24/04/2017 House of Commons


24/04/2017

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Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities

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and Local Government. Thank you, Mr Speaker. One person

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sleeping on the streets is one too many. That is why we commit to

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spending over ?550 million to tackle homelessness and Ross living in

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England. This includes supporting projects through our homelessness

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prevention programme and tackling homelessness and Ross living. --

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rough sleeping. Since joining this House and do those I have seen with

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my own eyes the incredible increase in the rate of people sleeping

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roughly on our streets. I have seen it in my constituency, in the

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country and on the doorsteps of Westminster itself were me, only

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four votes. Kenny Cameron what changed in 2010? -- can he tell me

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what changed? He will know that statutory homeless accesses his are

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much lower than their peak in 2003. But there is much more to be done

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when it comes to rough sleeping. I have seen it here in Westminster as

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well. The honourable gentleman might know that I said a lot about this at

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the 50th anniversary conference of Prices last week. I said it is

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something we must work on much more and it is something we will be

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doing. Many people are concerned that the general election might

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result in the delay of implementing the homelessness reduction Bill.

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Perhaps the Secretary of State can say what progress has been made so

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far. Given that this is a bill that has cross-party support, can this

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work not continue during the election period? I would like to

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assure the honourable gentleman... Firstly, I want to congratulate my

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honourable friend, the member for Harrow East, for the work he did to

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bring the bill forward and get it through Parliament. There are still

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a couple of stages in the Parliamentary process, which we are

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confident about, but we have already started work with local authorities

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to make sure that Bill comes into force straightaway. In my home

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borough of Westminster, including Westminster station, where we see

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Roth 's the -- rough sleepers, the figure has soared. West Mr Council

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has cut and slashed the rough sleeping budget. -- Westminster

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council. Does he believe this will hinder the efforts with rough

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sleeping? For example, we have delivered 100 million pounds for

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independent housing units and a grant for rough sleepers. This

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Government is determined to do more. A few weeks ago, I went to Finland

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to see what they have done for themselves. The housing bust

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project. I want to make sure we do more at home.

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Since 2016, I have led a range of different homelessness foundations

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which have all received Government funding. Does my honourable friend

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agree that integration of services are critical in solving this problem

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and we need backing to solve this problem?

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I very much agree with my honourable friend. Let me commend the work he

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is done locally, which is very well-known, to try and bring

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services together. With Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Somerset, they

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will benefit to the tune of ?259,000 from the rough sleeping fund to

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promote integration. The scale of rough sleeping homelessness in

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Britain today shames us all. In a country as decent as -- and well off

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as ours, it is not inevitable. The figure has more than doubled since

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2010, directly as a result of the decision is conservative ministers

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have made since then. There are a few simple rules in politics but

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this is one. With a Labour Government, homelessness falls.

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Under the Tories, it goes up. And on June eight, people will ask

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themselves, do we really want more of the same? I say to the Secretary

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of State, with a new national mission, he need not go to Finland.

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Before the election, will he commit his party to match our labour

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commitment and back our Labour plans to end rough sleeping by the end of

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the next Parliament? Mr Speaker, I know the honourable gentleman and

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details deeply on this issue, as we do. He should not be playing party

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politics with it. This, Mr Speaker, is a very serious issue that unites

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everyone in this House. We all want to see an end to rough sleeping but

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the honourable gentleman knows as well as I do that the causes of

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rough sleeping are complex. They are not just economic. There are mental

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health problems, which in problems and he knows that. We do have

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lessons to learn but I am sure that if he works with us and we work

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together, we can all unite in helping rough sleeping for good.

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This is precisely about politics. This is precisely about the

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political decisions made in the last seven years. It makes the causes of

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homelessness or much worse. Rapidly rising homelessness is just the tip

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of the iceberg on seven years of failure on housing. Rough sleeping

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doubled. Home ownership down. House-building bowling. Private

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renters ignored. Housing benefit bills ballooning. Now the lowest

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number of affordable homes to rent and buy for 24 years. No wonder the

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Labour Party is ahead in the polls on housing. After seven years of

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failure, the Tories have no plan to fix the housing crisis. Isn't that

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why, Mr Speaker, people now desperately need a new deal on

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housing led by a new Labour Government? I do think if anyone was

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going to raise the opinion polls today, it would not come from this

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side of the House. The honourable gentleman continues to surprise us

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all. I say again to him, let's work together on rough sleeping. It is

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very easy for the Labour Party to make a commitment to end rough

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sleeping without having any plans or initiatives, anything and to show

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what they would actually do about it. We have new ideas, especially

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when it comes to, for example, the Housing First concept, which we are

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trialling in Liverpool. He has the opportunity to work with us, if he

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really means it. We have double the level of small

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business release to hundreds amid a person -- 100% and made permanent.

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Councils can provide additional support to businesses facing

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increased bills. Your's economy is being damaged by

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the re-evaluations. There has been a rise from 12,000 to 12,500... This

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is an advertisement businesses previously exempt and now desperate

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in the city. Some face 600% increases in rateable value. No-one

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knows how the new relief funds will even be distributed. Total chaos.

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Can the Secretary of State say why the business rate burden is falling

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harder on smaller businesses and if he will urgently review the

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exception level? Mr Speaker, overall, businesses in the North has

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seen an average fall through the revaluation process. Talking about

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yorked, since 2010, there has been a 74% fall in unemployment. A 74% fall

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in unemployment. That is because you have a Conservative yorked lead

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counsel working with the conservative Government. --

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York-led. Is the Minister aware that many

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Labour-controlled councils are still per serving anti-car policies? Will

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he remind them of recommendation number nine of the retail review

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from Mary Portas, which stated that the end available parking,

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controlled parking, should be made available to high street shoppers?

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Mr Speaker, as always, my right honourable friend has made a very

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good point about anti-car policies coming from label councils. Where

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councils have worked with businesses and taking a pro-car policy,

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especially with parking, it has helped business and labour can learn

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a lesson from that. Given a very great concern expressed

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by small businesses up and down the country about their ability to pay

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business rate rises, I will give the secondary state -- Secretary of

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State another chance. What reassurances can he give small

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busily -- business owners trying to compete against the likes of large

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retailers like Sports Direct? Two things, I can point to the package

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my right honourable friend the Chancellor announced that the

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budget. ?435 million of additional help with rates, including the

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discretionary fund, for which there will be no delay because of the

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general election going ahead exactly as planned. The Government has

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already confirmed the final allocations for local authorities.

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Local authorities are free to start using the scheme to help local

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businesses. Secondly, I can point to what my veteran vendor Chancellor

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said in the budget. I quote, in the medium term, we have to find a

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better way to tax the digital part of the economy that does not use

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bricks and mortar. We have to look at the frequency of the revaluation

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process. Many small businesses in Bury will see a fall in business

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rates because of the re-evaluation. Because of phasing, it will be some

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years before they see little benefit. Can I asked my honourable

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friend to look again at what can be done to speed up the introduction,

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so they can feel the full benefit. What I can tell my friend is that we

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have also put in place the transitional relief scheme, worth

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over ?3 billion which will help businesses across the country,

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including in his constituency and will speed up the introduction.

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I Secretary of State engaged me and Belfast City Council is to how we

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can help business to the deal, he kindly agreed, but sadly events have

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overtaken our arrangements. Can I ask the secular state with the

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commitment he has shown to spend these deals to the devolved regions

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and at that age a continuing theme and something you would like to see

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continued? 'S Mr Speaker I would be happy to meet the honourable

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gentleman, I be happy to meet before Parliament breaks. In September 2016

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we announced the extension of the local housing allowance exemption

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for supported housing until April 20 19. We recently consulted on a

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reform funding model for supported housing, we're not doing this to

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save money. We want to get the right and improve quality going forward. I

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thought him for his reply. Telford has an excellent supported housing

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schemes, many of which I have planned to visit it including one in

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cake league and one and only. Supported housing costs can often be

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higher than local housing allowance rates. How would the Government's

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reforms address this concern? My honourable friend makes a very good

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point. Last September we announced that we would devolved funding to

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local authorities so that providers could reflect the higher average

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costs of supported accommodation. This would give local authorities

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and has role in commissioning, supported housing in the area. The

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Secretary of State is aware of the enquiry into funding proposals for

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supported housing, will he give an assurance that it will reflect very

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carefully on the overall -- overwhelming evidence we received

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that says the rates are not an appropriate basis on which to devise

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a funding scheme for supported housing? That Speaker, I can tell

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him the Government usually values the role of supported housing, what

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it plays in the lives of other people, I take very sleazy upon the

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select committee had to say, I know it might honourable friend gave

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evidence to it, Simon look at it carefully, I do want to make sure

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that whatever the final model is, in sense of eyes is and makes sure that

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providers continue providing this very important type of housing. I

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famous welcome the commitment to support housing and extra money is

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devolved to local authorities, but the local housing allowance cap

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significantly favours London over the regions, for example 99% of

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tenancies in my region will require top up finding, only 3% in London.

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Willie Secretary of State agreed to look at this again and make sure we

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have a system of supported housing that works for everyone? Mr Speaker,

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I know that my honourable friend takes a strong interest in this

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area, and does I know he has done so as a member of the department select

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committee, I have listened to him carefully, others have made similar

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points to to those he just made during the consultation process, but

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I can assure him is that we will look at all the responses carefully.

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I'll make sure the file system works for everyone. The select committee

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enquiry has received evidence that the Government's approach to

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supported housing is funny many providers to put new schemes on held

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and some to blood after -- providing supported housing. When you he

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accept the damage his policy is doing to the provision of housing

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for the most vulnerable residents and when will he commit to the

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funding and certainty to provide the supported homes that we need? Noes

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it is important that we take a careful look at this policy,

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precisely because we are one to see a sustainable model that Lisa

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providers providing enough of these types of homes. That is what this

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policy is designed to do and when we come out with a final policy, that

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is what it will achieve. On the 18th of April 20... Debased 50-year

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tenancies for rent developers, leading housing associations made a

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similar pledge, we hope this will encourage a shift in the market

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toward more landlords offering longer tenancies. Thousands of

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renters across the country will welcome back news. But does the

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minister agreed that landlords are only half the issue. Getting

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mortgage lenders 50% of which at the moment do not lend for more than a

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year AST, to change that policy will be the key to unlocking this and

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longer tenancies for the future? Years he is quite right to raise the

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age of security for people in the private sector and if I can identify

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the issue in relation to lending. Said the Government introduced its

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agreement with break clauses there is no longer any impediment

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committee longer tenancies for landlord customers and the majority

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now permit tenancies for up to two - three years. The minister had

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recently visited Cambridge, he would see the manifestation of the housing

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crisis and the number of people sleeping on the streets which so

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depresses residents. When I visited with the charities recently, later

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me that landlords are increasingly unwilling to let two people on

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housing benefit because of insecure employment. With me that cracking

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down on insecure employment would help us tackle the housing prices? I

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had the opportunity to visit Cambridge recently, I share his

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diagnosis of what the problem is. We need to build more homes in this

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country to give people more choice, and I think is right about our

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employment market, but I say it is the policies of this governments

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that have different level records of employment and the national minimum

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wage is increasing people's any power. Landlords and tenants often

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mistakenly believed that the Tennessee had to be six was a year

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renewable when there is no legal impediment to people having longer

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tenancies. In some cases they do. One of the reasons that doesn't

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happen as landlords find it difficult to take the position in

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the wider to buy the House themselves are the tenant fails to

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pay their rent. With the consider making easier for lasting ties...

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Encourage longer tenancies? We need to make sure that when a tenant pays

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anti-socially is behind in rent arrears that nylon can regain

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possession, but we face pressure in giving increasing number of families

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in the private rented sector the security they need and reforming our

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housing market, increasing supply, bringing an new Bill to rent schemes

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is a key reform. Labour councils like drainage and my own borough are

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doing fantastic jobs of cracking down on rogue landlords. If he acts

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the cares about Private tenants, why is this minister blocking borough

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wide private sector licensing schemes? Is his party still the slum

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landlords lend? The suggestion that members on the side of the House

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don't care about these issues is as ridiculous as it is insulting. The

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work of Labour councils that the shadow minister reversed had been

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funded this Government. He is factually wrong to suggest that the

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Government is blocking borough wide selection licenses, I can also point

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out to him that many reforms were introduced, banning letting agent

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fees, reform that when the shadow milling was running this department

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did not put in place. We're committed to protecting abused in

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the supply of supported housing and his 2011 and we have 1120 3000 user

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body homes in England. My honourable friend will know we recently

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consulted RF on funding model, we are keen to press on with its reform

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as soon as possible. I would like to probe further. An image as a

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short-term accommodation, such as women's refuges. Does he agree that

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a totally separate funding stream is essential to an ambition that no

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victims should be turned away from accessing critical support services

:20:14.:20:21.

by 2020? My honourable friend highlights a very important point.

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We had been working with this sector to develop options to ensure divider

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is a short-term accommodation continue to receive the appropriate

:20:30.:20:32.

funding. This may be to a different funding method that than what you

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have today, but I believe it is vital that this housing receives the

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protection it deserves and it well. The Secretary of State knows that he

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has let down elderly people in this country, it is not just supported

:20:48.:20:51.

housing or finding, it is the fact that any constituency like mine we

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have a magic wand where suddenly student accommodation rises like

:20:57.:21:02.

daisies in the spring. When it comes to accommodation for elderly people,

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who desperately need it, with an ageing population, he has been

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nowhere and what he has achieved. Mr Speaker, at the honourable gentleman

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just missed what I said. Since 2011, 20 3000 units of specialised and

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general housing have been delivered for vulnerable people. We provided

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another ?400 million for specialist homes throughout the country. That

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is the kind of action that takes -- makes results and he should welcome

:21:35.:21:41.

it. In evidence to the joint committee, the National Housing

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Federation says that LH A was not a competent starting point for a

:21:46.:21:49.

funding model. Izzy wedded to that as a starting point IT considering

:21:50.:21:55.

another option? I can tell me on the lady that when it comes to supported

:21:56.:21:59.

housing, we have just had a consultation which is now closed, we

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have the number of representations on that, and we want to consider

:22:03.:22:05.

them carefully, but whatever final model is, it will be one designed to

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make it sustainable for the long-term and provide supported

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housing that we need. Look forward to hearing the report's response on

:22:14.:22:17.

that and it would be useful to get dates. On the issue of the different

:22:18.:22:23.

types of supported accommodation, does the Secretary of State

:22:24.:22:27.

recognised that placing an arbitrary time at done the leather pants on is

:22:28.:22:30.

in short-term accommodation could have a detrimental effect on their

:22:31.:22:34.

live chances thereafter if they are forced to leave that supported

:22:35.:22:39.

accommodation too soon? Will he allow flexibility in the system for

:22:40.:22:44.

organisations lack like there was my constituency who keep your buffer as

:22:45.:22:48.

long as they need to be there? Mr Speaker, as part of the review and

:22:49.:22:53.

the response of the causal taking, we are considering exactly that

:22:54.:22:56.

point the honourable lady ladies, which is the terms of access to

:22:57.:23:08.

short-term accommodation. In 2015 and 2016, another sex at an 85,000

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socially renting households where is currently in arrears had been in a

:23:14.:23:17.

last 12 months, that represents 25% of households in the rented sector.

:23:18.:23:23.

That he is a huge amount, that is nearly a quarter of people in social

:23:24.:23:26.

housing rent arrears. In my constituency in one ward alone, we

:23:27.:23:30.

have nearly half of our social housing tenants. 46% in rent

:23:31.:23:36.

arrears. One thing, of Sark have rise to ?70 because of the benefit

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cap. Isn't this a damning indictment of seven years of Tory assault on

:23:43.:23:47.

Britain balls struggling families? The first year in which the data was

:23:48.:23:53.

collected, 2011, it was 23.5%, figures are very similar to what

:23:54.:23:56.

they were when we inherited from the Labour Government. This side of the

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husband believed very clearly that it is completely wrong fork out of

:24:00.:24:02.

what households to receive a level of support far in excess than their

:24:03.:24:08.

working neighbour 's own vinegar to work. Discretionary housing papers

:24:09.:24:10.

are in order, and it would also set out that the level is falling. In

:24:11.:24:17.

2013-2014, Edmonds... The moving in the right direction and she is wrong

:24:18.:24:24.

to oppose the welfare reforms we need to implement. Those tenets any

:24:25.:24:27.

social housing sector don't keep up with their rents are in danger of

:24:28.:24:31.

becoming homeless. Will he paid tribute to councils like Kettering

:24:32.:24:36.

Borough Council who make an absolute priority to help people in those

:24:37.:24:40.

situations from becoming homeless in the first place and in the first

:24:41.:24:46.

five months of this year Kettering Borough Council helped 78 households

:24:47.:24:50.

stay in their present accommodation. I would be very happy to pay tribute

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to the work that Kettering Borough Council have done, and I also

:24:54.:24:57.

reassure my honourable friend that from the Government was my point of

:24:58.:25:02.

view the protocol for social landlords stresses the value of

:25:03.:25:04.

preventative measures in rent arrears and advises landlords to

:25:05.:25:08.

deploy alternative approaches to eviction where ever possible. Can I

:25:09.:25:15.

ask whether he has had discussions with his colleagues in the DWP have

:25:16.:25:19.

a universal credit and the impact of this is having on many of my

:25:20.:25:22.

constituents who are not being paid for weeks or months on end,

:25:23.:25:25.

therefore going into arrears? This is in addition to victim of bedroom

:25:26.:25:32.

tax. Had he had discussions will he have because it is disgraceful. We

:25:33.:25:39.

have had discussions with DWP colleagues, I make to very be poison

:25:40.:25:44.

the audible member. Universal credit advances are available for new

:25:45.:25:49.

claims. That should be taken up. DWP research shows that after four

:25:50.:25:52.

months, the proportion of universal credit claimants who are in arrears

:25:53.:25:55.

at the start of their claim have followed by a third, so there is an

:25:56.:25:58.

initial problem and the advance claims are there to cope with that,

:25:59.:26:02.

but over time the situation is improving. In Northern Ireland one

:26:03.:26:08.

in three people are just a paycheque away from homelessness, a lesser

:26:09.:26:11.

number than the UK mainland. What sets have been taken to help those

:26:12.:26:16.

on the cusp of homelessness duty the benefit system and hold onto their

:26:17.:26:21.

tennis is? The Government has greatly increased in the discussion

:26:22.:26:24.

housing payments that are available to local authorities to assist those

:26:25.:26:27.

who are affected by weather for reform changes to ensure that has

:26:28.:26:31.

happened, and a visit on the policy is to try and shift the approach to

:26:32.:26:36.

an emphasis on prevention so be prevent people coming statutory

:26:37.:26:39.

homeless in the first place rather than just abiding help at the point

:26:40.:26:42.

of prices. Thank you. This Government is

:26:43.:26:51.

committed to reforming unfair parking practices. We have taken

:26:52.:26:57.

steps to tackle rogue and unfair parking practices with the banning

:26:58.:27:05.

of wheel clamping and towing. We published a response to the

:27:06.:27:08.

discussion paper on private parking in 2016 and I am discovering the

:27:09.:27:14.

points raised. I thank him for as response. In my constituency, the

:27:15.:27:17.

discrepancy between parking on public and private land is causing

:27:18.:27:22.

huge problems for drivers in my constituency and hefty fines,

:27:23.:27:24.

particularly in the area behind Laura Ashley in a town centre.

:27:25.:27:28.

Stopping for two minutes will see you receive a ?60 penalty fine.

:27:29.:27:32.

Could the minister bring forward the recommendations of the consultation

:27:33.:27:37.

to end this unfair practice? My honourable friend is a strong

:27:38.:27:42.

campaigner for her constituents. She raises an important Poyet. -- point.

:27:43.:27:51.

We need clarity on where people can and cannot park. We will look

:27:52.:27:55.

carefully at what she says as we prepare a response to the

:27:56.:28:02.

consultation. Thank you Mr Speaker. 2000 pubs have been listed so far on

:28:03.:28:07.

the assets of community value. That provides communities with a time to

:28:08.:28:12.

bid when it comes onto the market. We are supporting that process

:28:13.:28:16.

further with ?3.6 million through the pub programme. I thank him for

:28:17.:28:23.

the reply. The Northumberland Arms is a much loved local pub in my

:28:24.:28:27.

constituency, which members of the local community hoped to reopen

:28:28.:28:30.

using the community right to bid scheme. Will my right honourable

:28:31.:28:34.

friend lent every possible support and consider joining us for a

:28:35.:28:38.

celebratory pint when it reopens? We could make the same double

:28:39.:28:40.

celebration should the good people of Marple Bridge see fit to return

:28:41.:28:48.

me to this House. It is unthinkable that the people in your constituency

:28:49.:28:54.

will not return my honourable friend.

:28:55.:28:58.

I would be delighted to join him, with a whole ministerial team, to

:28:59.:29:02.

celebrate the community pub that he mentioned, so long as he is buying

:29:03.:29:15.

the pants. -- pints. The Minister has not mentioned what my office has

:29:16.:29:18.

been told by his department, which is the planning Bill is set to fall

:29:19.:29:25.

and therefore the change to pubs protection would not happen. Could

:29:26.:29:28.

we have an assurance that this is not the case? After that wonderful

:29:29.:29:32.

decision support of across the House, we need to make sure this

:29:33.:29:38.

goes through. Mr Speaker, we're hoping to complete that legislation

:29:39.:29:41.

before the dissolution of parliament. That change that he

:29:42.:29:45.

mentions has been broadly welcomed by very many people, including

:29:46.:29:48.

himself, of course, who campaigned on it. Mr Speaker, since April 2010,

:29:49.:29:58.

we have delivered on average over 50,000 affordable homes per year.

:29:59.:30:02.

Many of which were affordable homes to rent. During the previous

:30:03.:30:08.

Government, the average was much less.

:30:09.:30:13.

I expect a number of Members of Parliament and ministers to visit my

:30:14.:30:21.

constituency and NXT weeks. Can I invite him to Flint? You will see a

:30:22.:30:27.

Labour Party Council building houses for rent. Why can't he match that in

:30:28.:30:32.

England? We want more homes of every kind. In

:30:33.:30:51.

Croydon, it was a conservative council started building council

:30:52.:30:53.

houses again after a Labour council failed to do full. -- do so. Will my

:30:54.:31:01.

honourable friend join with me in welcoming the almost 2000 new houses

:31:02.:31:06.

being built in trolley's forged will neighbourhood, including a complete

:31:07.:31:10.

mix of units including council and social rented, as well as low-cost

:31:11.:31:15.

housing? I normally welcome what my noble friend has to say in building

:31:16.:31:21.

homes we so dismally needing this country. Contrary to what we hear

:31:22.:31:26.

from the shadow front bench, there is a widespread consensus that we

:31:27.:31:28.

desperately need to build more homes of every kind to tackle the housing

:31:29.:31:31.

crisis that has been building in this country for the last 30-40

:31:32.:31:37.

years. The right to buy scheme has allowed a devastating erosion of

:31:38.:31:40.

social housing stock, with 40% of ex-council houses now in the hands

:31:41.:31:48.

of private landlords. With public money going straight into the

:31:49.:31:51.

pockets of these landlords, could be Secretary of State tell the House

:31:52.:31:55.

how much the right to buy scheme has cost the public purse? The right to

:31:56.:32:01.

buy has helped nearly 2 million hard-working people own their own

:32:02.:32:05.

home in this country. Since we reinvigorated the right to buy in

:32:06.:32:11.

2012, we have made a condition of the scheme that each homes sold,

:32:12.:32:14.

we're with a new, affordable home. That to my mind is the right policy,

:32:15.:32:19.

that we help people that have the aspiration to buy their home but

:32:20.:32:22.

also make sure rented homes are replaced. That is what people will

:32:23.:32:28.

get from a Conservative Government. Lytton's housing waiting list is

:32:29.:32:31.

three times higher than in the 1970s when I was vice-chairman of the

:32:32.:32:34.

housing council. The housing stock has been cut in half in that time

:32:35.:32:39.

from compulsory sales. Isn't it true that only a Labour Government, led

:32:40.:32:43.

by my right honourable friend from isn't in North, could ensure that

:32:44.:32:50.

people have a decent place to live? People can go back at the record of

:32:51.:32:53.

the last Labour Government from 1997 until 2010. How many council homes

:32:54.:32:59.

were built then? What level of house building that we inherit from the

:33:00.:33:04.

Labour Government in 2010? The truth is that he's building in this

:33:05.:33:06.

country has been increasing under this Government and are certainly

:33:07.:33:10.

still things to do. We're the party committed to building more homes for

:33:11.:33:14.

people to buy and rent privately, and more affordable homes for people

:33:15.:33:18.

to rent. If we want a solution to the housing crisis, it is this party

:33:19.:33:26.

that is offering it. Mr Speaker, my department regularly

:33:27.:33:29.

meets with housing associations to discuss how we can help keep the

:33:30.:33:33.

affordable and increase the supply of new homes. Our housing white

:33:34.:33:35.

paper has been welcomed by the sector and we look forward to many

:33:36.:33:42.

more productive discussions on this. Will he agree with me that the

:33:43.:33:45.

future rent policy should not only guarantee affordability but for

:33:46.:33:50.

long-term certainty for the housing associations so that they do deliver

:33:51.:33:54.

those new homes that we need? I do agree with my honourable friend. It

:33:55.:34:00.

is an excellent point. Housing Association is currently account for

:34:01.:34:02.

about one third of total housing supply. We want a situation where

:34:03.:34:07.

they can borrow even more against that future income to build even

:34:08.:34:09.

more homes. This is something in the housing white paper and we intend to

:34:10.:34:23.

build on it. Mr Williams? Not here. Number 12, please, Mr Speaker.

:34:24.:34:33.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Adult social care funding is distributed

:34:34.:34:39.

according to the area is required with a well established formula. The

:34:40.:34:45.

budgets take into account the ability of a council to raise money

:34:46.:34:50.

through the social care preset. Thank you for that response but I am

:34:51.:34:56.

sorry, you're wrong. The formula is broken. South Tyneside Council are

:34:57.:34:59.

the third hardest-hit in the country. There is a higher than

:35:00.:35:04.

average demand for social care with hospital services under threat from

:35:05.:35:09.

this Government's plans. Isn't it simply true that this Government

:35:10.:35:12.

created the social care crisis, cannot solve it and our constituents

:35:13.:35:17.

are suffering? I can say to the honourable lady

:35:18.:35:20.

that her assessment is completely wrong. ?9.25 billion of extra

:35:21.:35:26.

funding councils will have access to over the next three years. In terms

:35:27.:35:36.

of money directly from the Government, areas like the Lady's

:35:37.:35:43.

will receive more money from the Government than other areas.

:35:44.:35:47.

Inhalation to council tax, I do not think the honourable lady has space

:35:48.:35:52.

to talk about that because council tax double during the time of the

:35:53.:35:56.

Labour Party and Government. Since 2010, it has gone down 9%.

:35:57.:36:03.

The answer in relation to the former is absolutely right. Will he also

:36:04.:36:06.

accept that another variable, perhaps of greater practical

:36:07.:36:11.

concern, is the variation and willingness of the Health Service to

:36:12.:36:13.

work jointly with local authorities to maximise the integration of the

:36:14.:36:18.

funds? Local authorities are well used to joint working and democratic

:36:19.:36:22.

accountability. There is not this in history am afraid in regards to CCGs

:36:23.:36:27.

and other health institutions. What will he do about that? I have great

:36:28.:36:31.

respect for my honourable friend, who has considerable knowledge in

:36:32.:36:35.

this area. He is absolutely right. We need to make sure that health and

:36:36.:36:41.

so the works far more collegiate lay -- closely and work harder to make

:36:42.:36:46.

sure services are integrated. In a today that an -- we a to do that at

:36:47.:36:55.

a national level and we want to see for local people.

:36:56.:36:59.

The social care preset means that funding available for social care is

:37:00.:37:03.

increasingly dependent on a local authority's tax base. In 2017 2018,

:37:04.:37:12.

there will be 9 million of additional funding in Sheffield,

:37:13.:37:14.

compared with over 31 million for Surrey. Does the Minister think that

:37:15.:37:21.

is fair? I would say to the honourable gentleman that he should

:37:22.:37:25.

look at the allocations for the ?4.5 billion social care funding that is

:37:26.:37:29.

coming to local authorities directly from Government. That absolutely

:37:30.:37:34.

takes into account the fact that certain places can raise far more in

:37:35.:37:41.

council to. And from the social care preset. I wish you would recognise

:37:42.:37:50.

that. Many care homes up and down the

:37:51.:37:53.

country are relying from care workers from the EU. Estimates show

:37:54.:38:00.

100,000 workers. What reassurances can be given that when Britain leads

:38:01.:38:02.

the EU, care homes will be adequately staffed and there will be

:38:03.:38:09.

appropriately trained care workers? I can reassure the honourable lady,

:38:10.:38:14.

who makes a very important point, that my honourable friend in the

:38:15.:38:21.

Department for health has met with those care providers. So has my

:38:22.:38:27.

writable friend met with care providers, as I have myself, because

:38:28.:38:30.

this is an extremely important situation. We have to make sure we

:38:31.:38:34.

have enough care workers going forward to support the most

:38:35.:38:38.

honourable people in our society. Question 13, please, Mr Speaker.

:38:39.:38:44.

The Northern Powerhouse is central to our plans for an economy that

:38:45.:38:48.

works for all. In these last few months, we have published the

:38:49.:38:50.

Northern Powerhouse strategy and launched the second Northern

:38:51.:38:54.

Powerhouse investment portfolio. We are validated over half ?1 billion

:38:55.:39:02.

in investment. -- allocated. Committed tens of millions to

:39:03.:39:05.

cultural investment in the North. And we have been providing funds...

:39:06.:39:18.

With Regional Growth Fund money and record levels of employment being

:39:19.:39:25.

achieved in my constituency, will the Minister ensure the Northern

:39:26.:39:28.

Powerhouse investment fund builds on the success and make sure the power

:39:29.:39:32.

of the powerhouse for years to come? Absolutely. I pay tribute to my

:39:33.:39:36.

honourable friend for the work he does with the local economy. There

:39:37.:39:43.

has been ?694 million of Government funding for local growth funds. The

:39:44.:39:48.

new ?400 million investment fund is there specifically to support

:39:49.:39:50.

smaller, medium-sized businesses across the North that want to grow

:39:51.:40:01.

and expand. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The north-east should be the

:40:02.:40:05.

powerhouse for our country's manufacturing and exporting

:40:06.:40:08.

Renaissance, with a workforce that takes pride in making and building

:40:09.:40:12.

things. Why is it then that the so-called industrial strategy and

:40:13.:40:18.

Northern Powerhouse, so-called, does so little to invest in the jobs and

:40:19.:40:20.

infrastructure that north-eastern needs? -- that the north-east. One

:40:21.:40:28.

of the reasons that people in the north-east has lost their faith in

:40:29.:40:32.

the Labour Party is that the never have anything Paul verse of --

:40:33.:40:37.

positive to say about the North. All they do is talk down the North and

:40:38.:40:41.

Northern people. Look what is happening. Millions of pounds of

:40:42.:40:45.

Government investment in the north-east. She might not want to

:40:46.:40:47.

talk about Newcastle but I will because it is leading this country's

:40:48.:40:52.

economic recovery. On that note, Mr Speaker, Lancashire

:40:53.:41:00.

County Council has continually blocked an enterprise zone in

:41:01.:41:08.

Morecambe and Lonsdale. With the Minister like to come to delight

:41:09.:41:13.

during this election and listen to the businesses who want the business

:41:14.:41:18.

park? I would be like to do that and I plan to visit 20 of constituencies

:41:19.:41:21.

during this election period. I will visitors. The Secretary of State has

:41:22.:41:27.

already visited. The enterprises are making a real difference to economy

:41:28.:41:31.

is in the north. 9000 jobs have been provided on them, so I will

:41:32.:41:33.

certainly visit. The Manchester evening News reported

:41:34.:41:42.

on a weekend the pressure from the Conservative backbenchers to scrap a

:41:43.:41:47.

two to fund the Brexit bell. Can you minister confirm that it will go

:41:48.:41:52.

ahead to the time and budget outline? Has been no change to

:41:53.:41:58.

discover and's policy on HS two, and I would remind him that in addition

:41:59.:42:03.

to that there is ?13 billion of other investment and we will see

:42:04.:42:06.

early two years in the current Pennine lying in particular new

:42:07.:42:13.

carriages, new services, held new passenger experience, over ?2

:42:14.:42:17.

billion of investment in that supported trans-Pennine route is

:42:18.:42:20.

happening under this Government. We'll also see the Northern Rail

:42:21.:42:23.

franchise operating on an improvement basis I like under the

:42:24.:42:26.

new improvement basis when it was run by the Labour Party. It is

:42:27.:42:36.

essential that local plans start from an honest assessment of housing

:42:37.:42:40.

needs, and as we set out housing white paper we introduce a standard

:42:41.:42:48.

to ensure that is the case. Queue is seeking to grab this question with

:42:49.:42:55.

16. He can? He well. He's doing it. Methodology used by the council has

:42:56.:43:02.

brought a housing target that has threatened to... If the tenders of

:43:03.:43:08.

method proves my community's suspicion that the target is

:43:09.:43:12.

excessive, Candace override the current target and help save this

:43:13.:43:17.

important green area in my constituency? The methodology will

:43:18.:43:21.

reveal what the real level of housing need is. There are local

:43:22.:43:23.

authorities across the country that used to build more than they need

:43:24.:43:27.

because their permission to grow, and that is a legitimate debate, but

:43:28.:43:31.

is consistency should be aware of what the level of leaders. The white

:43:32.:43:36.

paper makes it clear that green belt land should only be released under

:43:37.:43:39.

exceptional circumstances when all other options for meeting housing

:43:40.:43:44.

needs has been pursued. It has played here Brownfield sites and

:43:45.:43:51.

others not yet built, how can we ensure that low demand in areas like

:43:52.:43:56.

Pendle are better reflected in housing targets? That is exactly the

:43:57.:43:59.

purpose of the new methodology that we are planning to introduce. The

:44:00.:44:03.

level of housing need that we plan for should reflect what the real

:44:04.:44:06.

market demand for housing need is in an area. Mr Speaker, in the past

:44:07.:44:14.

year we received presentations from residents and the old party

:44:15.:44:20.

Parliamentary group,. Goes back and was published in the 20th of April

:44:21.:44:24.

at addressing the concerns include in charges, site management and

:44:25.:44:28.

harassment. Will he remove the temptation which prompt those park

:44:29.:44:33.

owners that have neither the social norm managerial skills to make a

:44:34.:44:38.

success of it to maximise their sales revenue commission by bullying

:44:39.:44:48.

residents so as to secure a higher turnover of such residents? Bullying

:44:49.:44:52.

and harassment is not acceptable in any form which is why we introduced

:44:53.:44:56.

the mobile homes act, which gives local authorities greater powers but

:44:57.:45:01.

we will busy listen to the to see further action is required to stop

:45:02.:45:09.

the kind of behaviour he describes. White paper sets our measures to

:45:10.:45:14.

increase moderate levels of construction and house-building,

:45:15.:45:18.

which will of a huge opportunities beat up our houses are built and

:45:19.:45:23.

improve the quality of the bills. The Castle recently approved buying

:45:24.:45:31.

permission... To have the highest court in sustainable homes built

:45:32.:45:34.

using modern construction methods. But the minister agree that it is

:45:35.:45:37.

vital that the developers of this site are held to this vision of

:45:38.:45:41.

what's a boy can he give to ensure that this happens? Honourable friend

:45:42.:45:47.

has -- an outstanding member of his community and I would be very happy

:45:48.:45:50.

to meet with him to talk about how the Government can persist both in

:45:51.:45:53.

terms of the infrastructure and the mix of housing and the proposed

:45:54.:45:57.

scheme goes through the planning process. The rusting Lake

:45:58.:46:03.

development in my constituency is having more than construction

:46:04.:46:07.

methods, creating hundreds of jobs, and it is an extension to this which

:46:08.:46:13.

has been approved unanimously by Northamptonshire Council which was

:46:14.:46:15.

submitted to the Secretary of State for approval on the 4th of April.

:46:16.:46:19.

The council's concern is that because the election this might not

:46:20.:46:22.

give enough time for it to go through. What is the position? The

:46:23.:46:28.

Government is now an purdah, so further decision cannot be taken but

:46:29.:46:31.

this is an issue that the new Government can look at straightaway,

:46:32.:46:34.

it is to my honourable friend's credit that they are one of the

:46:35.:46:37.

parts of the country that is determined to build the homes that

:46:38.:46:46.

we so desperately need. We are supporting our high streets to

:46:47.:46:49.

thrive as consumer habits change, we've introduced the biggest ever

:46:50.:46:54.

cut interest rates with six point billion... In Gloucestershire. We

:46:55.:46:57.

are also celebrating our high streets or the use that may choose a

:46:58.:47:02.

successful British ICI was which members of on all sides of this

:47:03.:47:11.

House supported. A treasured area high Street now independent shops

:47:12.:47:16.

are all losing customers to two loss killed regeneration was I in many

:47:17.:47:19.

others believe the evaluation of the student reduce business rates for

:47:20.:47:25.

these shops, and that their landlord should also discount their rent,

:47:26.:47:28.

especially as they have caused the shortfall. What does my right

:47:29.:47:31.

honourable friend that the evaluation office you do? And sure

:47:32.:47:38.

it is just a matter of time. Businesses are fully entitled to

:47:39.:47:41.

make the case for a temporary reduction in their rateable value, I

:47:42.:47:46.

do know since -- the area very well, but I would advise the businesses to

:47:47.:47:51.

do is contact the local evaluation offers and discuss their win in the

:47:52.:47:56.

rateable values can be amended. At the minister is well aware, there

:47:57.:48:01.

has been a cigarette increase in begging on Scunthorpe I stated last

:48:02.:48:04.

two years, and the police at local authority and the course between

:48:05.:48:07.

them don't seem to be held to roll up their sleeves and sort this

:48:08.:48:11.

problem out despite trying very hard in different ways. What is the

:48:12.:48:14.

Government going to do to make sure the right powers and the right place

:48:15.:48:20.

to tackle this issue? 'S I will begin by congratulating him on his

:48:21.:48:25.

marathon success yesterday. For such a young man, he did it in such a --

:48:26.:48:31.

an interesting time. He deserves full credit. It is a problem fully

:48:32.:48:35.

aware of on Scunthorpe which to town centre I think is on the way back,

:48:36.:48:40.

and having to discuss with him for that what we can do across

:48:41.:48:43.

Government to help deal with that particular problem. Traders in

:48:44.:48:48.

Cleethorpes high Street and elsewhere in the resort are

:48:49.:48:50.

particularly concerned following the decision by north east council which

:48:51.:48:56.

is Labour-controlled to close a number of public toilets and refuse

:48:57.:49:01.

to repair others. It is having a detrimental effect. I know that as

:49:02.:49:04.

the coastal communities minister he would want to look favourably on

:49:05.:49:09.

future request for finding, so that these amenities can be improved. It

:49:10.:49:13.

is a delight to get a question from other neighbour. It is the case that

:49:14.:49:21.

cross-linking's area it is bubbling public tiles. We really allocated

:49:22.:49:26.

?20 million to Northern Powerhouse projects and be a further round of

:49:27.:49:31.

bidding in it to work, and if the local coastal team want to come and

:49:32.:49:39.

propose that, we will look at it. Refugees provide vital support for

:49:40.:49:44.

victims of domestic abuse. Said 2014 we have invested over 30 the million

:49:45.:49:51.

powers to services including refugees. We expect local heirs to

:49:52.:49:55.

assess their needs and provide services and support to meet that

:49:56.:50:00.

need. I have one refuge for women in my area. With 17% of specialist

:50:01.:50:07.

refugees in including losses 2010, what is the Government doing to

:50:08.:50:10.

protect this vital lifeline for women and children? This is an issue

:50:11.:50:16.

that this Government takes extremely seriously. No person should be

:50:17.:50:21.

turned away from the support they need. In February we are announced

:50:22.:50:25.

that 76 projects across the country will receive a share of ?20 million

:50:26.:50:29.

to support victims of domestic abuse, creating 2000 that active has

:50:30.:50:36.

done to bed spaces giving supporter of 19,000 victims. Including

:50:37.:50:44.

additional funding to our own area. In the past few weeks we have set

:50:45.:50:51.

out plans to crack down on rogue landlords, we've unveiled a ?40

:50:52.:50:54.

million cash boost for Britain's hasn't really is. We listen to some

:50:55.:50:58.

of the concerns around business rates evaluation and responded with

:50:59.:51:03.

a package. However, contrary to previous promises, I can no longer

:51:04.:51:07.

expect to deliver 100% business rates retention by the end of this

:51:08.:51:10.

Parliament. That is simple and contained in this parliament will

:51:11.:51:13.

now be coming around rather sooner than I thought. We welcome the award

:51:14.:51:22.

of ?9.5 million, specifically for transport improvements and other

:51:23.:51:26.

priority for the council is to develop a back office hop to improve

:51:27.:51:32.

services and save cost. What more can the Government do to assist with

:51:33.:51:41.

that? I enjoyed my visit to his beautiful constituency last week. I

:51:42.:51:47.

think the idea of a bank offers Hub is a good one, and what it does is

:51:48.:51:52.

highlight the Conservative councils cost you less but the Livermore. If

:51:53.:51:56.

local people want to see this around the country, they should vote

:51:57.:52:02.

Conservative. The minister will know that since 2010, the Tories have

:52:03.:52:11.

stolen 40% of my cousin's ground and 40 the sex percent of another grand.

:52:12.:52:18.

The victims of this crime was they the hard-working people in the area.

:52:19.:52:22.

With the minute I like to take this opportunity to apologise to them for

:52:23.:52:29.

this shabby Conservative prime? The honourable gentleman raises an

:52:30.:52:34.

interesting question seeing as his party said they would be not one

:52:35.:52:38.

more penny for local government. That said, has the audible gentleman

:52:39.:52:43.

has heard, we are putting additional access to ?9.25 billion for adult

:52:44.:52:47.

social care, during the next two years, as his area will benefit from

:52:48.:52:52.

that. Kettering is a wonderful place to live... Some rural parts of the

:52:53.:53:01.

borough are blighted by inappropriate and illegal

:53:02.:53:04.

development by Gypsies and Travellers. This is especially

:53:05.:53:07.

galling when many commuters in Kettering do far more travelling

:53:08.:53:11.

than so-called travellers ever do. If there were a planning policy for

:53:12.:53:16.

black people in planning policy for white people, they would rightly be

:53:17.:53:20.

outrage in this country. Why do we have special planning provisions for

:53:21.:53:29.

Gypsies and Travellers? Can I first say that Kettering is indeed a

:53:30.:53:34.

wonderful place. I understand that unauthorised encampments can cause

:53:35.:53:37.

distress for local communities and my honourable friend will know that

:53:38.:53:40.

since 2010 the Government has made a number of changes that are designed

:53:41.:53:45.

to help with illegal and are not writing tablets but I agree with him

:53:46.:53:48.

that more can be done and I'd be more than happy to sit down with him

:53:49.:53:53.

and listen to what ideas he has. He will be aware of the report into

:53:54.:54:00.

social care, a lot of attention given to finding. But also to the

:54:01.:54:05.

state of care workers who provide this important service. The

:54:06.:54:08.

committee heard that nearly half the workers leave within a year of

:54:09.:54:13.

getting a job, half on the row contracts, many don't get paid

:54:14.:54:16.

travelling time in contradiction to the minimum wage legislation and 27%

:54:17.:54:21.

don't get any training in dementia before the clout to deal with people

:54:22.:54:25.

with that condition. Isn't there a case for a developing well paid a

:54:26.:54:32.

well-trained workforce, utilising ethical care charter as a basis for

:54:33.:54:40.

that? I welcome the select committee's work in this important

:54:41.:54:43.

area and I will listen carefully to the final research that they come up

:54:44.:54:50.

with, the audible gentleman but know that more funding is helpful and the

:54:51.:54:55.

local governments to refer to that earlier, but they need to be some

:54:56.:54:58.

longer term changes that make the whole set more sustainable and that

:54:59.:55:06.

includes skills. I'm pleased that parishes and town councils in my

:55:07.:55:09.

constituency I getting on with their neighbourhood plans. Does my right

:55:10.:55:12.

honourable friend agree that Cornwall Council must address the

:55:13.:55:17.

community given priority is to open up more options for local people who

:55:18.:55:23.

are facing difficulties in finding suitable housing? I'm delighted to

:55:24.:55:28.

hear of the work that my honourable friend has been doing promoting

:55:29.:55:31.

neighbourhood planning. She is a powerful champion for South East

:55:32.:55:35.

Cornwall. She is right that Cornwall county council needs to work with

:55:36.:55:39.

these neighbourhood plans to help local communities deliver the

:55:40.:55:46.

visions they set out. Is icon the honourable member for listing, part

:55:47.:55:48.

I may congratulate the honourable lady as she is one of several

:55:49.:55:52.

members who magnificently ran the marathon yesterday. Maybe feeling a

:55:53.:55:58.

cation today, but not too tired to stand up and asked a question. We

:55:59.:56:06.

are grateful. Value, Mr Speaker. I have to say I'm eminently glad that

:56:07.:56:10.

I am here today and I don't have do Bob, because I think that might just

:56:11.:56:15.

be beyond me. That is bigger, the rise in hate crime follow the UK's

:56:16.:56:18.

vote to leave the EU has shocked us all. The rhetoric on this Tory

:56:19.:56:23.

Government on immigration will do nothing to assist integration and

:56:24.:56:28.

cohesion. What discussion at the UK Government had with ministers from

:56:29.:56:31.

the Scottish Government regarding the case in the door? Will he commit

:56:32.:56:36.

to make sure that the policies in his party's manifesto but not seek

:56:37.:56:38.

to divide people along those lines? I would also like to congratulate

:56:39.:56:48.

the honourable lady what she achieved yesterday. And all the

:56:49.:56:51.

people who raised so much money for so many good causes. The issue she

:56:52.:56:55.

raises is an important one. We are taking the Casey review seriously.

:56:56.:57:01.

It shows the need for a new integration strategy to make sure

:57:02.:57:05.

that we do everything we can to work together across this House,

:57:06.:57:08.

including with people in Scotland and other parts of the UK, to make

:57:09.:57:12.

sure that we bring this nation together and reduce those people

:57:13.:57:21.

that face isolation. With my right honourable friend confirmed that he

:57:22.:57:28.

intends to increase the weight given to certain neighbourhood plans, and

:57:29.:57:31.

though he indicate the same weight will also be given to an emerging

:57:32.:57:38.

five-year land supply? I am happy to confirm that the ministerial

:57:39.:57:42.

statement, and last upon in the white paper, means plans will not be

:57:43.:57:52.

overruled. I can also say that the white paper contains proposals to

:57:53.:57:54.

help councils demonstrate that they have a five-year land supply in

:57:55.:57:58.

order to uphold the plans they have worked on to produce. Sheffield City

:57:59.:58:03.

Council is leading the way in building much-needed affordable

:58:04.:58:08.

housing through its innovative Sheffield housing company

:58:09.:58:11.

partnership. But across the country, the number of affordable homes built

:58:12.:58:19.

last year fell to the lowest in 24 years. Sheffield is doing its bit.

:58:20.:58:22.

Why is the Government failing so badly to address the Government's

:58:23.:58:28.

housing crisis? Mr Speaker, we're investing record amounts in

:58:29.:58:33.

affordable housing. Since 2010, we have seen 310,000 units, more than

:58:34.:58:35.

that, created throughout the country. If he wants to know what a

:58:36.:58:42.

failure on affordable housing looks like, you need only look at the last

:58:43.:58:45.

Labour Government, which saw a fall of 410,000 units in social housing

:58:46.:58:53.

for rent. The housing white paper has greater expectations of local

:58:54.:58:56.

authorities. How can he keep them building? Mr Speaker, local

:58:57.:59:01.

authorities have a number of key roles. To produce a local plan based

:59:02.:59:06.

on an honest assessment of the level of need. Secondly, to deliver the

:59:07.:59:10.

plan. A new housing delivery test is key in that regard. Butler, local

:59:11.:59:18.

authorities play a crucial role in building themselves. We want to

:59:19.:59:24.

support them doing that, through schemes such as the honourable

:59:25.:59:28.

gentleman opposite referred to. Your Mac surely he is aware of the damage

:59:29.:59:32.

being done to local committees by the cuts in local Government

:59:33.:59:40.

spending. It has affected children centres, centres that had been

:59:41.:59:44.

closed down. They are part of our communities. What will he do to get

:59:45.:59:53.

a bite? -- get it right? Every council around the country has had

:59:54.:59:56.

to find efficiencies to balance the books of the country and build a

:59:57.:00:01.

stronger economy. Some have done that well, mainly Conservative led

:00:02.:00:07.

authorities, and Labour authorities have absolutely failed in that. If

:00:08.:00:14.

people want to see more things being delivered less, for Conservative at

:00:15.:00:19.

the election. Thousands of homes are being built across Northamptonshire.

:00:20.:00:23.

What commitment can he give to local people in my constituency that

:00:24.:00:26.

across-the-board, infrastructure and public services will keep up with

:00:27.:00:32.

new homes being built? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend

:00:33.:00:38.

makes an important point a bit infrastructure and how the right

:00:39.:00:41.

infrastructure can help local people accept more housing. You will know

:00:42.:00:44.

already that local councils can put obligations on developers to deliver

:00:45.:00:48.

certain infrastructure. He will moderate the committee

:00:49.:00:50.

infrastructure levy, which can also help. Teibert also like to highlight

:00:51.:00:55.

the housing infrastructure fund. -- but I would also like. He should

:00:56.:01:00.

make an application to use that fund for his local community. Despite a

:01:01.:01:07.

strong objection from historic England, who like me are worried

:01:08.:01:13.

about the impact on a judge in my local area, Labour councils voted

:01:14.:01:17.

for the controversial plan for 100 houses opposite. Will the Secretary

:01:18.:01:20.

of State not acknowledge the planning system does not allow local

:01:21.:01:26.

committees to have a say against unwanted development? The planning

:01:27.:01:32.

system is built on a high level of community involvement at every

:01:33.:01:36.

stage. Local councils should work with communities in developing

:01:37.:01:40.

plans. My honourable friend raised the issue in relation to councils,

:01:41.:01:47.

we're constituents can have representations on planning

:01:48.:01:53.

councils. In Derby, we're looking at

:01:54.:01:57.

alternative methods of giving help to people sleeping rough, such as an

:01:58.:02:02.

app which will direct and agencies like the Hadley Centre, which helps

:02:03.:02:05.

people who asked living rough. Does my right honourable friend agree to

:02:06.:02:08.

me that initiatives like this can help tackle issues of rough

:02:09.:02:13.

sleeping? Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with my honourable friend. We

:02:14.:02:21.

all want to end rough sleeping in our country and looking at these

:02:22.:02:24.

kinds of new ideas can make a real difference.

:02:25.:02:27.

Following the successful and important meeting last week of the

:02:28.:02:33.

all-party group about unfair, unreasonable abuses, can the

:02:34.:02:40.

honourable member say what plans are to do something about this? What I

:02:41.:02:46.

can tell my honourable friend... Firstly, I commend him for the wiki

:02:47.:02:49.

is done in this area to highlight the abuses that have taken place. I

:02:50.:02:53.

am particularly concerned, and another T-shirt is this concern,

:02:54.:02:56.

about where houses are sold on field. I think this is an

:02:57.:03:02.

unacceptable practice and we will do something about it. The leader of

:03:03.:03:07.

the Conservative group in Eastleigh has already questioned the

:03:08.:03:11.

methodology behind the need for the next 10,000 homes, which could lead

:03:12.:03:13.

to a threatening of 400-year-old ancient woodland. Could the minister

:03:14.:03:19.

outline how, without a local plan, when ancient woodland is under

:03:20.:03:23.

threat, housing numbers can be verified? I hope the housing white

:03:24.:03:27.

paper will help honourable friend into the gas. I know how passionate

:03:28.:03:30.

she is about protecting ancient woodland in her constituency. First,

:03:31.:03:35.

the new methodology will give a much clearer indication of what the real

:03:36.:03:39.

level of housing needed in her area is. Secondly, we propose to increase

:03:40.:03:42.

the protections of ancient woodland. It is a precious resource inherited

:03:43.:03:47.

from previous generations that cannot be easily replaced and that

:03:48.:03:49.

is right that we strengthen protection. Can I thank the Minister

:03:50.:03:58.

for the news that North Devon is to receive two coastal communities

:03:59.:04:00.

grants, totalling more than ?2 million. This was fantastic news.

:04:01.:04:06.

Half a million for the Museum in Barnstaple and 1.5 million for the

:04:07.:04:09.

new water sports centre in Ilfracombe. The Minister is

:04:10.:04:14.

currently coming to see it soon. We join me in congratulating those on

:04:15.:04:16.

the committee who helped to make this happen? And will he agree that

:04:17.:04:22.

North Devon only gets this sort of recognition when it has a

:04:23.:04:25.

Conservative Party MP and Conservative Government? I'll

:04:26.:04:28.

fiercely agree with the latter point, but I want to pay tribute to

:04:29.:04:33.

him for the work he has done in advocating both of those projects.

:04:34.:04:38.

-- I obviously agree. The grants funded a whole host of projects

:04:39.:04:41.

across the south-west and proved that if you want investment to

:04:42.:04:45.

continue, residents in the Southwest will have to vote Conservative in

:04:46.:04:51.

the election. Will my right honourable friend the Secretary of

:04:52.:04:57.

State be Nottingham's Robin Hood to Labour's King John, and ensure that

:04:58.:05:02.

those parts of Nottinghamshire and never forced against their will to

:05:03.:05:07.

join the Sheffield city Mayor roll region? Andy Storey County of

:05:08.:05:12.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will be safe under a Conservative

:05:13.:05:16.

Government. It is a matter for the Sheffield region to consult on and

:05:17.:05:23.

what the proposals are. I am unable to say anything in detail on that

:05:24.:05:27.

other than it is really important that residents in areas like

:05:28.:05:32.

Derbyshire make their views known as part of the consultation undertaken

:05:33.:05:37.

by the city region. Happy to take to father questions if each consists of

:05:38.:05:42.

only one sentence. -- two more questions. Thank you for that strong

:05:43.:05:48.

concern regarding freehold titles, affecting my constituency. Would he

:05:49.:05:53.

confirmed he is addressed as for people have already bought, and for

:05:54.:05:55.

the future buyer, would he impose restrictions on the right to buy

:05:56.:06:03.

rules so that they can... ? I am sure that there were few: S colons

:06:04.:06:17.

in that sentence! We have been looking at this issue

:06:18.:06:18.

closely. What I will point my honourable

:06:19.:06:29.

friend to is in a recent white paper, some of the changes we have

:06:30.:06:32.

talked about is making sure local plants take account of all needs,

:06:33.:06:34.

including the needs

:06:35.:06:35.

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