:00:00. > :00:00.House of Commons. First we will start with questions to said Javad
:00:00. > :00:26.and his ministerial team. -- Sajid Javed. Before we come to
:00:27. > :00:30.questions for the Secretary of State for communities I am sure that the
:00:31. > :00:40.whole House will join me in offering our congratulations to offering our
:00:41. > :00:47.congratulations to Jimmy Murray and others in their respective successes
:00:48. > :00:55.at Wimbledon. I am sure that colleagues will also join the in
:00:56. > :01:03.offering warmest our warmest congratulations to Roger Federer.
:01:04. > :01:10.The first person, the oldest person to win at grand slam singles title
:01:11. > :01:15.Ken Rosewall won the 1972 and the first man to win a Wimbledon title
:01:16. > :01:21.without dropping a set sense Bjorn Borg in 1976. We are celebrating the
:01:22. > :01:34.achievements of our very great man indeed. Mr Alex Chock.
:01:35. > :01:41.No one should find themselves without a roof over their heads.
:01:42. > :01:46.That is why they've committed to eliminating it altogether by 2027.
:01:47. > :01:53.We are ensuring that more people get the help they need before they face
:01:54. > :01:56.homelessness. I'm grateful to the Right Honourable gentleman. I
:01:57. > :02:00.manifesto makes it clear that rough sleeping is unacceptable and I'm
:02:01. > :02:04.delighted he my view we should demand nothing less than complete
:02:05. > :02:11.eradication. Kenny Spain what is being done in England and in
:02:12. > :02:19.Cheltenham to end this? -- can he explain? I know he has done a lot in
:02:20. > :02:23.his own constituency. As shares concerns and that is one of the
:02:24. > :02:27.reasons why in our recent manifesto we announced we would be piloting
:02:28. > :02:31.the concept of housing first that has worked well elsewhere. He will
:02:32. > :02:36.also note that in Cheltenham the time will be receiving ?1 million of
:02:37. > :02:39.our ?10 million social impact bond money which will help the most
:02:40. > :02:46.vulnerable rough sleepers get the help they need. The Secretary of
:02:47. > :02:51.State spoke about homelessness in the third World people living on the
:02:52. > :02:55.street. In my constituency the council is spending ?35 million a
:02:56. > :02:58.year on people living in hostels and temporary accommodation and there
:02:59. > :03:02.are many living in households with another family because they cannot
:03:03. > :03:07.afford a roof over their head. His ambitious plans do not tell people
:03:08. > :03:10.here and now. What is the doing now to make sure the people in Hackney
:03:11. > :03:14.South and Shoreditch and across the country can get a roof over their
:03:15. > :03:17.heads? The honourable lady reminds us all that homelessness is much
:03:18. > :03:22.more than people living on the streets. There are many more
:03:23. > :03:25.families and people affected across the country including of course in
:03:26. > :03:29.London. One of the things we're doing I'm sure she will welcome is
:03:30. > :03:34.the announcement in the recent budget that we will be putting ?100
:03:35. > :03:45.million into low-cost and move on accommodation which will provide at
:03:46. > :03:49.least 2000 places. The first point, in my constituency many hundreds of
:03:50. > :03:52.my constituents could be at the risk of homelessness. Does he think that
:03:53. > :03:58.housing associations should be doing more to refer individuals to support
:03:59. > :04:03.farriers arise? This sometimes happens with larger housing
:04:04. > :04:08.associations but often smaller ones fall short when it comes to
:04:09. > :04:13.referring constituents for support. She refers to how we can try and
:04:14. > :04:17.prevent homelessness to a car in the first place. She is right to say
:04:18. > :04:22.some housing associations do a much better job in these types of rebels
:04:23. > :04:27.when arrears to take place. There is also a better role for local
:04:28. > :04:31.authorities and the recent homelessness reduction Bill will
:04:32. > :04:36.help to achieve that. Surely the Secretary of State must give some
:04:37. > :04:41.hope of oppression that this Government believes in something. If
:04:42. > :04:45.he believes in one thing it must be sorting out the social housing
:04:46. > :04:52.market, building homes for people at an affordable rent and good quality
:04:53. > :04:56.ones, too. I know he cares passionately about this but it is
:04:57. > :05:01.worth reminding him that statutory homelessness reached its peak in
:05:02. > :05:05.2003 and since then it is half that number. Of course more needs to be
:05:06. > :05:10.done and social homes, the right time of social homes in the right
:05:11. > :05:17.places have big role to play. Will he join me in commending the work of
:05:18. > :05:20.YMCA black country and excellent chief executive as they want to
:05:21. > :05:27.persuade through the open programme more private individuals to open
:05:28. > :05:34.their homes to young people? I will very much commend the work they do
:05:35. > :05:39.in his constituency and throughout the Black Country and throughout the
:05:40. > :05:47.country. It is exactly the kind of thing you want to look and see if it
:05:48. > :05:54.can do more. There was a programme on TV where they said if he can play
:05:55. > :05:58.we will take it away. Those who do not understand the High Court
:05:59. > :06:03.process and who the High Court are not aware of them paying the money,
:06:04. > :06:11.how will they help those people at the last minute before the midnight
:06:12. > :06:15.hour? I agree that there are very difficult cases and more should be
:06:16. > :06:19.done to help those vulnerable people. I know that examples of
:06:20. > :06:23.councils to a much better job than others and I hope through the
:06:24. > :06:25.workroom murdering because of the Homelessness Reduction Act we can
:06:26. > :06:38.spread that good practice to more councils. -- I hope that through the
:06:39. > :06:45.work we're doing with the Homelessness Reduction Act.
:06:46. > :06:49.Landlords can check the safety of their buildings and take the
:06:50. > :06:54.necessary action and reassure residents they are safe in their
:06:55. > :06:56.homes. The residential landlords Association based in my constituency
:06:57. > :07:01.has raised concerns about the complexity and sometimes
:07:02. > :07:04.contradictory guidance from various bodies including Government on fire
:07:05. > :07:11.safety to private landlords. What plans does he have two addresses?
:07:12. > :07:21.The honourable gentleman will understand in the wake of the
:07:22. > :07:28.tragedy at grand full tower -- Grenfell Tower the Government had to
:07:29. > :07:33.provide guidance in a manner of days and had to update that guidance. I
:07:34. > :07:39.met with representatives in my constituency on the 6th of July.
:07:40. > :07:43.Will he confirm that it was this Government that introduced the
:07:44. > :07:49.requirement for private landlords to smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
:07:50. > :07:53.detectors in private homes and will introduce safety checks by later
:07:54. > :07:55.this year. Also there is an overriding responsibility for all
:07:56. > :08:03.our lives to make their properties saved by their tenants. -- for all
:08:04. > :08:10.landlords to make their properties saved for their tenants. It is their
:08:11. > :08:13.responsibility to make sure whether in the private or public sector that
:08:14. > :08:21.those properties are safe for the tenants. In the wake of the tragedy
:08:22. > :08:27.at Grenfell Tower we should be looking to see what more can be
:08:28. > :08:30.done. I am concerned that a survey of social landlords find there was
:08:31. > :08:36.little confidence they would be able to take enforcement action to make
:08:37. > :08:42.sure that leaseholders also comply with fire safety regulations
:08:43. > :08:46.including fitting fire detectors which is essential to keeping
:08:47. > :08:49.alternate saved. Will he response to the request from Nottingham City
:08:50. > :08:55.Council seeking additional powers for them to do so? I can tell her
:08:56. > :09:01.that that is a very important issue and I will certainly look carefully
:09:02. > :09:06.at that request. It is important that all leaseholders recognise the
:09:07. > :09:10.responsibilities and legal owners of those properties and resell Risley
:09:11. > :09:17.in the case of Camden for a number of towers were evacuated that there
:09:18. > :09:19.was a lot wrong in terms of fire safety in the building including
:09:20. > :09:26.fibre that been there and simply not. I have pointed out to the Mayor
:09:27. > :09:37.of Birmingham that the home in which he lives is also applied. -- is also
:09:38. > :09:44.clad in a block. Is there a register where they can push out information
:09:45. > :09:50.to private landlords to let them know what they should be looking for
:09:51. > :09:54.in regards to cladding? You will know as the legal owners of
:09:55. > :09:59.buildings will they be private landlords or others they would have
:10:00. > :10:04.the best information on what kind of cladding may not exist. Grenfell
:10:05. > :10:11.Tower What we did soon after that tragedy is making sure we got better
:10:12. > :10:16.guidance on how to handle that identification process. Harriet
:10:17. > :10:25.Harman. Could you be more specific about what he will make available in
:10:26. > :10:31.guidance for Tarbox. -- tower blocks. He spoke of the legal duty
:10:32. > :10:34.to keep tenants saved by the also the responsibility to keep a
:10:35. > :10:42.balanced budget and since they have been in Government since 2010 budget
:10:43. > :10:49.has merely have in Southwark. I don't think improvements such as
:10:50. > :10:55.sprinklers should be at expense of improvements tenants are wearing in
:10:56. > :11:01.other areas. Will he come up with our ?100 million needed in
:11:02. > :11:07.Southwark? We have been very clear in the wake of the Grenfell Tower
:11:08. > :11:18.tragedy they should carry out checks and rigidly. -- immediately. Where
:11:19. > :11:20.local authorities cannot afford it we're very happy to talk to them and
:11:21. > :11:38.provide the support they need. In the five weeks since the Grenfell
:11:39. > :11:48.Walk tragedy, there has been contradictory advice. They do look
:11:49. > :11:52.to the DC LG for real advice about what they will pay for. When is the
:11:53. > :11:58.Secretary of State going to make it clear what is the right thing for
:11:59. > :12:09.those in tower blocks to do and how they will pay for the improvements
:12:10. > :12:14.necessary? -- Grenfell Tower. We have set up an expert panel to
:12:15. > :12:18.provide more advice that can be relied on. In terms of funding, the
:12:19. > :12:25.government has made its position clear. There was no need to wait. If
:12:26. > :12:30.any work is necessary and has been identified, local authorities must
:12:31. > :12:38.get on with it and where they cannot afford it, they must approach us.
:12:39. > :12:44.With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer this question with
:12:45. > :12:52.question number 11. Radical reform is needed to build new homes now and
:12:53. > :12:57.in the future. Our housing White Paper sets out how we will do that.
:12:58. > :13:06.I think the honourable gentleman meant to be other way round. Supply
:13:07. > :13:11.has not matched the demand. I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker. The
:13:12. > :13:15.secretary of state will be aware that Cornwall recently received by
:13:16. > :13:19.the million pounds for self build housing. Does he support
:13:20. > :13:23.neighbourhood plans who are looking at providing that facility instead
:13:24. > :13:26.of providing registered social landlord properties said that we
:13:27. > :13:31.over this side of the house can not only give people the ladder, but
:13:32. > :13:38.also the spade, spirit level and the trowl as well? As you say, supply
:13:39. > :13:43.has not met demand and one of the ways to get this right is to have
:13:44. > :13:49.more self build homes and I understand in Cornwall Council some
:13:50. > :13:54.255 people have registered and the HCA is working to deliver 54 plots
:13:55. > :14:02.in the heartlands in Cornwall. Our recent announcement of the
:14:03. > :14:13.house-building funds will help with this. Telford is playing its part in
:14:14. > :14:17.tackling the national shortage of housing. Can the Minister confirm
:14:18. > :14:25.that this fund will also accept bids for the purpose of regeneration and
:14:26. > :14:31.renewal of Newtown infrastructure? What I can tell my honourable friend
:14:32. > :14:34.is that as we have shown through the prospectus of the housing
:14:35. > :14:39.infrastructure, we have given a broad definition of infrastructure,
:14:40. > :14:42.so we would welcome bids that would support regeneration. She is
:14:43. > :14:48.absolutely right to highlight this issue where we do need new homes.
:14:49. > :14:52.Often infrastructure is the missing bits and that is exactly why we have
:14:53. > :14:57.launched this fund. Numbers matter, but so does the quality of new
:14:58. > :15:05.homes. I'm sure the Secretary of State has seen the awful stories in
:15:06. > :15:10.the press. Why is it that you can buy something in the shop and you
:15:11. > :15:14.have the powers of redress, but you spend hundreds of thousands on a new
:15:15. > :15:19.home and you struggle to get what you paid for? The honourable
:15:20. > :15:24.gentleman is right to highlight this issue of making sure that when
:15:25. > :15:28.people buy new homes, if things go wrong, they do get proper redress.
:15:29. > :15:33.There are mechanisms in place, both in the private sector and through
:15:34. > :15:40.statutory means, but it is something that needs to be carefully looked
:15:41. > :15:43.at. I will be grateful if the Minister could confirm why the
:15:44. > :15:52.number of affordable homes built in the last year fell to the lowest
:15:53. > :15:57.level in 24 years? Well, Mr Speaker, the first thing I will happily tell
:15:58. > :16:00.the honourable lady is that the number of council houses that have
:16:01. > :16:06.been built in the last six years is more than double what was built in
:16:07. > :16:19.the previous 13 years. Council houses offer an important choice to
:16:20. > :16:24.people in terms of affordability. We have seen over 900,000 homes built
:16:25. > :16:34.in recent years and 300,000 of them are affordable. What more can he do
:16:35. > :16:38.to encourage rural council to provide more homes in the market
:16:39. > :16:43.towns and in the villages instead of plonking the developments on the
:16:44. > :16:49.edge of cities like Exeter in unsustainable urban sprawl? I'd like
:16:50. > :16:55.to see all councils playing an active role in getting more homes
:16:56. > :17:02.built in the area, whether is the council working with private
:17:03. > :17:07.partners, that is to be welcomed. To make sure homes are in the right
:17:08. > :17:16.players, local people should be involved at a consultative level. To
:17:17. > :17:25.get supply and demand imbalance it needs successful developers and
:17:26. > :17:35.confident buyers. Will my honourable friend help people who are
:17:36. > :17:39.leaseholders. I'd like to commend my honourable friend for the work he
:17:40. > :17:43.has done in this area, showing up the leasehold abuses that do take
:17:44. > :17:47.place, especially when it comes to buying new houses. In the White
:17:48. > :17:54.Paper we said we will be bringing forward proposals and we will be
:17:55. > :17:58.doing that very shortly. The Prime Minister has blamed weak housing
:17:59. > :18:01.policy for doing so badly at the election and now a government
:18:02. > :18:05.officials speak of the Secretary of State yesterday has said the same
:18:06. > :18:07.thing, but blamed selfish Conservative councils who are not
:18:08. > :18:14.telling the truth about housing needs in the area. Isn't the truth
:18:15. > :18:18.that this is a desperate bid to shift the blame from the Secretary
:18:19. > :18:24.of State who is failing on all fronts with regard to housing? With
:18:25. > :18:31.affordable housing at a 24 year low, will he change tact and backed
:18:32. > :18:37.Labour's proposal to build genuinely affordable homes? He can even offer
:18:38. > :18:42.it to the Prime Minister and we will back into CO2 this house. The truth
:18:43. > :18:46.is that when he was housing minister at the end of the last government
:18:47. > :18:53.housing starts fell to the lowest level in almost 100 years. Since
:18:54. > :18:56.then new-build housing is that a nine-year high and if he supports us
:18:57. > :19:09.in implementing the housing White Paper then we can work together.
:19:10. > :19:16.Thank you, Mr Speaker. All core cities have benefited from city
:19:17. > :19:20.deals. Areas covering five course cities including Bristol have agreed
:19:21. > :19:21.evolution deals which provide funding powers and support economic
:19:22. > :19:40.growth will regeneration. The Department for exiting the EU
:19:41. > :19:44.has not made any approach to discuss how cities can be represented during
:19:45. > :19:48.the EU Brexit negotiations. Cranie have words with his colleagues in
:19:49. > :19:56.that department and tell them that they really ought to be talking to
:19:57. > :20:02.our cities? Looking at the list, I have lived in one of them so I know
:20:03. > :20:06.a bit about them. All I can say is that the Secretary of State for
:20:07. > :20:09.Exiting the European Union has written to all core cities that have
:20:10. > :20:17.a mayor to say he will meet with them over the summer. Funding for
:20:18. > :20:21.our core cities should be something we are proud of, but regeneration in
:20:22. > :20:28.the North is relying on funding from non-core cities. Will my honourable
:20:29. > :20:33.friend confirm that this government remains committed to coastal
:20:34. > :20:37.communities funding moving forward? I can confirm to the honourable
:20:38. > :20:42.gentleman that we will of course deliver on our general election
:20:43. > :20:44.manifesto pledge to extend coastal communities funding, but I'd also
:20:45. > :20:49.like to take the opportunity to thank him for the work he did when
:20:50. > :20:59.he was doing this job. I'm all too aware that I am walking in the shoes
:21:00. > :21:05.a giant. Devolution as promoted by the former Chancellor and Prime
:21:06. > :21:09.Minister is no doubt dead in the water. Few real powers and even less
:21:10. > :21:14.fiscal devolution has taken place and the only constant theme is year
:21:15. > :21:17.on year cuts passed down to our local government base, the very base
:21:18. > :21:22.that should be the foundation on which devolution is built upon. So
:21:23. > :21:30.when will the Minister bring forward a meaningful plan for devolution and
:21:31. > :21:34.secondly, what would they address continuous cuts to our local
:21:35. > :21:38.government base. Devolution has been one of the great successes of this
:21:39. > :21:52.government. In truth I have been delighted to welcome Conservative
:21:53. > :21:56.colleagues as our new Metro Mayors. In truth the Labour Party talked
:21:57. > :22:01.about devolution for years. What they do? Absolutely nothing. We are
:22:02. > :22:08.getting longer devolution and we are delivering for every of this
:22:09. > :22:12.country. I welcome the announcement from the Minister a moment ago about
:22:13. > :22:17.the coastal communities fund. He will be aware there is a major
:22:18. > :22:21.regeneration scheme being developed by North East Lincolnshire Council
:22:22. > :22:25.which I wrote to the secretary of state a couple of weeks ago about.
:22:26. > :22:30.Will the Minister agreed to meet me and other representatives from the
:22:31. > :22:40.area so we can move this forward very quickly? Yes. Well done. Alan
:22:41. > :22:44.Brown. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My right honourable friend the
:22:45. > :22:49.Secretary of State for Scotland is leading on Scotland's city deals. He
:22:50. > :22:59.spoke to the Scottish Government as recently as last Thursday. Direct
:23:00. > :23:08.discussions have taken place between this department and the Minister.
:23:09. > :23:12.It's interesting to note that the DUP got ?1 billion in a couple of
:23:13. > :23:18.weeks, but the deals of Scotland are still on the table. Can I ask the
:23:19. > :23:25.Minister to get his colleague to push these details along. There has
:23:26. > :23:35.been a failure of meaningful talks. In relation to be issued great deal,
:23:36. > :23:39.others than was a meeting in January and April to discuss priorities for
:23:40. > :23:42.the deal. In truth, I would have thought that members of the Scottish
:23:43. > :23:48.National Party would welcome the fact that they have a half ?1
:23:49. > :23:54.billion upwards Glasgow, 53 million to Inverness in the Highlands and a
:23:55. > :23:59.to Aberdeen. Why don't they get behind the own cities in the city
:24:00. > :24:14.deals instead of sniping from the sidelines? Sorry, Mr Speaker. I was
:24:15. > :24:26.rising 46. My constituency is being blighted by planning applications
:24:27. > :24:33.that are inappropriate. Despite trying to... Perhaps it can offer me
:24:34. > :24:39.some advice about the village that is caught between a rock and a hard
:24:40. > :24:47.place. If he meets with the housing minister I'm sure there can be some
:24:48. > :24:51.resolution. The honourable gentleman has plunged his feet into the water
:24:52. > :24:56.with regards to city deals and we wish him well with further
:24:57. > :25:04.contributions in the house. Mr Kevin Robinson. Not too far from the
:25:05. > :25:07.Scottish city deals are the great prospects for Belfast. The Secretary
:25:08. > :25:11.of State was kind enough to meet us prior to the election and since the
:25:12. > :25:15.election we have the agreement that we will bring forward city deals in
:25:16. > :25:20.Northern Ireland. Can I ask the Minister to engage ministerial aide
:25:21. > :25:27.to make sure we get the best deal for Belfast and our city region? Mr
:25:28. > :25:31.Speaker, we have already engaged with Belfast on the city deals on we
:25:32. > :25:36.look forward to working with them to make sure we can deliver on the
:25:37. > :25:45.promise. It is long overdue that Northern Ireland have some city
:25:46. > :25:50.deals. They have succeeded in England and Wales and Scotland, now
:25:51. > :25:55.it is Northern Ireland was matter. The reality is that Northern Ireland
:25:56. > :26:02.deal with the DUP has the Northern Ireland get ?1 billion which is all
:26:03. > :26:06.Scotland's two put together. The Edinburgh deal has been delayed and
:26:07. > :26:11.the economic Secretary has had meetings cancelled at late notice by
:26:12. > :26:14.the UK Government. Can he confirm whether the UK Government takes
:26:15. > :26:18.Scottish city deals seriously and will they meet the ambition of the
:26:19. > :26:28.esh a deal, the tea cities Deal and the sterling deal?
:26:29. > :26:34.Sure we take the entirety of Scotland's ambitious plans very
:26:35. > :26:37.seriously and the Secretary of State is leading on this very important
:26:38. > :26:43.policy. If there is something else who thinks we can do she must let me
:26:44. > :26:46.know. The city deals so far have seen all of the planned Scottish
:26:47. > :26:53.cities are short-changed by the UK Government. The Scottish Government
:26:54. > :26:59.has put in far more than this UK Government has sought to find. If
:27:00. > :27:01.the Northern Ireland deal can be put through how long will Scottish
:27:02. > :27:06.cities have to wait till they have the money? All of the Scottish
:27:07. > :27:17.cities agreed mutually with the Government for city deals. With 53
:27:18. > :27:21.million go to Glasgow and an hundred 20 million go to Aberdeen materials
:27:22. > :27:28.for Edinburgh and other cities of the table I do not think she will
:27:29. > :27:36.have to wait too long. -- 123 million go to Aberdeen. Nobody
:27:37. > :27:39.should happen to sleep rough. A recent report shows how this
:27:40. > :27:45.approach can enter work rough sleeping for those with the most
:27:46. > :27:51.complex need. We considering how it can help our manifesto commitment to
:27:52. > :27:54.end rough sleeping by 2027. Official figures continue to show
:27:55. > :28:01.year-on-year increases in the number of rough sleepers since 2010
:28:02. > :28:05.including a 3% increase in London and the last year. Rough sleeping is
:28:06. > :28:11.often linked to mental health issues. What specific steps will his
:28:12. > :28:15.Government has taken this Parliament to address the mental health crisis
:28:16. > :28:21.in rough sleepers? I welcome to the House. There are a number of
:28:22. > :28:25.underlying issues keeping people on the streets with our rough sleeping.
:28:26. > :28:31.Mental health issues are certainly one of those underlying causes. To
:28:32. > :28:37.give insight into what is happening in her own constituency, there is a
:28:38. > :28:42.social impact a bond which is focusing very much on people being
:28:43. > :28:51.taken off the streets who have is mental health issues. In my
:28:52. > :28:58.constituency it is an issue that is raised regularly. I'm hoping he can
:28:59. > :29:02.lay out progress in the homelessness reduction task force alike and away
:29:03. > :29:08.some of their concerns. I thank him and welcome him to the House. He is
:29:09. > :29:15.right to say this Government is setting up a homelessness reduction
:29:16. > :29:25.task force in the addition to the homeless reduction act. What I can
:29:26. > :29:29.say to him is that the culture is now starting to change and councils
:29:30. > :29:35.are now starting to help people far more airily as a result to those
:29:36. > :29:39.trailblazers taking place. Rough sleeping in Plymouth is on the
:29:40. > :29:45.increase. Large numbers of those people sleeping rough and served our
:29:46. > :29:49.country's in the Armed Forces and our veterans. What discussions has
:29:50. > :29:53.he had with the Ministry of Defence to increase the money going into the
:29:54. > :30:02.rough sleeping veterans report so we can give all our veterans decent
:30:03. > :30:06.accommodation? He mentions about a lady and it is vital we support our
:30:07. > :30:10.veterans who find themselves rough sleeping. I run a cross-party
:30:11. > :30:14.working group attended by a number of ministers including one for the
:30:15. > :30:19.Ministry of Defence and this is certainly one we are eagerly trying
:30:20. > :30:23.to address. With the Minister agree with me that although we have had
:30:24. > :30:28.about mental health issues and veteran issues another huge problem
:30:29. > :30:39.is alcohol and drug addiction. What is he doing in that particular area?
:30:40. > :30:41.She makes a very perceptive point. Drug use, particularly psychoactive
:30:42. > :30:49.substances such as spies which seems to be prevalent amongst it in a
:30:50. > :30:53.rough sleepers seems to have a detrimental effect of not getting
:30:54. > :30:58.people off the street. She will have had at last week the drug strategy
:30:59. > :31:01.the Government is launching, the Home Office. We're working very
:31:02. > :31:06.closely with the Home Office in relation to that because we realise
:31:07. > :31:08.how critical it is to deal with those underlying issues and making
:31:09. > :31:17.sure we can help people off the streets. I can confirm to the
:31:18. > :31:21.Honourable lady that the first new permanent homes will be available
:31:22. > :31:27.very shortly and more will be secured either in Kensington and
:31:28. > :31:29.Chelsea are nearby. Meantime good quality furnished temporary
:31:30. > :31:42.accommodation in the area has been offered to every family.
:31:43. > :31:51.Sorry, I'm not sure of the formalities of theirs. This is due
:31:52. > :31:54.to a single and suitable offer. The fact people are refusing the storm
:31:55. > :32:00.is that the non-suitable offer is being made to them. -- that people
:32:01. > :32:06.are refusing these homes. I amazed that only 22 households have been
:32:07. > :32:10.much with temporary accommodation. Four have been moved in. There are
:32:11. > :32:18.empty homes all across the borough and they are still not being taken
:32:19. > :32:24.up. Can so what is happening here? I can tell her that there are over 220
:32:25. > :32:27.temporary homes that have been identified and inspected and are all
:32:28. > :32:34.good quality and are all available within good cup accommodation. --
:32:35. > :32:40.within good accommodation. She should bring the details to me and
:32:41. > :32:47.we will look at it and taken very seriously. In terms of the families,
:32:48. > :32:51.169 families have received offers. 31st of temporary accommodation have
:32:52. > :32:56.been accepted and nine families have moved on. As she will know from
:32:57. > :33:00.talking to her constituents many families do not feel ready to move
:33:01. > :33:05.into temporary accommodation yet and we will absolutely their wishes. Can
:33:06. > :33:11.any of the cost be met by the landlords insurance? That may well
:33:12. > :33:16.be the case further down the line but right now the absolute priority
:33:17. > :33:22.is to do whatever is necessary to help the victims of the Grenfell
:33:23. > :33:25.Tower tragedy to get into these homes and all these costs will be
:33:26. > :33:32.met by the Government when necessary. Is it not absolutely
:33:33. > :33:37.crucial that we increase the number of social housing available in
:33:38. > :33:41.Kensington and Chelsea? The Government has announced that 68
:33:42. > :33:45.properties will be made available as social housing. It's not true that
:33:46. > :33:53.negotiations were under way to provide these homes before the
:33:54. > :34:00.Grenfell Tower fire? Where are the extra new from? First of all can I
:34:01. > :34:06.welcome him on his real action as the chair of the select committee?
:34:07. > :34:10.On social homes I do agree that we want to see more social homes and
:34:11. > :34:16.not just in Kensington and Chelsea. We want to make sure that choices
:34:17. > :34:20.offered across the country. With regard to the 68 homes in the
:34:21. > :34:30.Kensington role development that was originally planned to be affordable
:34:31. > :34:37.homes and not social homes. But I agree that we should do more.
:34:38. > :34:43.Developing a sustainable funding model for supported housing is a
:34:44. > :34:48.priority. We welcome the input into a recent consultation. We are now
:34:49. > :34:52.carefully taking stock of the joint select committee report on supported
:34:53. > :35:00.housing. We will set out further details on our plans in the autumn.
:35:01. > :35:04.There are 30 to half thousand people and supported housing accommodation
:35:05. > :35:09.and Wales. Landlords say decisions about future developments have been
:35:10. > :35:14.delayed due to uncertainty of future funding. Will he confirm that any
:35:15. > :35:18.proposals confirmed are not will properly fund future needs and Wales
:35:19. > :35:27.particularly given the ageing population? Nobody is under any
:35:28. > :35:33.illusion in terms of how important supported housing and the provision
:35:34. > :35:37.of it is to all our constituents. That is why we have confirmed we
:35:38. > :35:47.will exempt supported housing from the cap until when we will come
:35:48. > :35:51.through with a solution in 2019. We're taking our time to make sure
:35:52. > :35:55.that those bands work and our right to make sure we do bring forward
:35:56. > :35:59.that supply and supported housing and in England we are putting ?400
:36:00. > :36:04.million of capital funding behind that to bring forward new units. Can
:36:05. > :36:09.he please update the House and what more is being done to support
:36:10. > :36:16.victims of domestic abuse and supported housing? I thank him.
:36:17. > :36:24.Domestic abuse is a critical issue across the country and something we
:36:25. > :36:27.want to eradicate. We need to provide safe refuge provision for
:36:28. > :36:31.those people who do end up in that very difficult position. We
:36:32. > :36:36.announced earlier this year we are supporting 76 projects to create
:36:37. > :36:49.2200 bed spaces to support 19,000 victims across the country. The
:36:50. > :36:52.Government is committed to delivering the manifesto pledge to
:36:53. > :36:56.continue to give local authorities greater control over the money they
:36:57. > :36:58.raise. We will open up a conversation with local Government
:36:59. > :37:06.over the next few months about the best way to achieve this. Plans for
:37:07. > :37:15.the 100% retention of business ladies at the general election were
:37:16. > :37:22.not produced in the Queen's speech. Can he explain ever the Government
:37:23. > :37:26.still plans to do this? And what will he do as a revenue support
:37:27. > :37:30.grant is phased out? He makes a very good point. The Government is
:37:31. > :37:33.committed to delivering on our manifesto pledge to give local
:37:34. > :37:37.authorities greater control over the money they raise and to give
:37:38. > :37:42.councils certainty we have given an unprecedented four-year settlement
:37:43. > :37:50.of which 97% of local authorities have taken up. That does not end
:37:51. > :37:53.told 2019 and 2020 during which time we will bring forward proposals
:37:54. > :38:00.dealing with and working with local Government to achieve those. If
:38:01. > :38:05.Barnett got the same Government support is scanned and it would be a
:38:06. > :38:11.realistic option probably for Barnet to reduce council tax to zero. Will
:38:12. > :38:15.he look at the allocation of funding within London between outer London
:38:16. > :38:24.and in London to give buyers like Barnett a fairer share of resources?
:38:25. > :38:29.She raises an important point. There are many areas across the country
:38:30. > :38:32.that feel after over ten years without the funding formula being
:38:33. > :38:35.looked at the lower number of challenges in relation to
:38:36. > :38:40.demographic pressures and service pressures that are encountered more
:38:41. > :38:44.in some places than others. I can assure her that through the fear
:38:45. > :38:47.funding review we are undertaking we will look at these matters very
:38:48. > :39:02.carefully. -- they are funding review. --Fair. We know our SG is
:39:03. > :39:06.going on 2020. In the absence of legislation that Queen's speech I
:39:07. > :39:12.have asked the Government five times how they will fill the black hole.
:39:13. > :39:15.Can I assume from his answer that his previous measures in that the
:39:16. > :39:21.local Government finance bill have now been ditched and that timetable
:39:22. > :39:25.has been ditched? Can he now give absolute certainty to local councils
:39:26. > :39:36.what precisely will be in place by 2020 when the RSG goes? I thank him.
:39:37. > :39:40.I think this is the sixth time I have answered his question and each
:39:41. > :39:48.time his question has been put with a considerable amount of foam and a
:39:49. > :39:52.rage. It is an important issue and I would just say to him again that we
:39:53. > :39:56.are absolutely committed to what we said in a manifesto that we will
:39:57. > :40:01.give local authorities greater control over the money they raise
:40:02. > :40:06.and in terms of the issue of certainty his Government when Npower
:40:07. > :40:10.only ever gave one-year certainties, only a settlement to local
:40:11. > :40:19.authorities. We have given a four-year settlement and 97% of
:40:20. > :40:23.councils have taken that out. It gives us time to get a sensible
:40:24. > :40:29.solution for local Government and we will work with them to do that. In
:40:30. > :40:36.the housing White Paper in February the Government set out plans for
:40:37. > :40:42.high-quality high-density housing. It plans to implement this later
:40:43. > :40:47.this year. Our Conservative manifesto committed to supporting
:40:48. > :40:52.new high-quality housing, mansion blocks, mews houses and terraced
:40:53. > :40:56.streets. How is the Government planning to build housing that is
:40:57. > :41:07.attractive and popular with the public?
:41:08. > :41:15.We will bring forward changes set out in a housing White Paper. I
:41:16. > :41:19.asked the former Housing Minister in April what the government was doing
:41:20. > :41:23.to protect home owners following the bogus home scandal which saw people
:41:24. > :41:29.spending significant sums to fine property was not finished. And it
:41:30. > :41:34.was not a unique problem. Shelter has found half of all the buyers
:41:35. > :41:37.report a major problem upon moving in. The minister said an
:41:38. > :41:43.announcement was imminent but there was nothing in the Conservative
:41:44. > :41:46.manifesto, Queen's Speech nor in the response earlier, so when will the
:41:47. > :41:52.government act to protect buyers of new-build properties? Of course it
:41:53. > :41:56.is important and we had a similar question to make sure when people
:41:57. > :41:59.buy new properties they get what they believe they were purchasing
:42:00. > :42:03.and where it is not the case, they receive help to put that right.
:42:04. > :42:13.There are procedures in place and we are looking to see what more can be
:42:14. > :42:16.done. Licensing can be an effective tool when targeted delivering
:42:17. > :42:23.improved standards and safety in the private rented sector and in April
:42:24. > :42:30.2015 further conditions in respect of licensing were introduced. New
:42:31. > :42:35.council introduced the first private rented sector licensing in 2013 and
:42:36. > :42:40.last week the council applied to renew the scheme. It has been
:42:41. > :42:45.successful, enabling the council to concentrate resources on the small
:42:46. > :42:50.number of private landlords causing problems. 81% of residents say it is
:42:51. > :42:57.effective. Can the minister reassure me renewal will get the go-ahead? I
:42:58. > :43:04.can reassure him the scheme will be considered on its merits and in
:43:05. > :43:09.accordance with meeting statutory requirements, which was reduced
:43:10. > :43:12.under a Labour government. In path we have a high number of family
:43:13. > :43:16.homes turned into student accommodation with often low
:43:17. > :43:20.standards and that is why students take them up because they have no
:43:21. > :43:25.choice. Will the minister ensure student safety is protected by
:43:26. > :43:33.encouraging councils to include compulsory safety checks as part of
:43:34. > :43:37.the licensing schemes? We want all landlords whether providing student
:43:38. > :43:41.accommodation or otherwise to keep tenet safe and as the honourable
:43:42. > :43:44.lady will know the Department for business is working on looking at
:43:45. > :43:54.issues connected to electrical safety.
:43:55. > :44:02.Private rented sector is the poorest quality housing in my constituency
:44:03. > :44:07.in Manchester. It is not regulated and needs looking at. I would
:44:08. > :44:11.welcome a borough wide licensing scheme like the one in the London
:44:12. > :44:16.Borough of Newham in Manchester and can I ask ministers to take
:44:17. > :44:19.seriously the issue before we see safety concerns in the private
:44:20. > :44:25.sector as well? Can I say to her that if she wants Manchester to come
:44:26. > :44:36.forward with these proposals they should make them known and we will
:44:37. > :44:40.look at them on merit. There is close collaboration between my
:44:41. > :44:44.department and ministers at Defra waste collection and it is for local
:44:45. > :44:47.councils to determine when collections take place but I would
:44:48. > :44:56.strongly urge councils to consider the wishes of local people. Before
:44:57. > :45:00.local elections and against the wishes of local people, one county
:45:01. > :45:06.council took the decision to reduce waste collection to three weekly.
:45:07. > :45:10.Can I ask what more he can do to ensure local people'sviews are taken
:45:11. > :45:15.into account on waste issues to prevent potential health hazards? I
:45:16. > :45:22.know he has been a champion in this House on this issue as he knows it
:45:23. > :45:26.is a devolved matter in Wales. This is for local councils to decide on
:45:27. > :45:32.frequency of collections. In England we have done a lot to support
:45:33. > :45:39.councils to respond to the wishes of people in this sense. I would say to
:45:40. > :45:43.him that this is the one service people associate most with their
:45:44. > :45:47.local council and the council should be mindful of the fact that local
:45:48. > :45:56.people should be consulted before any changes are made. Rather than
:45:57. > :46:01.lecturing councils about legislative requirements, would he like to come
:46:02. > :46:06.to Barrow in Furness or many other councils, particularly in the North
:46:07. > :46:10.of England, and see the scale of the cuts these councils are having to
:46:11. > :46:15.implement? The near impossibility of being able to balance a budget in
:46:16. > :46:20.these situations, and provide more help. The honourable gentleman
:46:21. > :46:26.highlights the mess the public finances were left in when the
:46:27. > :46:29.Labour Party left government in 2010, and that this government has
:46:30. > :46:37.been picking up the pieces. What I would say is unlike Labour we have
:46:38. > :46:42.given a four-year settlement to local authorities and most have
:46:43. > :46:45.taken that up, to give them more time to change services to reflect
:46:46. > :46:50.the change of financial environment. We are running late but I want one
:46:51. > :47:01.last question from a new member. Darren Jones. Number 14, Mr Speaker.
:47:02. > :47:07.I welcome him to this place. We have delivered nearly 330,000 affordable
:47:08. > :47:10.homes including 120,000 for social rent and our priority is to build
:47:11. > :47:16.more affordable homes to rent and buy. Tens of thousands of people in
:47:17. > :47:20.Bristol are waiting for a council house and many are stuck in
:47:21. > :47:24.expensive and inadequate private sector housing and many of these
:47:25. > :47:30.tenants are young families who feel stuck in a system that does not
:47:31. > :47:34.care. Will he visit my constituency in Bristol to see first-hand how his
:47:35. > :47:38.supposedly radical reform is failing my constituency and often damp and
:47:39. > :47:46.inadequate and insecure housing? We set out in the manifesto, and I
:47:47. > :47:50.talked about it recently at the LGA conference, our ambition to help
:47:51. > :47:54.local authorities that have ambitions to build more council
:47:55. > :47:59.homes, so if that is what Bristol wants, the mayor of Bristol should
:48:00. > :48:05.approach me. Order, topical questions. As you know, in
:48:06. > :48:09.Lincolnshire we have... Number one. We will hear about Lincolnshire in
:48:10. > :48:16.due course. The ongoing response to the grand full tragedy has dominated
:48:17. > :48:21.my department's work and will remain a priority in the years ahead, but
:48:22. > :48:24.we have not let up on wider work and have launched our housing
:48:25. > :48:35.infrastructure fund and introduced a tell of the -- telecommunications
:48:36. > :48:39.bill and we plan to get more homes built in the right places. The
:48:40. > :48:43.honourable gentleman, I would have called him at topical questions if
:48:44. > :48:47.you were standing, but I will not if he isn't. Anyway, he has got the
:48:48. > :48:52.public information announcement for which he is duly grateful. We have
:48:53. > :48:58.in Lincolnshire wonderful coastal resorts. They trip off the tongue as
:48:59. > :49:03.a litany of sun and fun, Skegness, Cleethorpes. When you go one your
:49:04. > :49:08.holidays, do not go to Italy, France, come to bracing Skegness.
:49:09. > :49:15.Can he promise to use the coastal communities fund to promote tourism
:49:16. > :49:18.and after Brexit the ?143 million we receive in European Regional
:49:19. > :49:26.Development Fund is for these results? He rightly highlights the
:49:27. > :49:30.importance of coastal communities and of course those in Lincolnshire.
:49:31. > :49:34.Many I have had the pleasure of visiting during the recent election
:49:35. > :49:38.campaign and I assure him we will use the coastal communities fund and
:49:39. > :49:48.whatever resources we have available to promote those areas. Does the
:49:49. > :49:51.Secretary of State agree with the Conservative leader of Warwickshire
:49:52. > :49:57.County Council who also leads on community welfare for the Local
:49:58. > :50:01.Government Association that fining councils and withholding money for
:50:02. > :50:04.delayed discharges will exacerbate the social care crisis, and has he
:50:05. > :50:09.spoken to the Health Secretary about the plans? Of course I have spoken
:50:10. > :50:15.to the Health Secretary and I have spoken to the leader of Warwickshire
:50:16. > :50:20.County Council just last week. I think there is a broad understanding
:50:21. > :50:24.when it comes to combating delayed transfers of care there is a role to
:50:25. > :50:30.play for local authorities and the NHS. My honourable friend the member
:50:31. > :50:34.of the Plymouth is leading the way in terms of innovation of the social
:50:35. > :50:37.care and the work between the local authority and care provider has
:50:38. > :50:43.broken new ground. What more can he do to support authorities working so
:50:44. > :50:49.hard to meet social care needs? I'm pleased to hear the good work my
:50:50. > :50:53.honourable friend highlights in Plymouth. My department works with
:50:54. > :51:00.the Department for Health to promote joined up working across health and
:51:01. > :51:11.social care, including good examples of innovation, through the better
:51:12. > :51:14.care funds. The Secretary of State will be aware that a working group
:51:15. > :51:18.was set up by his department in August last year to look at
:51:19. > :51:24.electrical safety in the private rented sector. Does he agree with me
:51:25. > :51:28.and others, such as London Fire Brigade, electrical safety first and
:51:29. > :51:33.shelter, that it is time for more preventative approach on electrical
:51:34. > :51:36.fires and mandatory five-year electrical safety tests in the
:51:37. > :51:44.private rented sector should be introduced as a matter urgency?
:51:45. > :51:48.There is a working group within the Department for business looking at
:51:49. > :51:51.these matters. In the light of the grand full fire the Prime Minister
:51:52. > :52:01.has said they should bring forward their work with recommendations. If
:52:02. > :52:05.they conclude new sprinters are required, will the minister join me
:52:06. > :52:11.in calling on private landlords to install those sprinters? Obviously
:52:12. > :52:15.the Guinness partnership will need to determine with the Fire Service
:52:16. > :52:19.what is needed to keep property is safe but as the Secretary of State
:52:20. > :52:22.made clear, where work is necessary to ensure fire safety, a lack of
:52:23. > :52:29.resources should not prevent it going ahead. When he joined me in
:52:30. > :52:31.congratulating Nottingham community Housing association, who were
:52:32. > :52:39.recognised for their refurbishment of a memorial homes on flexing my
:52:40. > :52:45.constituency? Will he listen to NCH a and give them the certainty to
:52:46. > :52:53.enable future investment by dropping plans to cut housing benefit for
:52:54. > :52:58.shelter tenants? I will join her in commending the housing association
:52:59. > :53:02.for the work they have done. The housing association sector would
:53:03. > :53:07.welcome the fact the record funding we provided a new flexibility so
:53:08. > :53:13.they can do more of what they do. What steps has the Secretary of
:53:14. > :53:19.State taken to provide safe spaces for travellers to reside in instead
:53:20. > :53:26.of them having to go on really nice green spaces in Derbyshire, where
:53:27. > :53:30.they leave them in a terrible mess? I understand unauthorised
:53:31. > :53:33.encampments can cause distress and I know that from my constituency. The
:53:34. > :53:38.government is committed to reducing unauthorised sites by providing
:53:39. > :53:47.affordable accommodation for travellers. The enquiry into
:53:48. > :53:54.electoral conduct, noting the superb all-party report written by the past
:53:55. > :54:03.Deputy Speaker, but sadly rebuffed by successive party leaders on all
:54:04. > :54:07.sides. I can assure the honourable gentleman with regard to the enquiry
:54:08. > :54:11.announced by the Prime Minister that will be led by the committee on
:54:12. > :54:16.Public life, it should take account of all information and we have seen
:54:17. > :54:21.that the debate in this House last week how many members and candidates
:54:22. > :54:25.offered from racism and other forms of abuse. I suffered from that
:54:26. > :54:32.during the general election and I am sure we all agree that racism has no
:54:33. > :54:37.place in our society. What is the current status of the Devon and
:54:38. > :54:41.Somerset devolution bid? Do they need a directly elected mayor to get
:54:42. > :54:45.the full package? Will the minister meet with the leaders of Devon and
:54:46. > :54:52.Somerset councils and myself to discuss the way forward? Our
:54:53. > :54:57.manifesto makes clear there would be no requirement for the mayors of
:54:58. > :54:59.rural counties. Devon and Somerset have not submitted any combined
:55:00. > :55:08.authority proposals but I look forward to meeting with him and his
:55:09. > :55:11.council leader. A growing number of grand full survivors are being
:55:12. > :55:17.placed in budget hotels in my constituency as central London
:55:18. > :55:21.hotels fill up the tourist season. Despite being unsuitable, they are
:55:22. > :55:26.being booked by the month, which gives the lie to the fact government
:55:27. > :55:31.has suitable accommodation ready, not temporary, not on suitable, but
:55:32. > :55:36.permanent accommodation. Will he ask Kensington and Chelsea to take some
:55:37. > :55:42.of the ?274 million and buy a couple of hundred homes and make sure these
:55:43. > :55:45.people have decent housing? The honourable gentleman will know money
:55:46. > :55:53.is not the issue. We have made it clear in terms of finding the
:55:54. > :55:57.victims of Grenfell Tower permanent homes that we will do whatever it
:55:58. > :56:05.takes and that is what we are doing. We will be led by them on what they
:56:06. > :56:08.need, at their pace. Overton Oakley and Whitchurch in my constituency
:56:09. > :56:12.have produced ambitious neighbourhood plans but the
:56:13. > :56:14.communities are concerned about infrastructure investment required
:56:15. > :56:19.to make them happen, how can he help?
:56:20. > :56:25.I commend his constituents published together the neighbourhood plans,
:56:26. > :56:31.and there's a great innovation. Goals in terms of infrastructure, I
:56:32. > :56:35.would encourage him to get to get the bid for inter-fund was my
:56:36. > :56:43.honourable friend announced earlier this month. I had the security
:56:44. > :56:47.growing up of a council flat over my head, so I wonder what the 60
:56:48. > :56:52.statement dated the 11th year by Mike constituency who said to me
:56:53. > :56:55.last week that he and his mother and his two siblings are living in one
:56:56. > :57:00.room in a hostel and have been there for over a year. What message does
:57:01. > :57:05.he have children like him in my constituency homolog have the
:57:06. > :57:09.security had a decent place to live? My message is that we have not built
:57:10. > :57:14.in our homes of all types in that country, and successive governments,
:57:15. > :57:18.and every are going to do it we should all work together and reunite
:57:19. > :57:25.under the Housing white paper. Will he join me in commending the Chatham
:57:26. > :57:30.House charities, and early intervention which are tanning lives
:57:31. > :57:32.around in my constituency? My honourable friend is absolutely
:57:33. > :57:37.right to highlight the excellent work that is going on down by the
:57:38. > :57:40.charities that he mentions in Cheltenham. Early intervention is
:57:41. > :57:46.tactically critical, that is why to the Homelessness Reduction Act,
:57:47. > :57:51.doing things earlier to stop people becoming homeless, that is the
:57:52. > :57:57.absolute bedrock of that act. We are also seeing through the homelessness
:57:58. > :58:01.prevention trailblazers are many forerunners to the act, that the
:58:02. > :58:03.culture of the local authorities that are involved and that is
:58:04. > :58:11.absolutely changing towards preventing. I regularly raise my
:58:12. > :58:17.concerns over the safety of the rapid conversion of family homes to
:58:18. > :58:20.houses of multiple occupation in my constituency. In view of the
:58:21. > :58:25.Grenfell Tower disaster, does the Government have any plans to issue a
:58:26. > :58:31.new guidance to local planning authorities, particularly about the
:58:32. > :58:35.safety of these conversions Moores the honourable gentleman is right to
:58:36. > :58:39.raise best, there are many lessons to learn from the Grenfell Tower
:58:40. > :58:44.tragedy, and some of those will come from the public enquiry. There have
:58:45. > :58:48.been recommendations from the expat panel on fire safety and affairs in
:58:49. > :58:51.a thing they urgently recommend we will implement that. I am looking to
:58:52. > :59:01.see what else we can do it in enforcement. What changes do the NPF
:59:02. > :59:07.commitment to strengthen protection for ancient woodlands? I can tell my
:59:08. > :59:11.honourable friend that we will be bringing forward proposals very
:59:12. > :59:16.shortly that will implement what is any Housing white paper, which is
:59:17. > :59:22.ancient woodland will receive the same protection as before. Can I
:59:23. > :59:26.thank the minister for the Northern Powerhouse for visiting new ferry in
:59:27. > :59:29.my constituency, when he has one remember there was recently a
:59:30. > :59:34.terrible explosion. As a result of his meeting, the leader of the
:59:35. > :59:40.council in has written to him, can I ask him to expedite a reply to that
:59:41. > :59:45.letter? No one could visit the disaster in new ferry and talk to
:59:46. > :59:49.the residents they are without realising the seriousness of the
:59:50. > :59:52.explosion to place months ago. Following my meeting, I received a
:59:53. > :59:59.meeting from Phil Davies, irresponsible began later today
:00:00. > :00:04.dealing with the queries he raised. Canny Secretary of State tell me
:00:05. > :00:08.what he will do to ensure that Bradford Council build on the
:00:09. > :00:12.Brownfield sites it has identified before it starts concreting over and
:00:13. > :00:18.building on greenfield sites in the green belt in my constituency? My
:00:19. > :00:24.honourable friend makes a very important point, and as we have made
:00:25. > :00:26.clear any Housing white paper, we expect Brownfield sites to always
:00:27. > :00:33.been a priority to meet our housing need, and that is what I would
:00:34. > :00:36.expect to see from Bradford. Is it entirely wisely minister of the
:00:37. > :00:39.Northern Powerhouse to come across the Pennines from his Lancashire
:00:40. > :00:45.constituency and tell the people of Yorkshire that they could not have
:00:46. > :00:50.full Yorkshire demolition? Are these decisions are best made in God 's
:00:51. > :01:01.own county, not in Whitehall, and not unlike a job and it's very
:01:02. > :01:05.different geography. As a proud Lancastrian, it is not for me nor is
:01:06. > :01:11.it for Government to tell Yorkshire what demolition deal it should have.
:01:12. > :01:14.However, I would gently point out that in 2015, Bardsley, Doncaster,
:01:15. > :01:18.rather and Sheffield asked for powers from Government, we gave them
:01:19. > :01:22.to them. They asked the new money from Government, we gave it to them.
:01:23. > :01:26.They also have an election next May, we gave it to them. When will the
:01:27. > :01:35.people of South Yorkshire learn to take yes for an answer? Kettering
:01:36. > :01:38.Borough Council, of which I am a member, provide specialist Housing
:01:39. > :01:41.advice to those in financial difficulties, to prevent
:01:42. > :01:43.homelessness in the first place and is working closely with local
:01:44. > :01:47.housing associations to bring forward a recognisable of homes for
:01:48. > :01:54.social rate. Isn't that exactly the right approach? I commend the work
:01:55. > :01:59.that Kettering Borough Council are doing, in my experience where we are
:02:00. > :02:02.seeing local authorities prevent homelessness, they are doing very
:02:03. > :02:06.much those type of things, particularly in terms of helping
:02:07. > :02:09.people deal with the financial challenges, things like budgeting,
:02:10. > :02:12.and it is certainly good here that Kettering are also bringing forward
:02:13. > :02:18.a significant number of affordable homes that residents can benefit
:02:19. > :02:26.from. Goodes we heard from the minister earlier about causing
:02:27. > :02:30.communities, Blackall and Horden in my constituency are also former
:02:31. > :02:32.coalfield communities that have suffered terminal levels of
:02:33. > :02:37.underinvestment says those bits where close. Under the previous Tory
:02:38. > :02:44.Government. Will be missed the meet with me to see what can be done? It
:02:45. > :02:47.isn't just for Government has bought our coastal communities, it would
:02:48. > :02:51.encourage all members across this House to visit the fantastic great
:02:52. > :02:53.British coastline. I will of course happily meet with the honourable
:02:54. > :03:01.member and representatives from his constituency to work out what more
:03:02. > :03:06.the fund can do for him. In magical constituency, they are drying up
:03:07. > :03:08.their local plan, however there are concerns that the Greater Manchester
:03:09. > :03:14.Police will override it. What assurances can he get neighbourhood
:03:15. > :03:21.forums that their plans will be appropriately considered? As the
:03:22. > :03:24.Secretary of State reiterated, we made a commitment to protecting the
:03:25. > :03:27.green belt in the Housing white paper, and I cannot comment
:03:28. > :03:32.specifically on the planet which he talks about, but I would emphasise
:03:33. > :03:34.the PlanMaker is the consult with the community, especially
:03:35. > :03:38.neighbourhood forums, and once that has been brought in force, it is
:03:39. > :03:44.part of the statutory development plan of an area. I will come to
:03:45. > :03:49.points of order, because I think there are a number today relating to
:03:50. > :03:54.one matter, and it seems to me to contain a degree of urgency. I will
:03:55. > :04:00.treat it very soon. Just before I do, I have a short statement myself
:04:01. > :04:05.to make. On Thursday the 13th of July, the text colleagues of the
:04:06. > :04:13.European Union withdrawal Bill was available through eight week, before
:04:14. > :04:16.the Bill was presented in the House. Points of order will raised about
:04:17. > :04:20.the Bill being available online for it was available to members. An
:04:21. > :04:26.immediate investigation was carried out. A flaw in the publishing
:04:27. > :04:32.process within the House of Commons service meant that the Bill text was
:04:33. > :04:33.inadvertently available