0:00:00 > 0:00:03Making sense of the stories shaping our world.
0:00:27 > 0:00:35I beg you to ask the question set down.My lords, the budget has
0:00:35 > 0:00:42provided a very significant impact for the north-east of England,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45transforming cities on the Tees Valley and an investment fund of 600
0:00:45 > 0:00:52million over 30 years as part of the devilish deal for the north of time.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56My lords, the funding for the Tyneside Metro is welcome. The big
0:00:56 > 0:01:02announcement in the budget was a half baked and does the Minister
0:01:02 > 0:01:07realise it has none of the transport, health and social care
0:01:07 > 0:01:13powers, and still less the social funding and other counties like
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Manchester, it has a boundary cutting rates through the middle of
0:01:16 > 0:01:24Tyneside and focuses on the election that very few people want. What, if
0:01:24 > 0:01:31anything, while the steel do for the rural areas of Northumberland so
0:01:31 > 0:01:38often outvoted on the Tyneside areas on which the student focus?The
0:01:38 > 0:01:42rolling stock and some 40 years out of date. It is 40 years old and not
0:01:42 > 0:01:49as real viable as it should be on the new stock will make it better.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55As far as the dealers concerned, for those not familiar with the stories
0:01:55 > 0:01:57of four, seven local authorities in the north-east approach the
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Government under the umbrella of the north-east combined authority for a
0:02:02 > 0:02:06devolution deal and this was in accordance with the Government's
0:02:06 > 0:02:10wish to decentralise decision-making and give local areas more powers and
0:02:10 > 0:02:16resources. Halfway through the discussions, four of those local
0:02:16 > 0:02:19authorities with crew and those who understand the social political
0:02:19 > 0:02:24dynamics of the north-east and the tribal tensions of the time we
0:02:24 > 0:02:33understand why, but I don't. The decision for the Government was
0:02:33 > 0:02:37whether the three remaining authorities, Northumberland,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Newcastle, and North Tyneside should go ahead. They want to proceed, so
0:02:41 > 0:02:44do the business community and so does the local enterprise
0:02:44 > 0:02:49partnership. For those reasons, the Government is minded to proceed
0:02:49 > 0:02:52under the ball now rest in the Court of the local authorities to go
0:02:52 > 0:03:01through the statutory consultation. Well my noble friend agree?
0:03:04 > 0:03:08interest as a member of one of the tribes in question. Educational
0:03:08 > 0:03:18attainment is the key contributor to economic attainment. Many children
0:03:18 > 0:03:24are living in poverty, more than the national average. While the
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Government now seek to improve the life chances of these children by
0:03:28 > 0:03:32replicating in the north-east of the very successful London challenge
0:03:32 > 0:03:37were transformed education in the capital?I have no objection at all
0:03:37 > 0:03:41to rolling out from successful experiments in London or anywhere
0:03:41 > 0:03:46else to other parts of the country that could benefit from them. So far
0:03:46 > 0:03:50as the north-east is concerned, there was quite a lot in the budget
0:03:50 > 0:03:57to help the north-east on House, healthy local health, transport.
0:03:57 > 0:04:04Adult education would be devolved to the new combined authority. On the
0:04:04 > 0:04:07specific question, perhaps I could take advice from the colleagues and
0:04:07 > 0:04:13come back to him.Well my noble colleague agreed that there is money
0:04:13 > 0:04:18in the Budget and the industrial strategy to improve connectivity
0:04:18 > 0:04:23general areas? Will he ensure these measured our use across the whole of
0:04:23 > 0:04:36the north of England to ensure that the access to the broadband is
0:04:36 > 0:04:40improved to enable these rural businesses to compete?I entirely
0:04:40 > 0:04:44agree. She will know that the industrial strategy, that was
0:04:44 > 0:04:49launched at the same time as the budget promised to make the UK a
0:04:49 > 0:04:54more connected country with high speed, fixed and mobile access
0:04:54 > 0:04:58available in all areas, including rural areas, and also aiming to make
0:04:58 > 0:05:01decisions on infrastructure and more geographically balanced, so that is
0:05:01 > 0:05:05at the heart of the industrial strategy. She will have an
0:05:05 > 0:05:11opportunity to develop her arguments after Christmas.The support
0:05:11 > 0:05:25mentioned by the noble lord, the Minister,'s... The noble lord may
0:05:25 > 0:05:30not have a handle on the conflicts in the north-east. I have a slightly
0:05:30 > 0:05:34better handle on the tribal conflicts in Yorkshire. There is a
0:05:34 > 0:05:40real worry now that the whole of the east of the Pennines is losing out
0:05:40 > 0:05:46in relation to resources that would otherwise be available if elected
0:05:46 > 0:05:50mayors in the city regions east of the Pennines had actually been
0:05:50 > 0:05:54carried through. If they were to occur in the months ahead, with the
0:05:54 > 0:05:58noble lord give an assurance that the resources which are earmarked
0:05:58 > 0:06:04for those authorities with the letter players will be available and
0:06:04 > 0:06:09backdated for and authorities that move forward with unelected mayor in
0:06:09 > 0:06:15the way he has described?There is a Sheffield regional city devolution
0:06:15 > 0:06:23deal with unelected mirror. That is in the process of being set up with
0:06:23 > 0:06:26unelected Labour election scheduled for May next year. If other parts of
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Yorkshire want to approach the Government and offer a similar
0:06:30 > 0:06:37devolution deal, of course we would listen. I think my colleagues in the
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Treasury might pause before signing up to backdated deals. What we don't
0:06:41 > 0:06:46want to do is have an all Yorkshire deal which would undermine the deal
0:06:46 > 0:06:51going ahead with Sheffield city region. Any work that the noble lord
0:06:51 > 0:06:54can do to encourage more authorities to come forward with devilish and
0:06:54 > 0:07:00deals, the Government would listen to them very warmly.The Minister is
0:07:00 > 0:07:05quite right to welcome the support that has been given to the
0:07:05 > 0:07:11north-east and in particular the support for Teesside, where the
0:07:11 > 0:07:16steelworks are being closed and work in a Conservative mayor has been
0:07:16 > 0:07:19working closely with the Labour authorities to ensure the success of
0:07:19 > 0:07:24that approach to the Government. The position on Tyneside is quite
0:07:24 > 0:07:28disastrous. I was chairman of the Port of Tyne authority for a number
0:07:28 > 0:07:32of years and within international passenger terminal on one side of
0:07:32 > 0:07:36the river and dogs on the other side of the river, working with different
0:07:36 > 0:07:41authorities working across the river will be most difficult. While he
0:07:41 > 0:07:45seeks to do whatever he possibly can to bring the river authorities on
0:07:45 > 0:07:49the south side of the river to join their colleagues on the north of the
0:07:49 > 0:07:55river in order to set up a single authority for the whole area?He may
0:07:55 > 0:07:59have more influence than I- seeking the reconciliation that he promotes
0:07:59 > 0:08:03in view of his knowledge and commitment to the area. On Tees
0:08:03 > 0:08:11Valley, Chancellor announced £123 million of new funding to ensure the
0:08:11 > 0:08:14ongoing safe and secure management of the former steelworks and I
0:08:14 > 0:08:22welcome the close working between the mayor and the local authority.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26On the north-east, on Tyneside, whether it is too late for the
0:08:26 > 0:08:30authorities to change their mind, I don't know, but obviously we would
0:08:30 > 0:08:34like to go ahead with the previously proposed authority with all seven
0:08:34 > 0:08:43local authorities involved.I beg leave to ask the question with my
0:08:43 > 0:08:46name on the order paper and declarer.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Allegations of noncompliance act seriously regardless of where it
0:08:54 > 0:08:58takes place in the world. HRC are is looking very closely at information
0:08:58 > 0:09:03the icy AJ has publicly released in the Paradise papers to see if it
0:09:03 > 0:09:06reveals anything new. That could add to the existing needs and
0:09:06 > 0:09:11investigations.If that the government may be looking closely,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14but they have looked closely at it for a long time with very limited
0:09:14 > 0:09:19action. When will the government accept there is a deep anger amongst
0:09:19 > 0:09:24taxpayers in this country about the revelations about the rich and
0:09:24 > 0:09:29powerful are able to get away with aggressive tax avoidance. And also
0:09:29 > 0:09:34the transparency is the best antidote. Will the government giving
0:09:34 > 0:09:39six to date by which the overseas territories and the dependencies
0:09:39 > 0:09:44will have to open a public register of the beneficial interests,
0:09:44 > 0:09:50beneficial ownership within their jurisdiction?You're right, we have
0:09:50 > 0:09:57acting for a very long time. And since 2010, we have introduced
0:09:57 > 0:10:00almost 100 measures. That is more than a combined health budget that
0:10:00 > 0:10:04for England, North Ireland and Scotland. We have one of the lowest
0:10:04 > 0:10:08tax gaps in the world, one of the lowest on record in this country. We
0:10:08 > 0:10:11have been working very hard and it was very seriously and we will
0:10:11 > 0:10:16continue to do so. As we go on to overseas territories and Crown
0:10:16 > 0:10:20dependency, again and has been taken very seriously, again two weeks
0:10:20 > 0:10:24ago... The Prime Minister stressed the importance of this, we already
0:10:24 > 0:10:29have central registers in four of those authorities, including
0:10:29 > 0:10:37Bermuda... And in terms of Montserrat... They will publish
0:10:37 > 0:10:41registers, they will have registers by April next year. And in relation
0:10:41 > 0:10:45to tax and... They have been particularly affected so they have
0:10:45 > 0:10:51been given extra time. But we are clear action needs to be taken.The
0:10:51 > 0:10:56Council of the European Union meeting in Brussels, week last
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Monday, issued their blacklist of tax havens and their conclusions
0:10:59 > 0:11:02reveal that a number of British dependencies and overseas
0:11:02 > 0:11:06territories on the greatest have entered into commitments of the EU
0:11:06 > 0:11:14to implement tax governance principles. Specifically Bermuda,
0:11:14 > 0:11:20the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey have
0:11:20 > 0:11:24undertaken to address concerns about the tax regimes which produce
0:11:24 > 0:11:28profits without real economic activity. Does the government
0:11:28 > 0:11:33support the EU in this initiative and will it impose the same
0:11:33 > 0:11:36sanctions on long compliant countries as the EU proposed after
0:11:36 > 0:11:43Brexit?We certainly support the work undertaken in producing this
0:11:43 > 0:11:46report. And the whole process, we have been at the forefront of this.
0:11:46 > 0:11:56We recognise the statements made about long commitment of those
0:11:56 > 0:11:59jurisdictions which are cooperative. That is a very important point to
0:11:59 > 0:12:04stress. None of the Crown dependencies or territories were
0:12:04 > 0:12:07under the list of noncooperative. They were all on cooperative lists
0:12:07 > 0:12:12and it has been identified as the areas they want to take action and
0:12:12 > 0:12:17they we are fully supportive of it. My lords, the disinformation
0:12:17 > 0:12:21surrounding this issue is staggering. As is the confirmation
0:12:21 > 0:12:24of illegal tax evasion, lawful tax avoidance and money laundering.
0:12:24 > 0:12:31Would my friend the Minister agree that the new gold standard of
0:12:31 > 0:12:34proactive reporting and transparency in favour of tax authorities in
0:12:34 > 0:12:40respect of the capital income of any legal person, trust individual using
0:12:40 > 0:12:45the financial services industry is in fact it Cayman Islands?Well, the
0:12:45 > 0:12:50Cayman Islands are one. They have work to do as all jurisdictions. In
0:12:50 > 0:12:57this area. To meet the standards set down. It is true to say in terms of
0:12:57 > 0:13:00the Cayman Islands that with their centrally held register, they are
0:13:00 > 0:13:05going above and beyond what is required by the financial action tax
0:13:05 > 0:13:11falls. We are certain we want to make sure all UK citizens pay all
0:13:11 > 0:13:20tax due by them. Whether held in the world -- wherever it is held in the
0:13:20 > 0:13:25world. We intend to ensure all jurisdictions holder that.Given the
0:13:25 > 0:13:32level of public shock at what was revealed in the Paradise papers, the
0:13:32 > 0:13:39ministers answers today follow the pattern the same emergent pattern of
0:13:39 > 0:13:45recent years. Well, we are doing what we can, we are getting certain
0:13:45 > 0:13:53proceeds, and yet, what the Paradise papers reflected, it's a massive
0:13:53 > 0:14:00scale, whole range of individuals and companies who owe tax. ...
0:14:00 > 0:14:06Putting themselves under the jurisdiction of these islands and
0:14:06 > 0:14:12escaping taxation which is owed to this country. I do ask the Minister
0:14:12 > 0:14:17to respond to the questions my noble friend asked. With a degree of
0:14:17 > 0:14:25forthrightness.I think the question was about publicly registered. The
0:14:25 > 0:14:32UK is the first major economy to issue a public register, a foreign
0:14:32 > 0:14:37owned companies. The UK is leading in this, a commitment given at the
0:14:37 > 0:14:39global anti-corruption Summit which David Cameron actually initiated,
0:14:39 > 0:14:47which took a land mark innings. It is not required that others have to
0:14:47 > 0:14:52make sure it is a public register. Another jurisdictions, it has to be
0:14:52 > 0:14:57available to tax authorities and also to security authorities in the
0:14:57 > 0:15:00case of counterterrorist finances. That is what is happening. In those
0:15:00 > 0:15:03jurisdictions at the present time. There is still more to be done and
0:15:03 > 0:15:10we are far from complacent about it. Does the Minister think this
0:15:10 > 0:15:14proposal will go away, we have problem with defence and security of
0:15:14 > 0:15:17overseas territories and we are so few ships now we can't do it and if
0:15:17 > 0:15:20we are unable to actually defend them, maybe they should no longer be
0:15:20 > 0:15:26British Overseas Territories?The overseas territories and the Crown
0:15:26 > 0:15:29dependencies are very important part of the British family and will be a
0:15:29 > 0:15:32part of global Britain going forward. It is very important that
0:15:32 > 0:15:37it is part of that family that everybody works together to ensure
0:15:37 > 0:15:42those people who have assets held overseas actually make sure they are
0:15:42 > 0:15:45reported in an accurate and timely way to the tax authorities of their
0:15:45 > 0:15:56countries.I'd like to draw houses attention to my declared interests.
0:15:56 > 0:16:04My lords, the transfer of responsibilities is designed to get
0:16:04 > 0:16:09higher education providers... Equality act. There are many
0:16:09 > 0:16:12specifications in that act, on exclusivity and good practice. The
0:16:12 > 0:16:16experience of disabled students in higher education is of equal
0:16:16 > 0:16:20importance is about non-disabled students and we will continue to
0:16:20 > 0:16:24review the need of best actors guidance as necessary.My lords,
0:16:24 > 0:16:31thank you the noble Minister for that reply. May I ask, if the
0:16:31 > 0:16:35surgeon nation has ripped through improved since we did the higher
0:16:35 > 0:16:40education Bill? -- the situation. When I was looking at higher
0:16:40 > 0:16:45education as a route to excellence paper, there was no guidance in it.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49When asked where it was, I was told an official we would entrust the
0:16:49 > 0:16:57courts to sort it out. In a subsequent meeting, I was told by
0:16:57 > 0:17:00the disabled student sector leadership group under Professor
0:17:00 > 0:17:06layout which was the author of it, don't worry, almost half the
0:17:06 > 0:17:13institutions have a policy in place. How can his students navigate the
0:17:13 > 0:17:18system? And what do they do if something goes wrong without having
0:17:18 > 0:17:21to take the full weight of a legal challenge on the rain-soaked
0:17:21 > 0:17:33shoulders? -- on their shoulders. Can I just say, there are a number
0:17:33 > 0:17:40of good guidance is available from the disabled sector leadership
0:17:40 > 0:17:44group, the office for the Independent adjudicator and achieve
0:17:44 > 0:17:46AA has also issued guidance for inclusivity across teaching,
0:17:46 > 0:17:54learning and assessment. And hefty have also undertaken their own
0:17:54 > 0:18:00review and there was a 76% response and there is more to do, but higher
0:18:00 > 0:18:05education providers have got the message and they are looking at what
0:18:05 > 0:18:08more they need to do in order to provide the right facilities for the
0:18:08 > 0:18:19disabled students.Schoolchildren with disability and autism are
0:18:19 > 0:18:22excluded by many of their peers throughout their school life and
0:18:22 > 0:18:24teachers are not often equipped to be able to help and resolve
0:18:24 > 0:18:29problems. Can I ask, what is the government doing to ensure this
0:18:29 > 0:18:31experience does not continue when these young people into higher
0:18:31 > 0:18:37education?As mentioned before, there are specific duties laid out
0:18:37 > 0:18:40under the equalities act 2010 and I think the noble lord was referring
0:18:40 > 0:18:45to schools, let's talk about schools and higher education institutions.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50There are clear remit down for them to adhere to ensuring that all of
0:18:50 > 0:18:57them are looked after properly. Challenges to students with
0:18:57 > 0:19:01disabilities such as dyslexia, low vision and blinders is the
0:19:01 > 0:19:07accessibility of academic text books and journals. With the advent of
0:19:07 > 0:19:13digital technology, this problem is now solvable. Indeed, in the United
0:19:13 > 0:19:16States, universities now require publishers to provide textbooks that
0:19:16 > 0:19:21meet accessibility standards. The problem with the transfer of
0:19:21 > 0:19:26responsibility for student support is that UK universities do not know
0:19:26 > 0:19:31what is possible or how to make it available. With the minister be
0:19:31 > 0:19:36willing to convene a Round Table involving the University
0:19:36 > 0:19:39authorities, publishers and representatives of disabled people
0:19:39 > 0:19:44with knowledge of good practice in this area in order to put a system
0:19:44 > 0:19:47in place that would provide a final solution to the problem of making
0:19:47 > 0:19:54academic material accessible.The best answer I think I can give is
0:19:54 > 0:20:01that I will pass his question and his request on to Joe Johnson. And I
0:20:01 > 0:20:06am sure he will look at that carefully. Also, one of the
0:20:06 > 0:20:12important parts of policy is to ensure institutions are able to
0:20:12 > 0:20:17decipher -- decide for themselves how to best look after the needs of
0:20:17 > 0:20:21dyslexic students. At the House will know, very greatly in size and the
0:20:21 > 0:20:25type of course they offer and within the institutions, there is great
0:20:25 > 0:20:29variation on the way the course is delivered. Disabled students
0:20:29 > 0:20:32themselves very greatly in the type and level of support they need. We
0:20:32 > 0:20:40do think the autonomy... So usually debated should be left to that
0:20:40 > 0:20:47extent.My lords, it makes little sense is somebody who has been
0:20:47 > 0:20:52clinically diagnosed with dyslexia through school then has to be
0:20:52 > 0:20:56reassessed at university for dyslexia. Therefore, I'm very
0:20:56 > 0:21:02grateful to the noble lord Lord Accu who wrote to me to say this will be
0:21:02 > 0:21:10reviewed. Can my noble lord -- noble friend and say in terms of the
0:21:10 > 0:21:21review and when this review will be completed?Indeed. I am aware of the
0:21:21 > 0:21:27note made. But the review will start to take evidence from those invited
0:21:27 > 0:21:31early in the New Year and we hope the review will report that in a few
0:21:31 > 0:21:35months. Little bit more detail, it will consider the evidential
0:21:35 > 0:21:39requirements for students applying for disabled student allowances with
0:21:39 > 0:21:43specific learning difficulties and particularly for those with
0:21:43 > 0:21:50dyslexia.He is relying on the autonomy of universities and various
0:21:50 > 0:21:58bits of guidance, but has Lord Adler has said, by July, barely half of
0:21:58 > 0:22:05universities actually had a policy in place. The experience of students
0:22:05 > 0:22:09will be very variable where they have a disability and where they
0:22:09 > 0:22:15need special requirements. I would ask the Minister because the
0:22:15 > 0:22:19universities are producing such a patchy performance, we need to have
0:22:19 > 0:22:23some reassurance there will be some kind of regulatory intervention if
0:22:23 > 0:22:28they do not get their act together. We do not think it is right we go
0:22:28 > 0:22:32for regular tree action or even legislation. It is not just because
0:22:32 > 0:22:38of so much guidance, it is also let me refer the House to the review
0:22:38 > 0:22:45where we have the 70% response. Nearly all respondents have recently
0:22:45 > 0:22:50carried out view of support or plans to do so in the future. Some
0:22:50 > 0:22:51providers have made significant progress, particularly focusing on
0:22:51 > 0:22:58lecture capturing -- captioning. Research also highlights the need
0:22:58 > 0:23:05for sustained development to support students who are disabled. And an
0:23:05 > 0:23:10effort to make the necessary changes. There is more work to done.
0:23:10 > 0:23:20I beg leave to ask the question on the order paper.The government is
0:23:20 > 0:23:23supporting the Royal Borough of Cannington and Chelsea to rehouse
0:23:23 > 0:23:29survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire as quickly as possible. Rehousing
0:23:29 > 0:23:34this procedure to pace which respects the needs, wants and
0:23:34 > 0:23:37situation of survivors. Bureaucratic inertia must not add to the delay.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42In line with the recent task force report, expect the council to do
0:23:42 > 0:23:45whatever is necessary to ensure households can move into homes as
0:23:45 > 0:23:54swiftly as possible.Today is six months as the tragedy of Grenfell
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Tower. Remember, the victims and survivors of that terrible night. I
0:23:57 > 0:24:03paid about -- tribute to the emergency service workers, public
0:24:03 > 0:24:09sector staff, the voluntary sector and the communities. Who are working
0:24:09 > 0:24:14to get the community back on its feet. Six months is a very long time
0:24:14 > 0:24:18to be living in hotel accommodation and no way to spend Christmas.
0:24:18 > 0:24:25Vulnerable, unsettled and traumatised. Can the Lord tell the
0:24:25 > 0:24:28-- below noble lord tell what specific action the government is
0:24:28 > 0:24:32sticking to get these families into accommodation in the New Year. We
0:24:32 > 0:24:38want to be talking about going forward and housing families in
0:24:38 > 0:24:41permanent accommodation. Because what despite what the local
0:24:41 > 0:24:52authority says, the situation of the majority of family needs
0:24:52 > 0:24:58Does what the Lord said about the father service in the community
0:24:58 > 0:25:05response, a response which was paid tribute to only Today programme by
0:25:05 > 0:25:09the Archbishop, who spoke very movingly about this? To bring the
0:25:09 > 0:25:17House up to date, 151 homes were lost in the fire. Some of those were
0:25:17 > 0:25:24overcrowded, other had multi-generational hassles. 210
0:25:24 > 0:25:29households who formerly lived in Grenfell Tower need to be rehoused.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34Many have accepted an offer of temporary or permanent
0:25:34 > 0:25:42accommodation, 99 have moved on. 111 or an emergency accommodation with
0:25:42 > 0:25:4766 yet to accept an offer of accommodation. The noble lord asks
0:25:47 > 0:25:52what action is being taken. The Royal Borough of Kensington and
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Chelsea plan by Christmas to have acquired a 300 homes set against the
0:25:57 > 0:26:03210 that we need. They are acquiring two holds a day. I quite agree that
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Christmas is now time to spend an emergency accommodation, the
0:26:07 > 0:26:12Government is acutely aware of that, and in the four hotels where most of
0:26:12 > 0:26:15the families are, specific arrangements were made for the
0:26:15 > 0:26:18family still have space of their own to meet each other and entertain
0:26:18 > 0:26:24their wider families if they want to. A lot of services are plain on
0:26:24 > 0:26:27by voluntary groups over the Christmas period to support those
0:26:27 > 0:26:32families. We hope that by June next year, everyone will have moved into
0:26:32 > 0:26:36permanent accommodation. But families need to move on their own
0:26:36 > 0:26:40time. Some are in an emergency accommodation not wanting to move
0:26:40 > 0:26:43into temporary accommodation because they may have to move twice in the
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is doing in terms of work
0:26:47 > 0:26:51alongside the families, finding out what accommodation they need and
0:26:51 > 0:26:55seeking to match it with the 300 houses they are acquiring. I very
0:26:55 > 0:27:01much hope by June everyone will have been offered and accepted permanent
0:27:01 > 0:27:10accommodation.May I join in paying respects to those who died in the
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Grenfell Tower Fire six months ago? This question is about what the
0:27:13 > 0:27:19Government is doing and I wonder whether the Minister does accept
0:27:19 > 0:27:24that local people have now lost confidence in their local council.
0:27:24 > 0:27:30Could I remind the Minister that in the Government statement on the fire
0:27:30 > 0:27:39on the 19th of October, they were expected to be 300 super Moordown so
0:27:39 > 0:27:46professional... Could I ask the Minister whether he has confidence
0:27:46 > 0:27:51in the local council to deliver or whether it may be time for the
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Government to intervene more directly?The Government has no
0:27:54 > 0:28:00plans to put commissioned into the Royal Borough of Kensington and
0:28:00 > 0:28:05Chelsea. They have a new leader and you Chief Executive and the
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Government has established a task force to make sure they live up to
0:28:09 > 0:28:14the expectations everyone has of what they plan to do. Some of those
0:28:14 > 0:28:17in temporary accommodation once that temporary accommodation to become
0:28:17 > 0:28:22their permanent home and the Royal Borough is approaching the relevant
0:28:22 > 0:28:28Londoners to see if that can take place. Some of those in emergency
0:28:28 > 0:28:32accommodation have already accepted permanent accommodation, but it
0:28:32 > 0:28:36takes time to complete, fit out the House, putting the white goods for
0:28:36 > 0:28:42the families to move on. I am aware there is an impatient to make
0:28:42 > 0:28:46progress but I'm confident the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50who are planning to spend nearly a quarter of £1 billion acquiring
0:28:50 > 0:28:55property, have now got the message and the lack of emotional
0:28:55 > 0:28:58intelligence and empathy is behind us and they are getting on with the
0:28:58 > 0:29:09job.Could the noble lord say...? Can my noble friend tell me, or any
0:29:09 > 0:29:17of those who are claiming no social housing, where any of those tenants
0:29:17 > 0:29:24of Grenfell Tower who had moved out and unlawfully let their
0:29:24 > 0:29:28accommodation to more than one family? Because I don't think we
0:29:28 > 0:29:36need have too much sympathy for people that behaves like that.I'm
0:29:36 > 0:29:42not sure I fully understood the question. The assistance that the
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Government and the Royal Bath Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
0:29:45 > 0:29:51are seeking to extend its to those who are living in Grenfell Tower at
0:29:51 > 0:29:56the time who are now homeless or who were homeless shortly after the
0:29:56 > 0:30:01fire. Anybody who was living there at the time is now being assisted by
0:30:01 > 0:30:09the Royal Borough. I say to my noble friend, he has lived through tragic
0:30:09 > 0:30:12circumstances where people have lost their life and he will know better
0:30:12 > 0:30:15than anyone else the trauma that those people have been through. I
0:30:15 > 0:30:20think we ought to allow them the time and space to find suitable
0:30:20 > 0:30:27accommodation to move into.My lords, could the noble lord say why
0:30:27 > 0:30:33in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy the Government continues
0:30:33 > 0:30:43apace with its deregulation agenda? So far as Grenfell Tower is
0:30:43 > 0:30:48concerned, the review is shortly to produce its interim report on fire
0:30:48 > 0:30:51regulations. She will know that after the tragedy at Grenfell Tower,
0:30:51 > 0:30:55and fights was given one two locations to owners of property that
0:30:55 > 0:31:03may not conform with the appropriate cladding of how to make safety
0:31:03 > 0:31:08measures appropriate for those blogs. The whole thrust of the
0:31:08 > 0:31:14enquiry, the whole thrust is to make sure that nothing like this ever