are met.
:29:41. > :29:43.At the weekend we learned ?7 million will be paid in compensation for
:29:44. > :29:47.poorly built homes. Can the Minister tell the House what he's going to do
:29:48. > :29:54.to improve the quality of new homes, including those built by new methods
:29:55. > :30:00.of of construction? Unfortunately the housing white paper was good on
:30:01. > :30:06.words but lacked any substance whatsoever on quality. The
:30:07. > :30:10.honourable lady says that but it had a very warm reception from right
:30:11. > :30:14.across the housing sector. I just spent the last week travelling all
:30:15. > :30:17.around the country, holding meetings with housing professionals.
:30:18. > :30:20.Interestingly, meetings with Labour councillors, who are keen to get
:30:21. > :30:26.behind this government's agenda to build the homes the governments of
:30:27. > :30:28.both colours over 40 is a failed to do.
:30:29. > :30:32.For reasons best known to themselves, about two years ago to
:30:33. > :30:36.Local Authorities, Reading Borough Council and West Berkshire Council,
:30:37. > :30:41.challenged the Government's policy of assisting Brownfield development
:30:42. > :30:48.via vacant building credit. Can the Minister update us as to whether the
:30:49. > :30:53.Government is still committed to do this, to release more homes on
:30:54. > :30:56.Brownfield land Chris Wratt we are certainly committed to trying to get
:30:57. > :30:59.a greater proportion of the homes we need in this country built on
:31:00. > :31:01.Brownfield land. The white paper sets out a huge
:31:02. > :31:04.range of different things we're going to do to achieve that but I
:31:05. > :31:07.will happily write to my honourable friend of the details of the point
:31:08. > :31:12.you raised. I welcome the Minister's pitmen to
:31:13. > :31:17.new construction methods. Can the Minister confirmed to the House
:31:18. > :31:21.government's commitment to starter homes, encouraging home ownership,
:31:22. > :31:24.remained undiminished? Absolutely. Starter homes are an
:31:25. > :31:28.important part of the way in which this government is going to try to
:31:29. > :31:34.help people get into homeownership. There are an number of different
:31:35. > :31:36.schemes... We not proceeding with the statutory operation because
:31:37. > :31:40.that's the view that's been expressed to us by large numbers of
:31:41. > :31:44.people, but starter homes, alongside shared ownership and help to buy
:31:45. > :31:47.scheme, none of these schemes, none of these schemes existed when the
:31:48. > :31:56.honourable member was housing minister.
:31:57. > :31:59.Question number eight, Mr Speaker. Our devolution deals will support
:32:00. > :32:04.economic growth across the country by devolving powers and funding from
:32:05. > :32:09.this place to be determined by local people. By May of this year 33% of
:32:10. > :32:13.England's population will go to the polls to elect their directly
:32:14. > :32:21.elected mayors. I thank the Minister for his reply.
:32:22. > :32:25.I'm sure the Minister knows two years ago with Yorkshire council
:32:26. > :32:30.agreed a devolution deal for Leeds city region. Why has there been no
:32:31. > :32:34.progress? And what plans does the Minister have, to give West
:32:35. > :32:39.Yorkshire the devolution deal that they want and why the delay?
:32:40. > :32:43.We have made good on the city deals we negotiated with the Leeds city
:32:44. > :32:46.region. The problem on a broader Yorkshire devolution, because this
:32:47. > :32:50.is a bottom-up approach, there hasn't been an agreement across
:32:51. > :32:54.Yorkshire. Some of her colleagues in recent weeks have helped the matter
:32:55. > :32:59.by proposing solutions on a boundary and other nature that are not within
:33:00. > :33:05.the legal framework. Does my honourable friend not agree
:33:06. > :33:09.with me, to paraphrase President Kennedy, it's not so much what the
:33:10. > :33:13.Government can do to assist devolution deals but what devolution
:33:14. > :33:17.deals can do through themselves through strong leadership following
:33:18. > :33:24.the election of effective mayors? Absolutely. And I'm thinking of an
:33:25. > :33:30.example of the sort of leadership we will require in this Mirallas tease.
:33:31. > :33:33.I think they need look no further than the West Midlands, where Andrew
:33:34. > :33:38.Street is a fantastic candid and I'm sure will be a strong champion and
:33:39. > :33:41.now for the West Midlands. Could I thank the Minister for his
:33:42. > :33:46.continued efforts to keep the Sheffield city evolution --
:33:47. > :33:50.devolution deal moving forward. I understand mayoral elections will be
:33:51. > :33:53.postponed until the winter but I understand it may be possible for
:33:54. > :34:00.the Local Authorities to access a ?30 million a year some on offer to
:34:01. > :34:04.have an interim air, is that the case and what criteria need to be a
:34:05. > :34:10.place that happen? Can I thank the honourable gentleman for his
:34:11. > :34:17.unwavering support. It is a good deal, it will deliver funding and
:34:18. > :34:20.powers. It is possible for us to look at interim mayors if possible.
:34:21. > :34:23.What I will say to the honourable gentleman is the Government is
:34:24. > :34:28.absolutely committed to that do or try to bring Matt Teale forward as
:34:29. > :34:31.quickly as possible, but with the agreement of the four Local
:34:32. > :34:35.Authorities in the Sheffield city region. -- bring that forward as
:34:36. > :34:39.quickly as possible. Mr Speaker, in recent weeks and
:34:40. > :34:43.months we have introduced the first Northern powerhouse strategy and
:34:44. > :34:51.more importantly put ?556 million of behind that, in the local growth
:34:52. > :34:54.funding allocations. The North receiving the largest proportion
:34:55. > :34:59.from that fund. And I thank the Minister for his recent visit and
:35:00. > :35:06.thank the Government for the ?4 million investment that will create
:35:07. > :35:10.1100 new full-time jobs. We have seen strong growth in SMEs across
:35:11. > :35:16.the North of England in recent years. What more can we do to help
:35:17. > :35:18.SMEs grow and expand? It was a delight to visit the industrial
:35:19. > :35:24.estate on a wet Lancashire Day. Are there any others, Mr Speaker Chris
:35:25. > :35:38.Wratt I thank the honourable friend for his poor without. With -- in
:35:39. > :35:42.relation to SME ands I had a meeting to provide loans to support our
:35:43. > :35:46.wonderful small and medium-sized businesses across the North. Mr
:35:47. > :35:51.Speaker, small businesses form an important part of your's economy is
:35:52. > :35:54.part of the northern powerhouse, however businesses are struggling
:35:55. > :35:59.with the new deal on business rates are overseas landlords are pushing
:36:00. > :36:03.up rents which is pushing up the value. What discussions stirs the
:36:04. > :36:06.Minister have with the Treasury so that next week's budget we will see
:36:07. > :36:16.a fair deal on business rates? I was in York on Friday talking and
:36:17. > :36:20.speaking with America York. As she will be aware, business rates across
:36:21. > :36:23.the North will be falling, but as the Chancellor and my honourable
:36:24. > :36:26.friend the Secretary of State has made clear, we are committed to
:36:27. > :36:30.supporting further those businesses who are hardest impacted by braces.
:36:31. > :36:43.Across the North generally we will see falls in business rates.
:36:44. > :36:46.The local enterprise partnership under the growth fund... The two and
:36:47. > :36:56.Local Authorities are also members of the Lincolnshire wrap. Can he say
:36:57. > :37:00.when their settlement will be due? We did recently allocate ?27 million
:37:01. > :37:04.to the Humber in the growth deal. It's important to remember that on a
:37:05. > :37:10.per head basis, more than has been received in parts of the South of
:37:11. > :37:13.England. We will announce the greater Lincolnshire allocations as
:37:14. > :37:23.part of the ?392 million package for the Midlands in the coming weeks.
:37:24. > :37:26.Mr Speaker, business rates are based on valuations carried out
:37:27. > :37:33.independently of ministers by the valuation office agency. The change
:37:34. > :37:35.in the average business rate in Dover is largely as a consequence of
:37:36. > :37:42.the significant increase in the rateable value of the English side
:37:43. > :37:45.of the Channel Tunnel. I thank my right honourable friend
:37:46. > :37:49.for that answer. Can he confirm leaving aside the Channel Tunnel,
:37:50. > :37:52.which is done very well in recent years and got nothing value an awful
:37:53. > :37:58.lot, that business rates across the Dover district a are down 8% and
:37:59. > :38:04.will you look at the case of small businesses?
:38:05. > :38:07.I can tell my honourable friend that as a result of this recent
:38:08. > :38:12.re-evaluation, the English side of the Channel Tunnel has seen its
:38:13. > :38:16.value more than double to ?35 million, which now accounts for
:38:17. > :38:20.roughly a third of the local ratings list. If this were excluded, average
:38:21. > :38:24.rateable values in his Local Authority would fall in line with
:38:25. > :38:31.the rest of Kent. With exclusive reference to Dover, the Dover Road
:38:32. > :38:35.does not go through Hackney. It is not just the Dover district having
:38:36. > :38:38.these problems, but businesses up and down the country, particular
:38:39. > :38:42.year in London and the south-east. I met with small businesses in
:38:43. > :38:49.Hackney, not that far from Dover, on Friday! The reality surely is that
:38:50. > :38:52.the system is bust, small businesses, with a small turnover
:38:53. > :38:56.are being hit with huge and unsustainable bills. What's he going
:38:57. > :39:01.to do to make life better for businesses in Dover, Hackney and
:39:02. > :39:07.around the country? Mr Speaker, I think the honourable
:39:08. > :39:11.lady deserves that answer to that. First of all, there is transitional
:39:12. > :39:15.relief in place worth some ?3.6 billion, which can help businesses
:39:16. > :39:18.across the board, including smaller businesses.
:39:19. > :39:22.Second, the extension of small business rate relief, which will now
:39:23. > :39:26.apply to 600,000 companies from April this year, means that those
:39:27. > :39:31.businesses will pay zero, zero in business rates and I'm sure she
:39:32. > :39:37.would join me in welcoming that. Number 12.
:39:38. > :39:42.Mr Speaker, as we set out in the recent housing white paper we will
:39:43. > :39:49.consult on options. We will do this at the earliest opportunity and it
:39:50. > :39:57.will be reflected in changes to the National Housing policy framework.
:39:58. > :40:03.Can he confirm we will not be overruled and that the white paper
:40:04. > :40:10.does mean that inspectors will now apply uniform criteria to
:40:11. > :40:14.calculating five-year land supply? What I can tell my honourable friend
:40:15. > :40:17.as it will be inappropriate to comment on any particular plan in
:40:18. > :40:21.front of the inspectors, but we do want Local Authorities to put in
:40:22. > :40:25.place up to date robust plans and incentivise Local Authorities to do
:40:26. > :40:29.so. Once adopted we want them to be respected and adhered to. My friend
:40:30. > :40:32.will know having that five-year supply in place enables Local
:40:33. > :40:37.Authorities to protect their areas against unwanted development.
:40:38. > :40:43.In the North East Lincolnshire local planning includes an estimated
:40:44. > :40:49.13,340 additional homes up to 2032 that need to be built, an average of
:40:50. > :40:53.702 homes per year. The number of homes classified as in affordable
:40:54. > :40:59.being built in England has fallen to its noise level the 24 years. Only
:41:00. > :41:04.50 of those homes were completed compared to 220 back in 2010, a fall
:41:05. > :41:07.of a third. Can the Secretary of State explain why after seven years
:41:08. > :41:13.of this government affordable house-building is at its lowest...
:41:14. > :41:16.Mr Speaker, we have put record amounts of investment into
:41:17. > :41:20.affordable homes. We have listened to housing associations to ask them
:41:21. > :41:22.what can help them deliver across the country, including an
:41:23. > :41:28.Lincolnshire, one thing they have asked for was more flexibility and
:41:29. > :41:34.we provided just that. Isn't it vital that key decisions on
:41:35. > :41:38.housing targets in the local area are made by the council selected by
:41:39. > :41:42.local people. Mr Speaker, I agree with my right honourable friend.
:41:43. > :41:45.It's an important principle when it comes to planning in this country,
:41:46. > :41:47.the key decisions around allocating land for development and making
:41:48. > :41:49.those decisions on planning permission should be led by local
:41:50. > :42:01.areas. Every area needs housing that is
:42:02. > :42:07.affordable to those on low incomes yet building of these is that a
:42:08. > :42:12.record low. When the member for one and worst was Housing Minister there
:42:13. > :42:18.were 40,000 new starts in 2009 yet last year there were less than 1000.
:42:19. > :42:26.Why is there next to nothing in that White Paper that will increase
:42:27. > :42:31.social how drink and quite will they not let ministers borrow to increase
:42:32. > :42:41.social housing? The number of units available for social rent declined
:42:42. > :42:45.by 410,000 under Labour. We have seen in this Government 1.5 billion
:42:46. > :43:00.allocated in the last Autumn Statement. 29 pubs are closing every
:43:01. > :43:03.week... Sorry. Rates are set independently by ministers and the
:43:04. > :43:11.approach for valuing pubs has been agreed by all five bodies
:43:12. > :43:18.representing the pub sector. I'll start again. 29 pubs are closing
:43:19. > :43:25.every week and the industry estimate they will have to increase prices by
:43:26. > :43:32.35p per pint to deal with the rates increase after evaluation. All small
:43:33. > :43:38.businesses, many in Sheffield and bright side, are in that firing line
:43:39. > :43:43.and given the public outcry from local businesses and even his own
:43:44. > :43:50.back benches, does the Secretary of State I agree there should be a full
:43:51. > :43:55.review of business rights? Pubs and restaurants across Yorkshire and the
:43:56. > :43:58.Humber will see a 4% cut in the rates overall and many will also
:43:59. > :44:06.benefit from the doubling of small business rate relief, but as I said
:44:07. > :44:10.earlier, the Secretary of State and the Chancellor are looking closely
:44:11. > :44:19.at what further support can be made available to those impacted by
:44:20. > :44:22.rises. Pubs appear to be the net loser from revaluation and the
:44:23. > :44:28.Government has done a lot to protect them recently. Is this another
:44:29. > :44:35.example of where the evaluations agency has to be grotty grip of
:44:36. > :44:43.because they seem to defy the Government on one hand? The guide
:44:44. > :44:49.for agreeing evaluations was agreed with all five groups representing
:44:50. > :44:54.pubs and the picture will be different across the country with
:44:55. > :44:58.many seeing a reduction in rates but we remain committed to trying to
:44:59. > :45:07.help people who have been heavily impacted. 15, sir. It is nearly a
:45:08. > :45:12.decade since the current needs assessment formula was looked that,
:45:13. > :45:19.so we are undertaking a funding review to consider how to introduce
:45:20. > :45:23.a fairer formula. Can I welcome the review announced and share the
:45:24. > :45:28.enthusiasm for it among councils in Somerset. Could he stepped out the
:45:29. > :45:34.likely structure of the review and the minimum time it may take to
:45:35. > :45:39.complete? I was in Somerset last week to help launch the excellent
:45:40. > :45:46.county elections manifesto and fairer funding was one issue. The
:45:47. > :45:51.new formula will determine the baseline funding allocations as we
:45:52. > :45:59.implement the 100% business rates retention programme and that is
:46:00. > :46:07.planned for 2019-2020. One of the local councils in my constituency is
:46:08. > :46:13.in dire straits financially. It is now planning with a revenue budget
:46:14. > :46:19.of seven or ?8 million a year to have an annual deficit of 1.5
:46:20. > :46:26.million, in local terms hugely important. I know our own roll-off
:46:27. > :46:30.ran for Nuneaton have been looking at this that take an interest in the
:46:31. > :46:40.management of this local authority to make sure council taxpayers are
:46:41. > :46:47.not being mistreated by the Council? I agree with the concerns, he has
:46:48. > :46:51.talked to me about this and to my honourable friend the local
:46:52. > :46:56.government minister and my honourable friend and myself are
:46:57. > :47:05.taking an interest in this. Question 16. We are investing nearly ?250,000
:47:06. > :47:10.to identify those at risk of rough sleeping and I would like to thank
:47:11. > :47:16.my friend for the role he played and tribute to the member for Harrow
:47:17. > :47:20.East. I think the member meant to say he would group this question
:47:21. > :47:28.with that from the member for Chelmsford. Can I pay tribute to the
:47:29. > :47:32.work of my friend for Harrow East whose homelessness reduction Bill
:47:33. > :47:37.will help tackle homelessness and having seen the cross-party working
:47:38. > :47:42.in action, does he agree with me that it is by working on a
:47:43. > :47:48.cross-party basis that we will tackle homelessness? He is quite
:47:49. > :47:54.right and the Secretary of State said that earlier. There is any not
:47:55. > :48:00.just to invest more money in this area but to change the law to ensure
:48:01. > :48:04.we have a full safety nets and to intervene earlier to prevent people
:48:05. > :48:12.becoming homeless rather than at the point of crisis. Would he agree that
:48:13. > :48:16.the work Chelmsford City Council is doing to tackle the problem of rough
:48:17. > :48:25.sleeping in Chelmsford is innovative and positive? I agree and I want to
:48:26. > :48:31.thank for his personal commitment to this issue and say the work
:48:32. > :48:37.Chelmsford is doing is supported by nearly ?1 million from that fund the
:48:38. > :48:41.Secretary of State referred to. If the Department of work and cuts
:48:42. > :48:44.housing support it adds to homelessness pressures for the
:48:45. > :48:53.Department of local government and communities. Does he think the DWP
:48:54. > :48:56.should go ahead with caps for 18 to 20-year-olds and is he making
:48:57. > :49:02.representations to colleagues in other departments to stop it? We
:49:03. > :49:10.have increased discretionary payments by 50%, what she says is
:49:11. > :49:19.nowhere near enough, 60% of local councils have not taken up their
:49:20. > :49:24.full allocation. Question 18. We are supporting local growth through the
:49:25. > :49:32.local growth fund, ?31 million of which was recently announced for the
:49:33. > :49:37.seventh. The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership has played a key role
:49:38. > :49:43.with the dons breed business Park. Will the minister continue to
:49:44. > :49:49.support these to work together to drive economic growth? Yes and I
:49:50. > :49:55.congratulate him for his work in securing funding for the haven't
:49:56. > :49:58.business support fund. Local enterprise partnerships help to
:49:59. > :50:09.drive economic growth and continued to have our support. Topical
:50:10. > :50:13.questions. Number two, Mr Speaker. In that past month the local
:50:14. > :50:16.government Finance Bill has passed its report stage and the
:50:17. > :50:22.Neighbourhood Planning Bill has almost completed its passing through
:50:23. > :50:26.the Lords. White Paper has been published and I am meeting with
:50:27. > :50:32.council leaders to see how we can work together to shape the future of
:50:33. > :50:35.local government. Councils are rightly using their powers more
:50:36. > :50:42.broadly and competitively. The minister and his department may keep
:50:43. > :50:48.looking at issues in my constituency for Eastleigh Borough Council is
:50:49. > :50:57.using commercial sensitivity to hide behind deficit by 2020, where debt
:50:58. > :51:02.of 240 million by Adam did former banks to become libraries. Can the
:51:03. > :51:09.ministers confirm these details will not be kept from those who voted
:51:10. > :51:14.them in? I'm glad she is shining a light on these issues and they are
:51:15. > :51:17.of concern. She will know transparency is the foundation of
:51:18. > :51:24.local accountability. We have made councils published data on spending
:51:25. > :51:27.and procurement online and any counsel who hides information should
:51:28. > :51:36.be wary of the power of them a lot bucks. With over a million adults in
:51:37. > :51:41.England with unmet care needs, does the Secretary of State now agreed
:51:42. > :51:45.with the chair of the Health Select Committee that the Government can do
:51:46. > :51:51.longer ignore the funding crisis in adult social care? What I agree with
:51:52. > :51:56.is that we must constantly look at what more we can do to support the
:51:57. > :52:03.vulnerable and those who rely on adult social care. Am sure he will
:52:04. > :52:09.welcome the ?3.5 billion allocated at the last spending review and my
:52:10. > :52:14.announcement of an additional almost ?9 million for the adult sector
:52:15. > :52:22.across England. No one will be surprised by the lack of urgency in
:52:23. > :52:25.that response, so let me ask this, including social care the Local
:52:26. > :52:29.Government Association estimates there will be a funding gap of
:52:30. > :52:34.almost ?6 billion by 2024 critical local services. What will the
:52:35. > :52:43.Secretary of State do about that gap? The ?3.5 billion I referred to
:52:44. > :52:49.was more than what the Local Government Association set out,
:52:50. > :52:53.despite that as demand has grown we have acted with the additional 900
:52:54. > :53:00.million and as I have made clear, this issue is not all about money
:53:01. > :53:03.but reform, especially promoting more integration between work done
:53:04. > :53:11.by local authorities and the health sector. With significant housing
:53:12. > :53:17.growth, what steps are ministers taking to ensure where developers
:53:18. > :53:21.run into financial difficulties, infrastructure is provided and
:53:22. > :53:26.developments are completed? The White Paper sets out a number of
:53:27. > :53:32.measures, first of all the infrastructure fund announced in the
:53:33. > :53:36.Autumn Statement, secondly we are giving local authorities power to
:53:37. > :53:40.intervene and make sure schemes get built. We cannot just plan for homes
:53:41. > :53:46.but need to make sure they are built. Waste collection and
:53:47. > :53:52.processing is currently regulated under the EU waste framework
:53:53. > :54:00.directive. Local government takes on a great deal of responsibility for
:54:01. > :54:05.waste management and has invested in staffs -- staff, bins, and
:54:06. > :54:11.processing centres. What certainty can he give on future waste
:54:12. > :54:18.investment plans? We take this issue very seriously. I have discussed it
:54:19. > :54:22.a number of times with my colleagues and it is something we want to see
:54:23. > :54:30.how we can take further action and it is something I would be happy to
:54:31. > :54:35.write to her own. Some local authorities have processes that are
:54:36. > :54:40.so complex that they appear to be designed to deter small companies
:54:41. > :54:43.from bidding. I know local authorities in Kent who require
:54:44. > :54:48.bidders to complete a prequalification form before every
:54:49. > :54:55.single tender is committed, and that's OK for a large companies who
:54:56. > :54:59.have contract departments but it is burdensome for SMEs, so what is he
:55:00. > :55:05.doing to encourage local authorities to make it easier for small
:55:06. > :55:13.companies to bid for work from them? I can share that this was an issue
:55:14. > :55:17.identified in 2010 when there was a change in government, the Cabinet
:55:18. > :55:21.Office have already done work to make it easier for small firms to
:55:22. > :55:26.win procurement competitions that there is more to do and where I can
:55:27. > :55:31.encourage him is that as we leave the EU many of the rules that cause
:55:32. > :55:38.challenges are from the EU and we will take a clear look at that. The
:55:39. > :55:43.Secretary of State will note the importance of EU structural funds to
:55:44. > :55:49.Scotland with investment vital for local communities. Does the minister
:55:50. > :55:55.agree that the uncertainty about the future of those funds after leaving
:55:56. > :56:01.the EU will impact the long-term plan is and risk damaging those
:56:02. > :56:06.deals? I don't agree. We have been clear in our commitment to EU
:56:07. > :56:11.structural funds until 2020 and I would remind him that this is
:56:12. > :56:19.British taxpayers' money at the end of the day. Councils in my area
:56:20. > :56:23.require a definition of housing supply but do not worry about the
:56:24. > :56:29.methodology, they just want to know what it is, and could the Secretary
:56:30. > :56:33.of State tell me if he thinks the Liberal Democrats support this
:56:34. > :56:40.Government because no Liberal Democrat has been in this chamber
:56:41. > :56:45.until three minutes ago. Ministers have no responsibility for the
:56:46. > :56:52.whereabouts of Liberal Democrat members, the member has made his
:56:53. > :56:58.point. Thank goodness for that! On the issue of housing supply, we are
:56:59. > :57:02.measuring the total size of housing stock and local authorities are
:57:03. > :57:08.asked to plan for the number of homes but also the right mix of
:57:09. > :57:15.homes. Why is the minister abolishing the requirement to
:57:16. > :57:21.approve the finance settlement, because they have inflicted that
:57:22. > :57:23.much damage to local government services and they want to not be
:57:24. > :57:31.accountable in Parliament? I think the honourable gentleman is
:57:32. > :57:37.referring to some of the measures in the Finance Bill. When we moved to
:57:38. > :57:40.business rates, 100% business rates retentions, all local councils in
:57:41. > :57:43.England will be fully funded and therefore there will be no legal
:57:44. > :57:46.requirement that have an annual settlement, because no money will be
:57:47. > :57:50.forthcoming directly from central government.
:57:51. > :57:55.Some London authorities have an average of 40% more spending power
:57:56. > :57:58.compared to somewhere like North Yorkshire, despite the fact they
:57:59. > :58:03.often have younger populations and wealthy populations. In his fair
:58:04. > :58:08.funding review, does the Minister agree, future allocation should be
:58:09. > :58:11.based upon cost drivers, simply need on the cost of delivering those
:58:12. > :58:15.services? I very much agree with my honourable
:58:16. > :58:18.friend. He spoke very eloquently about this very issue in the local
:58:19. > :58:23.government financial settlement debate just last week. What he
:58:24. > :58:27.highlights is the need to look again at the formulas that are used, that
:58:28. > :58:33.are outdated, not transparent, and to make sure that when we allocate
:58:34. > :58:37.funding its done on a needs basis. Thank you. The chief executive of
:58:38. > :58:42.centrepoint recently said of the Government's plans to axe housing
:58:43. > :58:45.benefit for 18-21 -year-olds, the Government's plans could cost the
:58:46. > :58:50.taxpayer more money than it saves on force more young people into
:58:51. > :58:52.homelessness. In light of cross-party support for the
:58:53. > :58:57.homelessness build, will the Minister agree to scrap this policy
:58:58. > :59:00.and focus on delivering genuinely affordable homes our young people
:59:01. > :59:04.need? I can certainly commit the last part
:59:05. > :59:08.of what the honourable lady asks for. In terms of London, the
:59:09. > :59:12.Government is providing ?3.51 billion to the mayor and the mayor
:59:13. > :59:15.has been generous enough to say that is the best settlement for
:59:16. > :59:20.affordable housing in London. We need to make sure private landlord
:59:21. > :59:24.still have the money to lend to younger people and we are looking at
:59:25. > :59:28.that issue. As important as the funding formula debate is, would my
:59:29. > :59:32.friend agree with me at how councils organise themselves in order to
:59:33. > :59:35.ensure the maximum value for the taxpayers back? Against that
:59:36. > :59:42.backdrop I hope the right honourable member will be giving my proposals
:59:43. > :59:47.the thumbs up for Dorset, because that's the only way to support
:59:48. > :59:50.services for local people. What my honourable friend highlights
:59:51. > :59:53.as we have rightly encouraged councils to be creative, to be
:59:54. > :59:56.innovative, as they deal with challenges, and some of them have
:59:57. > :59:59.come forward with proposals to reorganise. I won't comment on a
:00:00. > :00:03.particular one, it would be inappropriate at this stage, but we
:00:04. > :00:08.do look at those very carefully and take them very seriously.
:00:09. > :00:11.The leasehold advisory service should play an important role in
:00:12. > :00:18.providing advice to leaseholders. However the current share as
:00:19. > :00:22.previous extensive business with freeholders and has boasted of
:00:23. > :00:26.maximising ground rent opportunities for them. Can ministers not see how
:00:27. > :00:31.this looks question mark in order to reclaim the confidence of
:00:32. > :00:34.leaseholders, will they agree to look into the suitability of letting
:00:35. > :00:38.him continuous chap? I'm well aware of the right
:00:39. > :00:45.Honourable's members passion for this issue. I would say I recently
:00:46. > :00:49.announced funding will, purely from the Government so no one can be in
:00:50. > :00:52.any doubt that its job is to stand up for the interest of leaseholders.
:00:53. > :00:56.Local Authorities do come in for a bit of stick in this chamber from
:00:57. > :01:00.time to time, but the Secretary of State will be fully aware of the
:01:01. > :01:05.tremendous work that North Yorkshire County Council did in Tadcaster in
:01:06. > :01:11.the last year. I wonder who take this to thank North Yorkshire County
:01:12. > :01:15.Council and David bowl, who did so much great work in ensuring the
:01:16. > :01:21.restoration of the Bridgend are -- the bridge and our planning
:01:22. > :01:27.department? I was pleased to join my honourable friend a few weeks ago
:01:28. > :01:30.for the reopening of Tadcaster bridge, alongside his constituents.
:01:31. > :01:34.Great to see so many young people is operating a moment as well. I would
:01:35. > :01:39.happily join him in congratulating the Council on their work and the
:01:40. > :01:43.local enterprise partnership, but my honourable friend himself knows all
:01:44. > :01:53.the work he did to help bring that bridge back to life.
:01:54. > :02:03.What assessment has been made about cuts to the recent education grant?
:02:04. > :02:06.We saw this recently that Local Authorities have been funded
:02:07. > :02:10.adequately to deal with the challenges they face. If honourable
:02:11. > :02:13.members opposite are so concerned about local government finance, it
:02:14. > :02:17.was interesting in the debate last week that only four backbench Labour
:02:18. > :02:21.members bothered to turn up and speak. The honourable gentleman can
:02:22. > :02:27.have a small second bite of the cherry. With the Secretary of State
:02:28. > :02:34.agree district councils continue to be a most effective tier of local
:02:35. > :02:38.government and have a strong future? Mr Speaker, I can absolutely agree
:02:39. > :02:42.with my honourable friend, district councils are hugely important in
:02:43. > :02:45.terms of local democracy. They are, alongside other councillors, are the
:02:46. > :02:51.bedrock of our local government and they have the full support of this
:02:52. > :02:56.government. Last week I met with lakeside energy from waste. A
:02:57. > :03:00.company that is enabling Local Authorities in my area to reduce
:03:01. > :03:03.their waste into landfill. As the Secretary of State knows, this plant
:03:04. > :03:07.is due to be knocked down as a result of the creation of the third
:03:08. > :03:10.runway at Heathrow and yet they are very anxious that there is no
:03:11. > :03:15.reference at all to the future of the plant in the national policy
:03:16. > :03:19.statement. Will he or one of his colleagues meet with me and lakeside
:03:20. > :03:26.energy from waste in order to discuss how we can make sure that
:03:27. > :03:30.this important plant is re-provided? This may well be an issue for the
:03:31. > :03:33.Department for Transport but I would be the more than happy to take a
:03:34. > :03:43.look. Can the Minister say what plans he
:03:44. > :03:48.has to reintroduce a new homes ombudsman last month the Government
:03:49. > :03:50.is looking at the report from the all-party Parliamentary group on
:03:51. > :03:53.excellency in the building department. We are determined to
:03:54. > :03:57.build the homes this country needs but they must be built to a
:03:58. > :04:05.sufficient quality as well. I will keep it brief. Secretary of State,
:04:06. > :04:08.I've listed three positive responses to a Belfast city deal. Instead of a
:04:09. > :04:14.fourth response, could we have a meeting? I will be more than happy
:04:15. > :04:17.to meet with the honourable gentleman. I will make sure a
:04:18. > :04:21.meeting is arranged. I'm very keen to see what ever my department can
:04:22. > :04:26.do to work across and help all regions of the United Kingdom
:04:27. > :04:30.including Northern Ireland. Thank you. Order. Wilbur member
:04:31. > :04:38.wishing to take his seat please come to the table. -- would the member
:04:39. > :04:56.wishing to take his seat. I, Gareth Craig is now do solemnly
:04:57. > :05:01.sincerely and truly declare and affirm I will be faithful and paid
:05:02. > :05:04.for allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors,
:05:05. > :05:07.according to law. -- Gareth Snell.