Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q4. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in Council Tax revenue from student houses in multiple occupation on local authorities. (905167)

Thank you. The government believe it is right that students are disregarded from Council Tax where the only residents of a household have full-time students which will have full-time students which will be exempt. In the recently published review 2.0, the government proposed review 2.0, the government proposed a full account for the impact of exemptions and distributional assessment. assessment.

14:52

Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)

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In 2013, my counsellor received £31 million through the revenue support grant. This year, it is just 1 million. At the same time, students who are exempt from Council Tax are not being counted in that. Will he make sure that through the review, this is urgently addressed, but also to make sure that councils are not missing out on central government reports.

14:52

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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For the first time ever, the first funding review will do what it says in the 10 which is to make sure that all the component pressures the council faces for delivering public services and their ability to raise money will be taken into account. And it is wrong that this parliament can decide on national exemptions that councils have to apply to limits at local level, but we don't account for that in the distribution that follows. The first time, we will do that.

14:53

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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Liverpool is a university city and has three universities in my Riverside constituency. Liverpool City Council estimate to lose 9 million in council tax revenue each year due to student exemptions, so can the Minister explain when and how these anomalies will be dealt with so the council doesn't loses

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amount of funding every year. We are looking at the fair

14:53

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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We are looking at the fair funding review 2.0. We are making funding review 2.0. We are making sure they make contributions to that, but it is hard. We want to make sure that we fully account for the ability of local areas, and at a national level, the 240 dwellings and 7000 residents is quite right that when we are accessing how much is available at a local level, we take that into account in some cities and town.

14:54

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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Mr Speaker, I will take question five and seven together. This government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million, bringing the total to nearly £1 billion, and the 2025 spending review protected this level of investment and provided 100 million of additional funding from the transformation fund.

14:54

Patrick Hurley MP (Southport, Labour)

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The number of people in the UK who have no recourse to public funds has significantly increased in recent years. Lots of these people and are falling through the cracks and are falling through the cracks of the system but the one thing they all have in common is that they don't have the support needed to regularise their lifestyle or the enforcement needed to remove them from their situation. So can the Minister outline the steps being taken to ensure that people with no recourse to public funds aren't left

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in this limbo that helps nobody. It is important that migrants

14:55

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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It is important that migrants coming to the UK should be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds. We without recourse to public funds. We encourage councils to exhort all options when working with people with restricted eligibility for public funds. The rough sleeping prevention and recovery grant funding can be used to help anyone provided actions are within the law.

14:55

Dr Rupa Huq MP (Ealing Central and Acton, Labour)

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London boroughs now spend £4 million a day on Tempe accommodation, and while costs and rough sleeping have soared, central government subsidy has been frozen for 14 years, pushing councils to the brink of crap C. With my honourable friends agree with me that it is time to lift the Tory cut so London councils get the support they need to make homelessness history.

14:56

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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The Department for Work and Pensions keeps the level of housing benefit subsidies for temperate condition under review and any future decisions will be informed by the government's wider ambitions including tackling homelessness in the broader fiscal context. Our fair funding review 2.0 consultation sets out our proposals to target money where it is most needed and will account for temporary accommodation costs.

14:56

Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)

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Homelessness is a huge issue in my constituency of Bicester and Woodstock where people cannot find sociable and affordable housing. The business rates proposed under the fair funding review will potentially have a decrease in the net resources available to the council, so can the Minister assure those living in the district council will have support for homeless is protected as part of the fair funding review.

14:56

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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I think the honourable gentleman. You will be aware that we inherited homelessness crisis with record levels of people in Tempe accommodation. Rough sleeping has gone up since 2010 and the last Labour government cut has cut this dramatically. We are investing to tackle the root causes of homelessness and I look forward to working with him on those issues.

14:57

Paul Holmes MP (Hamble Valley, Conservative)

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Thank you very much. Recent figures provided by chain report that 13,231 people were sleeping rough in London and 19% increase in a year since this government took office, and a 63% increase since we took office Mayor of London. What conversations has the Minister had with the mayor of London to tackle this failure in leadership, and will she commit to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of this parliament because, after a year of

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their government, it has gone up. May gently remind the Minister

14:58

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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May gently remind the Minister that rough sleeping went up by 164% since 2010. It was cut by two thirds since 2010. It was cut by two thirds by the last Labour government. Why doesn't he apologise for his party's record of 14 years of failure? We are taking action to tackle the root causes of rough sleeping and homelessness. He should apologise for the failures of his government.

14:58

Q6. What steps she plans to take to help increase participation in UK elections. (905169)

Question six.

14:58

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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Thank you. I think the honourable member. This government is committed to increasing participation in our democracy. We will give 16 and 17 about the right to vote in all elections, giving them a say in shaping their future. Where we find

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barriers to participation, we will work with the electoral sector and other stakeholders to tackle them. I recently had the pleasure of

14:59

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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I recently had the pleasure of getting a robust grilling from 16 and 17-year-olds in my constituency and 17-year-olds in my constituency of Aquinas six form College, which gave us a sense that our democracy is in good hands but I worry the six formers and young people like them might lose their enthusiasm for our democracy for voting because they feel that our voting system leads to politicians taking the majority of the power on a minority of votes. With 40% of MPs being elected with under 40% of the votes cast in this constituency, does the Minister agree with her own government statement on why they are scrapping this for mayoral elections and should we expect a different voting system when the Aquinas six formers vote at the next general election?

14:59

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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I am grateful to the honourable lady for her question. Her party in government had the opportunity to introduce electoral reform. This government is focused on making sure young people are enfranchised and I look forward to working with her to make sure that we deliver votes at 16 for young people in our country.

15:00

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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I recently visited some six formers in Harlow, including Luca and Finlay who shadow some of my office staff last week. With the Minister agree with me they giving 16 to 17-year-olds the vote will help build a lifelong habit of democratic engagement and He is absolutely right, evidence shows young people participating in shows young people participating in projects will positively affect them in their lifetime and increase in their lifetime and increase participation. Young people can pay tax, join the army at 16, it is tax, join the army at 16, it is right that they should have a say in how our country is governed.

15:01

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Mr Speaker. Question 10. committed to improving how we assess needs for government funding, if distributor fairly to the places that need it most. We began at the last but with a £16 million recovery grant, and a consultation, proposed reforms, it will mean the most relatively deprived places will see larger increases in income than the least deprived places.

15:01

Adam Jogee MP (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Labour)

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Newcastle-under-Lyme is part of our industrial heartlands, and we see high levels of health inequality, and lower levels of life expectancy, than many wealthier areas. These committees were let down by those who went before us, so will the Minister share with me what best ways to support assurances like mine, so we can tackle the entrenched inequality? entrenched inequality?

15:02

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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He makes a very fair point and come in a sense, there are two aspects here. One is making sure places get the investment and generally realise their full potential. Including the communities the Minister is engaged in. There is nothing fair at all about a government you previously impoverished councils and left me to the wire, and we are putting right.

15:02

Dr Marie Tidball MP (Penistone and Stocksbridge, Labour)

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I am grateful to the Minister who has named Barnsley local authority in the £1.5 billion plan for neighbourhood, and the investment for 350 deprived communities. However, high green in my constituency, have communities in , in at the indices of multiple deprivation, whilst there is a community in the bottom 20% nationally. These would benefit significant from investment, building my constituents' sense of pride in place. Willie Nelson's communities including the 75 areas that are yet to be announced?

15:03

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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I'm sure Minister knowledge has heard. Quite rightly, there are many parts of our country that have absolute talent and potential but it is not being met by opportunity and that is exactly what this fund is about. It is about making sure every area has that investment to be rebuilt, a course supported by fair funding for the local authority. And I would say actually, what we cannot underestimate is that for over 14 years of constant hits and constant attacks from the previous government, there is a reason why many communities have the resilience to stand up regardless of all of that.

That is because of the power of unity they have, and will now side.

15:04

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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It is often hard to see because it is more sparsely spread across larger rural areas, but can I remind the Minister what I know he knows, the deprivation exists in our rural areas. And could I just urge that this does not become a North versus South, urban versus rural, that the government and taxes are used to address deprivation wherever and whenever it rises, including my

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constituency. Can I thank him for those

15:04

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Can I thank him for those representations, and on the point of really unpicking where the money is needed, compared to the need, there needed, compared to the need, there is a lot of commonality here. A lot is a lot of commonality here. A lot of commonality in the chamber. We absolutely accept that in rural areas, the cost of service delivery in some cases is higher. Refuse in some cases is higher. Refuse collection, adult social, home care visits for instance, it is fairly common sense that it have to travel further between picking up the bins further between picking up the bins or making a homecare appointment, it will cost more money as a result.

But it is not the only thing we need But it is not the only thing we need to take into account, we need to take into account deprivation, the ability of the council to raise that money at a local level, daytime money at a local level, daytime numbers where a council isn't getting tax from visitors but there is a public service take on the other side, and importantly, the

15:05

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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ability of a local authority to raise tax as a local level to meet that demand, and it is the government job to act as an equaliser to the system.

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It is absolutely right that funding follows need, but can I generally urge the Minister to look at how the proposed new funding at how the proposed new funding formula for local authorities affected boroughs across London? Given the new formula doesn't take Given the new formula doesn't take housing cost into consideration and we know that housing cost in London are the biggest driver of poverty

15:05

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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and deprivation. I mean, obviously we are in consultation now, so we are willing consultation now, so we are willing and ready to hear representations being made. But I would say there are many people, not accusing the honourable member of doing this, but there are people jumping to conclusions based on some headlines that are not supported by the evidence when we track where the money ultimately goes to. So, all that matters, they rightly point out, things that I needed to be taken into account being taken into account, and because we are including the consultation, the cost of temporal connotation -- Accommodation, for the first time ever, she will find actually out of London boroughs in particular, they benefit from that good so far they have been underappreciated in the cost of that pressure.

15:06

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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12 please, Mr Speaker.

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With your permission, I will take questions 12 and 22 together. The government strongly encourages broad government strongly encourages broad government strongly encourages broad community engagement in the planning process and we want to see greater public participation in the development of local plans in particular. We are exploring new

15:07

Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)

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particular. We are exploring new ways to increase and enhance community engagement in the planning process, including improving access to planning data through its digitisation.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker, I am sure the Minister would agree it is vital local residents concerns are properly listened to especially talk about major planning decisions. about major planning decisions. Having listened to many of my constituents, and in constituencies, who are facing huge amounts of who are facing huge amounts of energy infrastructure, amendments to the planetary structure built to create a duty of consultation for a create a duty of consultation for a structure in Scotland. At committee, the Minister argued against it saying the discretionary power for the Scottish government was satisfactory.

Can the Minister explain why the government believes that a discretionary power, which my constituents via will simply be ignored provide meaningfully

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ignored provide meaningfully engagement about the statutory right proposed not. I thank the honourable lady for

15:08

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I thank the honourable lady for her question. I can do no better than to draw her attention to the extensive remarks I made in the Bill

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committee. When at the DHL development was

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going through planning, over 1,100 residents admitted objections to the council, thousands signed petitions. Icon as their MP, spoke on behalf against the plans and elected councillors voted 11 to one in the councillors voted 11 to one in the councillors voted 11 to one in the meeting against it, but it was also really improved on appeal. Residents actually are losing faith in engaging in the system. Now, the Minister of Housing and planning authority in a written question to there being more democratically plan led system, taking in larger numbers led system, taking in larger numbers of voices.

But in our case, how many more residents would need to be involved have an impact? involved have an impact?

15:08

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I think if I followed the honourable lady's argument there, she is speaking about objections launched to an individual planning application. We are making no changes to that process. Residents across the country will still be able to object to any planning application that comes forward. We are making sensible changes to improve the certainty and speed at which planning decisions can be taken, two-tiered approach, consultation life at the moment, but when it comes to local plans it is a separate issue.

We are looking to courage greater participation, upstream local plans are the best means by which local communities can shape the development coming forward in their area.

15:09

Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. In Hartlepool, the Tees Valley Mayers development Corporation has removed planning powers from a large swathes of the town from all democratic control. Internally then outsourced much of the planning function to a private company, with no connection to Hartlepool. This is ruling out any community involvement. Will the Minister look at curbing the powers of development corporations to the -- So the planning remains in democratically elected politicians?

15:09

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for that question and note the concerns he raises in relation to the Tees Valley specifically. In general, we are looking to streamline at the powers given to the development corporations, took measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to allow them, for it, the shape transporting areas where they come forward. if you would like to raise with me and other ministers, we are happy to take it. happy to take it.

15:10

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Community support is always vital for development, and with 95% of planning applications already decided by officials of the designated powers, it is clear that democratic voice can be missing. Can the Minister tell the House why, in tandem with the devolution white paper, which envisages abolishing around 75% of councillors that represent their local residents in planning committees in England, these local committees don't observe more of a saint rather than less in the planning process. -- Don't deserve more of a say.

15:10

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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We do want them to have more of a say, as I said, particularly when it comes to the development of local plans which are the best means for local communities to ship development in their areas. When it comes to the point he is really driving at, he notes that, as things stand, every local authority across the country has their own scheme of deprivation. -- Delegation. There is good and bad practice. We think there is a strong case for a national scheme of delegation to improve certainty and speed of planning decisions but he is more than welcome to respond to the consultation is alive and present.

15:11

Q13. What discussions she has had with local authorities in Scotland on community regeneration funding. (905176)

Number 13, Mr Speaker. across all four nations in across all four nations in delivering delegation. I have spoken with Scottish authorities and a with Scottish authorities and a couple of occasions, and really value their partnership and insight.

15:11

Torcuil Crichton MP (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Labour)

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The £20 million community regeneration partnership, will help , and the rose through the islands. It puts islanders in the driving/using the muscle of the UK government. The Minister agree with me this is a template for other UK government departments and their relationship with Scottish councils? And doesn't it stand in contrast with the Game of thrones being played by the government.

15:12

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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I note the passion with which he speaks about, his leadership is going to be crucial in the success of this project and speaks exactly what we have taken the approach we are taking, we need communities in charge, they are the experts in their lives and what they need. They should be in the driving seat, so we will work with them on this project, and in the spending review, we will be putting the heart of everything we do.

15:12

Q14. What steps she is taking to support high streets. (905177)

Question 14, Mr Speaker.

15:12

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker, we are committed to rejuvenating our street and Centres, this includes tackling empty shops in High Street rental auctions, that includes legislating for a community Right to Buy protecting assets that is set out in the spending review, providing funding to 350 places help communities protecting assets that is set out in the spending review, providing funding to 350 Places Help Communities Dr forward the changes they want to see in their areas.

15:13

Julia Lopez MP (Hornchurch and Upminster, Conservative)

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I hear what the Minister is saying, but our High Street are under enormous pressure because of Labour's job tax and cuts to business relief. As shops shut down, they are then being replaced by dodgy funded businesses. To fight that, in my constituency, Trading Standards last week saw £20,000 worth of illicit goods from a shop, and that is because of the council, public police and the MP. This vital work is at risk, because the shifting of money up to places in the north of England.

Can the Minister assure me that the government is not planning to threaten resources of the councils here?

15:13

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I think if you look at the history of the 2020-2024 government, that pressure on local authority which have heard over the House, was so hard bearing, has meant we saw Trading Standards across the country and many places, down to single individuals, never mind single figures, we are very clear, my honourable friend is very clear, we are rebuilding government and will see brilliant enforcement we have see brilliant enforcement we have seen in hatred. -- Like we have seen in a constituency.

15:14

Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster, Labour )

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In Whitehall and Oxford Street, we have seen the proliferation of Harry Potter shops which are not broken into our tourists and we do not believe are trading fairly, would the Minister support me with encouraging HMRC to work with Westminster City Council, that is doing great work in shutting these shops down, to make sure we can be creating that space for thriving High Street businesses. High Street businesses.

15:14

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I share entirely my honourable friend's view, we want to see thriving High Street, we want to see full shops, trading fairly, properly, in a quality way, working with their staff well and being a good part of the community. It is really important, that when that isn't happening, she raises some high profile examples, action being taken, and we have cause stand ready to support local authorities in any way we can.

15:15

Q15. What steps she is taking to build more social and affordable homes. (905178)

Question 15, Mr Speaker.

15:15

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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We announced a record £39 billion of investment into new social and Affordable Homes Programme, Mr Speaker, Spending Review, which will create about 3,000 new homes over 10 create about 3,000 new homes over 10 years. This month, we published a five-step plan that sets out how we will deliver the biggest increase in social housing in a generation, to transform the safety and quality of social housing. My priority, Debbie Prime Minister, is to getMORAN RAN: As Deputy Prime Minister, to get more social homes built, that is more social homes built, that is what this government is delivering.

15:15

John Slinger MP (Rugby, Labour)

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Planning authorities such as rugby council is working hard to ensure new housing developments create as much affordable housing as possible. They work in partnership with partnership and housing developers, and government bodies, and others to this end, it is not always an easy process and often takes far too long. Could my right honourable friend outline how the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will enhance their work? So we can build as many high quality affordable and social homes as possible, and ensure more people, particularly young people, get the poems that they deserve? -- Get the homes they deserve?

15:16

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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Planning and Infrastructure Bill will unlock a new scale of housing and infrastructure delivery, across 10 years, to help elderly 1.5 million homes in this parliament and we are also taking action in the bill to improve local decision- making by modernising planning committees and ensuring the planning departments are well resourced by allowing local planning authorities allowing local planning authorities

15:16

Ellie Chowns MP (North Herefordshire, Green Party)

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Can I ask the primary debiting premise to to set a target for social housing? I welcome the affordable homes programme that she set out, that meets only 10% of the total number of new homes anticipated, and only 10% of the current demand for social housing. If she believes that setting national targets is important to drive change, why will she not set a target for social housing?

15:17

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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The government has not set and affordable housing target today, but we continue to keep the matter under we continue to keep the matter under review, trying to forecast long-term deliveries inherently challenging, but we believe our new affordable homes programme could deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over its lifetime with around hundred and 80,000 for social rent. The measures we have taken have a long-term programme which will help with the supply and I've made it categorically clear that we want more social housing.

more social housing.

15:18

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Thank you. There has been a 66% reduction in new affordable housing starts in London under Mayor Khan. And I vote the Hillingdon labour are vigorously opposing the Conservative councils plans for affordable housing sites, so can our secretary of if she will condemn housing planning office, and whether you are a homeless person, a rough sleeper or an aspirational first-time buyer, this government is failing those in housing needs.

15:18

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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I find it astonishing that hereupon year, they failed to meet their housing targets. The Mayor of London has welcomed the money through the affordable homes programme to increase rents by CPI +1, the party opposite prevented social landlords from being able to raise the money to provide the social housing we desperately need. We are making the changes to get social housing where they failed miserably.

15:19

Q16. What assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to end Right to Buy in their areas. (905179)

The government does not append to abolish the right to buy either nationally or giving local areas nationally or giving local areas discretion to do so. We want to ensure that tenants have lived in unpaid rent on their social homes unpaid rent on their social homes for many years can retain the opportunity to own their home. We are progressing fundamental reform of the scheme to boost council of the scheme to boost council capacity and ensure more social homes are built.

15:19

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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My Somerset Council colleagues have for decades protected and continued management of our stock of continued management of our stock of council houses which has declined through right to buy from tens of thousands a number of years ago to thousands a number of years ago to only 6000 now. Isn't it better to only 6000 now. Isn't it better to allow communities, and while welcoming the attention to this issue from the Deputy Prime Minister issue from the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister, isn't it time that communities can decide for themselves whether to sell off council houses at all? council houses at all? I think the Minister for his question.

We have a principal difference of opinion on this matter. As I made clear, it is the considered view that council tenants should be able to buy the homes they have lived in for many years. I would hope he did recognise that the right to buy reforms we have announced includes reduced discounts and exempting newly built social homes from the right by 35 years will create a fairer and more sustainable scheme.

15:20

Topical questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government

I was pleased that the English devolution empowerment bill had its first reading last Thursday. This first reading last Thursday. This landmark bill will bring a radical reset to local government, deliver on manifesto commitments, decentralise power and ignite decentralise power and ignite regional growth with streamlined powers to speed up new homes and infrastructure, and it will empower infrastructure, and it will empower communities to take back control of their beloved pubs and shops. Helping local leaders deliver a decade of national renewal as promised in the plan for change.

15:21

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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We welcome the provisions in the English devolution and community empowerment bill which recognises the First Past the Post as an unrepresentative electoral system. It is a welcome first step for male elections, but if the government is admitting the First Past the Post is not suitable for elections, why do they maintain that it is suitable for general elections?

15:21

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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Let me cover this point. I have said many millions of people and managed budgets yet can be elected by just a fraction of the vote under recent changes by the previous government. This is despite the supplementary vote system working effectively for over a decade previously, and given large populations that regional mayors and PPC's represent far exceeds that of parliamentarians, we think this is the right approach.

15:22

Dan Aldridge MP (Weston-super-Mare, Labour)

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We restore Weston-Super-Mare's nationally important decade which is nationally important decade which is at risk after their was a £5 million shortfall. Will the Minister outline how we may be able to support and

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will he meet with me to discuss next steps to restore this vital part of my town soul? I would like to recognise the

15:22

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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I would like to recognise the efforts of the regeneration trust, and my friend is a campaigner for and my friend is a campaigner for the community. We announce support for communities and further details will follow on that, and will be delighted to speak about that particular. particular. particular.

15:22

Kevin Hollinrake MP (Thirsk and Malton, Conservative)

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The chair of the working group has previously stated preference for a definition of Islamophobia that was shut down talk of religion in cases like the grooming gang scandal. Other members of that committee appointed by the Secretary of State having adherents of the Muslim faith. This is Secretary of State not share our concerns that their report and recommendations will be predetermined and biased?

15:23

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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No, I don't, and there is no blasphemy law in this country because the last Labour government got rid of it. For years, it was their party that kept it on the statute book. We will always protect free speech including the right to criticise religions, but this kind of incendiary language is beneath

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the Secretary of State. I was merely stating the facts.

15:23

Kevin Hollinrake MP (Thirsk and Malton, Conservative)

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I was merely stating the facts. That is the reality. She is right in That is the reality. She is right in one regard. Freedom of speech is on the line. The current position is that the report will be for the government eyes only, and the decision will be taken in private. Would she at least commit to making the full report publicly available so it can be scrutinised by this house and elsewhere before a

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decision is taken? Asset out in the terms of

15:24

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

Asset out in the terms of reference, the working group will reference, the working group will submit their findings to ministers. We will then consider their recommendations and set out the next steps. I would urge members to let the independent group get on with their work, and if he has views, feed them and as part of the call

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for evidence. Residents in parts of Cleveland

15:24

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

Residents in parts of Cleveland rights of landlords in our villages, rights of landlords in our villages, so will the Department supports my call for the council to introduce selective licensing in the area and what further support can they offer to help us take back control of our villages?

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The government support selective licensing as a tool to tackle the impact of poor housing management on local communities. The general local communities. The general approval we granted gives councils full power to introduce schemes regardless of their size. My honourable friends will have heard

15:25

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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honourable friends will have heard the call to them to consider doing so.

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I refer the house to my register of interest. This weekend was a fantastic boost for many seaside towns, but along with the visitors, towns are blighted. 1700 tickets issued in the most dangerous cars turned away and does the Minister turned away and does the Minister believe that it is reasonable that council tax payers should pick up the bill of up to £200 per towed the bill of up to £200 per towed away car for the sake of a leaf or driver?

15:26

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

driver? It is incumbent on all of us at

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It is incumbent on all of us at peak times. The number one feature peak times. The number one feature relates to parking. We have a consultation now open as of last Friday and I'm interested to work with the lady to make sure we get that balance right.

15:26

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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Many from the Miscarriage Association to myelin classes for miscarriage live meant leak. The MP for Sheffield called for a ban on NDA's. Thanks to the Deputy Prime Minister is cross departmental role, these protections will be delivered by Labour. How and when will they come into force?

15:26

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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I am incredibly proud that the government is introducing life changing measures that will make a real difference when people are at their most vulnerable. I want to personally thank the honourable lady for courageously telling her own story and my right honourable friend the member for Sheffield Heeley to her incredible and tenacious campaigning. The work they have done will change lives for so many. We want to bring the benefits of these vital measures to people as soon as possible, and we will be consulting on them in the coming months prior to the commencement.

15:27

John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)

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Young families want to stay living in the Scottish Borders, so what will the government do to make sure that housebuilders deliver more affordable family sized homes in all parts of the UK so that local people

**** Possible New Speaker ****

have the chance to own their home in the communities they were brought up? The honourable gentleman will know that housing is a devolved

15:27

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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matter. When it comes to affordability, we are not only taking steps to significantly boost housing supply, but we are taking steps also to ensure that more first-time buyers can get access through the permanent mortgage guarantee scheme and the Chancellor will have further details on this this week.

15:27

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP (Poole, Labour)

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Thank you. The latest evidence shows that the gap is one of the widest in the country. Can the Minister explain how we will ensure that the new homes we build will be truly affordable and not subject to excessive rent increases? excessive rent increases?

15:28

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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My friend will have noticed that £39 billion allocated the standing review to our new 10 year affordable homes programme has made clear is summing that we think will deliver 300,000 affordable homes over its lifetime with around 184 social

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rent. You will also know that it includes provisions to empower tenants to look at rent increases. Are two major reports, one from

15:28

Siân Berry MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green Party)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

Are two major reports, one from Shelter coming have exposed something, namely that people from some minority groups, even beyond the structural racism within society experience whilst outcomes and direct discrimination from councils in regard to access to housing. All the Secretary of State give me a the Secretary of State give me a formal written response on that?

15:29

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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If the lady wishes to write me about that issue, I will certainly respond to her.

15:29

Ben Goldsborough MP (South Norfolk, Labour)

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Residents in Heather Gardens in Heather set has seen a 60% hike in fees from the residential management group, supposedly for playgrounds that staff can just dust. What action will the government be taken to stop these rip-off practices and support my residents in South Norfolk?

15:29

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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My friend raises a matter which will be a concern to members across the house. It is precisely to protect residential freeholders in Heather set and other states across the country from unfair charges that we will consult in the near future on how we will look at those provisions in the format relating to state management charges.

15:29

On that note, many of my constituents living in new freehold developments would like to see residents given those firms for shared space, and let them adopt that land. Is it the government to legislate to make that happen?

15:30

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I direct his attention to the CMA's report on the matter. If you want to read further, there is a problem that too many amenities and infrastructure are not being delivered to adoptable standards and many local authorities say that they do not have to maintain them. We have to tackle both issues as we look to end the prevalence of these

15:30

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP (Suffolk Coastal, Labour)

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The housing crisis is no less severe than other areas across the country, in my constituency. Deciduous are keen to see developments built in for nature, I wonder if the Minister would be to comment on what perhaps the government has honoured this, and specifically if he will comment on the prospect of swift bricks and if there is an appetite for support.

15:31

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Whilst with brick coverage is increasing, we do want to drive up swift brick installation. As I made clear at report stage, we are considering using a new suite of national policies for decision- making to require swift bricks to be incorporated into new buildings unless there are compelling reasons to preclude the use that would make them ineffective.

15:31

Lewis Cocking MP (Broxbourne, Conservative)

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Can the Minister outline what you planning powers could be provided to local councils to ensure by local communities can say no to houses of multiple occupancy or HMOs where they are not wanted.

15:31

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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The honourable gentleman, who I have got great affection for as it have got great affection for as it happens, Mr Speaker, and is a highly serious former councillor, who the authorities have powers, but if he has evidence those article 4 powers are not proven effective, I would like to have more information.

15:32

Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central, Labour )

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In light of the government's determination to bring prosperity to coalfield communities, like Doncaster, does the Minister share my desire for the fast delivery of coalfield regenerating trust industrial projects? And also the importance of transferring the potential funds directly to the CRT, so as not to delay any delivery with bureaucratic processes and bidding?

15:32

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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This government is committed to investing in coalfield communities, I was pleased to eat my honourable friend, to talk about the exciting funds being invested in Doncaster. We are looking very closely at the coalfield industrial, we are committed to working with them and looking very closely at what they said.

15:32

Mr Gagan Mohindra MP (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)

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My constituent routes to be concerned about the lack of community spaces. Especially alongside the government's housing targets, will the Minister reassure the House this government will be making sure there are government -- making sure there are government -- Community spaces to support the housing developments?

15:33

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Forgive me if he knows this already, we did strengthen the provision of infrastructure in our recent changes to the policy framework beyond that, we want to ensure the existing developer contributions, where existing housing comes through planning agreements, are strengthened so local Saudis can extract more public gain from that process. So local constituents can extract more public gain from the process. gain from the process.

15:33

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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My constituency good become home to thousands of new homes, to be sure this project a success, it is essential we deliver its structure, such as proper drainage and roads, all of which have not accompanied previous developments. What steps is the Minster taking to develop a coastal strategy to ensure that new developments for coastal villages are delivered alongside infrastructure?

15:34

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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This government takes a similar interest in Coastal Communities Fund as local grocer minister, I work closely with coastal authorities and have a significant eye on Coastal Communities we want to develop the existing conurbations to issue a new developers provide that its structure. With further details to come? Of course, the changes my honourable friend talked about in the planning framework. Or increase provision and modernisation of infrastructure. It regards to her constituency, it is supporting the

15:34

Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)

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Hard-working traders at the historic shambles shopping centre was shocked to receive letters from Stockton's Labour Council telling them they were to be evicted and invited them to a meeting with less than 24-hour's notice. I have been along to meet them, they are devastated, fearful for their futures and livelihoods, does the Secretary of State agree with me that councils should be backing small independent businesses, not making them homeless without alternatives? alternatives?

15:35

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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He will know that it is Labour councils leading the charge at a local level, to regenerate local communities, to invest in local businesses. The evidence is there, supported by the plans for the community, supported by the community Right to Buy, there is a real effort here. On the particular issue he races, he has not give prior notice of that, but if he wants to deliver it in writing, we will look at it.

15:35

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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This morning, this afternoon actually, I visited centrepoint, speaking of some young people, in the self-contained flats meeting with the staff, working to support those young people. The Secretary of State will be aware that coalition of the 150 charities supporting young people, calling for a specific youth focus section, in the ending of homelessness strategy. It shows it will save £8.5 billion a year, just the Secretary of State agree with me it is not only morally right but economically smart to have a youth specific chapter in the new ending homelessness strategy?

15:36

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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I commend my honourable friend for her work on this really important agenda. I met with the youth homelessness sector recently at a roundtable. We are determined to make fewer that the concerns and interests of young people experiencing homelessness is integrated into our homelessness, ending homelessness report. We are working with this academic sure we tackle the causes of youth homelessness? homelessness?

15:36

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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Streets are being blighted by severely overgrown grass verges, attracting litter, antisocial. Will the Minister join me in urging Conservative run East Sussex County Council to urgently get a grip of a verge maintenance in Eastbourne, to help make our grass great again?

15:37

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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I think the real issue for most councils it the Liberal Democrats didn't make when the sun was shining in that coalition years. I will let nobody forget Local Government ActCESAR GRECH:Erosion of local neighbourhood services started in those coalition years, when the Liberal Democrats more than ably abetted the Conservative government at the time.

15:37

Perran Moon MP (Camborne and Redruth, Labour)

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Cornwall is desperate to access the highest level of devolution, but because of our national minority status, Cornwall cannot and will not join a mayoral combined authority, before this House has asked to vote on a devolution bill that discriminates against the people of Cornwall, will Secretary of State meet with me and colleagues to discuss a Cornwall only devolution deal?

15:37

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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My honourable friend will know that we have put a significant amount of energy and time, for the right reasons, meeting parliamentarians across the House on local issues, and I can say absolutely we will meet and it will probably be the sixth meeting we had with Cornish MPs on this issue. We absolute you understand and are investing in the Cornish identity, but we need to make sure the devolution agenda moves on pace and every part of England can realise its full potential and I am more than happy to meet on that basis.

15:38

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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A new report from Crisis shows that only 2.6% of rental properties in my area of Leicester South are affordable to those on local housing allowance, that is a real terms cut, as the government of frozen at the Housing Benefit until 2026. Can ask the Secretary of State to explain how it's freeze aligns with the government's aim of reducing homelessness? Will the government to urgently review the cap so people can afford to keep a roof over their heads?

15:38

Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour)

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I refer the honourable gentleman to my earlier answer, which is this government has invested nearly £1 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping as the Secretary of State has pointed out, we are dealing with the root causes of homelessness, that means investing billions of pounds to ensure that there are some 300,000 social affordable home, over the decade, so we can get people into housing that is urgently needed. is urgently needed.

15:39

Leigh Ingham MP (Stafford, Labour)

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Last week, nearly a thousand people across Stafford Borough were told with short notice that one of our housing associations is effectively scrapping the current waiting list. It also said to thousand of them would no longer have a housing need but have not explained how they have come to this conclusion. People are confused, angry and scared. Does the Minister agree with me this is unacceptable and will he meet with me to help find a way forward for those who have been left in limbo?

15:39

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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I would happily meet with my honourable friend about that development, and if you write to me in advance, that would be useful. in advance, that would be useful.

15:40

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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It is my understanding the city council is in a more sound position than Plymouth City Council, what the Secretary of State say to reassure me that the organisation will not mimic a forced marriage or about marriage with a fiscally prudent bear out the other?

15:40

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Obviously, we are in a statutory process now for local government reorganisation and depot, they will submit their proposals to us by November. We do not want to say anything that would contradict those, but I can say to the honourable member proposal will be threshold and we will meet back with local people on that basis.

15:40

Dan Tomlinson MP (Chipping Barnet, Labour)

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I note that reducing deprivation is a cause close to all Ministers hearts. Can I ask what the ministers had on the extent to which I housing costs contributed deprivation and should be taken account of when we consider funding from local councils?

15:41

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Thank you, so when the consultation period for the Fairford review 2.0, from 15 August, the issue being raised about housing costs take into account will judge deprivation has been made by members, but I will encourage all manners of the House and beyond to submit their responses to the consultation taking place.

15:41

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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Can the Deputy Prime Minister guarantee that no Muslim Brotherhood affiliates will participate in the consultation on the definition of Islamophobia? Islamophobia?

15:41

Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)

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Mr Speaker, we have the terms of reference and we have the consultation going on the moment. I am not going to provide a running commentary on the work of the Independent group. The government has a non-engagement policy with MCB, that position has not changed.

15:41

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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the city of York Council is the lowest funded unitary authority, but under the fair funding review, we don't fare any better. And I wonder if, first, the Minister could extend the consultation guidelines, these are complex issues, but also meet Council to look at the impact it is going to happen. -- It is going to have.

15:42

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Cannot occur for the work she has done to champion fair funding in particular York, fair funding review admitted you two things. First, take into account the need, the cost pressures driving local authorities, set against the resource, how authorities can raise council tax at a local level. And also an equaliser to make sure every local authority can afford local services.

15:42

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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In reply to an earlier question, the Prime Minister said he wants to increase the number of people who ended up engaging in the preparation of local plans, but he will know that, even if that number were doubled, still a small number of the local community. What local community want is when actual applications are being considered, that they are decided and determined by local authorities, with minimal central input. Could the Minister recommendations and decisions.

All we are proposing, as the honourable gentleman knows if you look at the consultation, is a two tier system where a set of minor applications go where a set of minor applications go to expert local planning officers, a separate here can go to planning committee, where the Chair and chief learning officer cannot decide that learning officer cannot decide that learning officer cannot decide that is the case, but I urge you to respond to the application.

15:43

Catherine Atkinson MP (Derby North, Labour)

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We are seeing massive investment in the regeneration of Derby city centre, including the opening of a new entertainment venue at the opening of our market, bursting with small independent businesses. But regeneration also means ensuring that our city feels safe and welcoming and inclusive. Can the Minister tell us how their department is working with the Home Office, to ensure our cities and towns are thriving and safe?

15:44

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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The honourable lady is tempting not in the Member of Parliament to say something nice about Derby, which is slightly challenging for my prospects when I go home on Thursday, but I recognise the characterisation, as she talks about exciting plans for Derby ahead, and I share exactly the point on policing, the most vibrant amenity possible, if people participate. I tell him to watch this space.

15:44

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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A former Methodist Church received permission to be converted into flats, this was despite the parish council having registered it as an asset of community Value and express their sincere wish to purchase it. Does the Minister think that the regulations for assets of community Value are fit for purpose and how can they be improved?

15:44

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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No, we don't, which is why when the bill was published last week, we plan to amend them.

15:45

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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The new life for city's buildings project in Truro, in my constituency, is breathing new life into empty High Street building 60 developing them. I would love for the Minister to be able to see this for himself, would he consider coming to Truro, and attending our growth summit on 18 September?

15:46

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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growth summit on 18 September?

15:46

Ministerial statement: State of Climate and Nature

15:46

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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15:59

Andrew Bowie MP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Conservative)

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15:59

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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15:59

Andrew Bowie MP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Conservative)

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15:59

Mr Speaker

15:59

16:04

16:07

Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central, Labour)

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16:07

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:07

Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central, Labour)

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16:08

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:08

Dr Roz Savage MP (South Cotswolds, Liberal Democrat)

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16:12

16:13

Ms Polly Billington MP (East Thanet, Labour)

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16:13

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:15

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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16:15

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:17

Mr Speaker

16:17

Mr Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield, Labour)

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16:17

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:17

Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)

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16:19

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:19

Luke Murphy MP (Basingstoke, Labour)

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16:19

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:19

Luke Murphy MP (Basingstoke, Labour)

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16:21

Mr Speaker

16:21

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:21

Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)

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16:21

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am deeply concerned for workers and families. There are serious concerns There are serious concerns to answer ended up in this state. That wrote an insolvency service to look into this service to look into this matter because I think those workers have been badly let down by the company.

16:22

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

Nobody knows better than farmers the reality of climate change and the importance of tackling it immediately. of tackling it immediately. It is bizarre that expertise have been ignored by people. We should stand with them. Extreme weather conditions are a threat to agricultural survival. We desperately need a food security strategy. We only produce 55% of the food we eat already in this country, so how will it help farmers to be resilient against flooding?

16:22

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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The Right Honourable gentleman speaks with great expertise on this matter as part of his local constituency, and he is absolutely right about the threat to farmers livelihood which I talked about in my crisis. And the need for food security. I know it is something that my right honourable friend take extremely seriously, and the whole framework is partly making sure that we have the land we need for food security.

16:23

Barry Gardiner MP (Brent West, Labour)

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I want to thank my friend for this statement. I have waited 14 years for it. One of the key drivers of deforestation. One of the key drivers of deforestation is cattle ranching and soil production, and one of the key drivers is the City of London finance which happening. What constituents can we bring in against the financial lines of the city to make

**** Possible New Speaker ****

sure that we are stopping this outsource? My honourable friend raises an important issue about the

16:24

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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important role for the City of London and the positive role of the City of London. One thing we are consulting on at the moment is a transition plan for large companies and financial institutions, including in the City of London, precisely so we can make sure that the investment goes in the right places.

16:24

Adrian Ramsay MP (Waveney Valley, Green Party)

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Thank you. Can I welcome the Secretary of State's statement, including the importance of Britain showing leadership and of consensus. But even if we haven't quite got cross-party consensus on the need for transition to a green economy, does he agree that the fact that we have seen hundreds of deaths in London in the second heatwave of the year, the fact that our farmers are facing the dry start to the year in my lifetime, the fact that people around the country have suffered from floods in recent years.

Does he agree that the need for us to show resilience in the face of climate us to make sure we are protectin the public from changing the British public?

16:25

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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It is very much part of our mission as we tackle net zero as we tackle net 0 to do what he says. I think the first part of the question is very important, but when I listen to some folks in this house, we see it all around us. It is not like we are gazing into a crystal ball because some sets of boffins have told us something bad might happen in the future. It is happening now.

If you said that 15 years ago, people would have said you were mad, and there is no way that would happen. So, I think the onward gentlema speaks very well about somethin

**** Possible New Speaker ****

very important about what is happening. I also very much welcome

16:26

Ruth Cadbury MP (Brentford and Isleworth, Labour)

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**** Possible New Speaker ****

I also very much welcome today. today. Adequate charging infrastructure power. In our all critical to the government's net zero challenge. Businesses and providers across the transport sector making investment decisions now which needs a route map, so what is the Secretary of State making to prioritise grid connections and to really commit to informing the system so that projects essential Can Can he Can he tell Can he tell the Can he tell the house Can he tell the house directly without entering these questions how in cash terms would it zero? zero? Who would pay the cost, and how much would the UK get Internet zero0 to reduce global temperatures by? temperatures by?

16:27

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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All of these details are set out in the report which we can look for yourself. But in carbon budget seven, they are set out. The cost of getting to net zero has been coming down actually because when I set the 80% target, the cost of getting there couldn't be higher than it is now to get net zero, but I make this point gently to her. The cost of inaction is much greater then the cost of action.

16:28

Henry Tufnell MP (Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Labour)

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Can I commend the Secretary of State for his statement? I share his view that we have a responsibility for generations to come, and my constituents want to be part of that just transition, so can I ask the Secretary of State that he is also committing to that just transition that protects jobs and prevents protects jobs and prevents lisation?

16:28

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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We want to give workers a smooth transition, and the way we do that is by ensuring that we have a government to intervene to make that happen, whether it is great British energy or clean industrie s bonus to create jobs of the future. Northsea. 70,000 jobs have been lost in less than a decade because of the declining basin. The answer has got to be to create those jobs of the future, and that is what this do. do.

16:29

Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)

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The impact of climate change has been felt today in my constituency of Bicester and would top. They are racing to bring in the harvest after such a dry and hot spring when yield is to be half of what they would normally be. On the 23rd and 24th of Septemb r, we had extensive surface flooding, so can the sector estate set out what share of the flood defence budget will go with river flooding, and how will he categorise the responsibilities of local governments are developers, water companies, insurers and householders?

16:30

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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He asked a complex question. I will ask my local government to write to him, so I get it right. But it is something that he is whispering the answer to me. It is something he takes very seriously.

16:30

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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I want to thank the Secretary of State, not just for his statement today but his continue commitment to tackling the us. He said it was something that we must all tackle together, and there is a huge part of our communities that want to do exactly that, so while we welcome great British energy rollout of hospitals and schools, the outline things to do

16:31

Sir Bernard Jenkin MP (Harwich and North Essex, Conservative)

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Is the cost of the public exchequer of VAT. We know there is an argument going on inside the government, inside the Labour Party, about this very issue. It is a question of balance because the forgotten runs out of money because it is overspent, there won't be money to spend on reversing

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climate change. I have read the report

16:31

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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I have read the report the bitty did not mention it if we end up in 3Â° world But that is the cost of inactio . This is the point, a noble Lord did a report on the 2000 and said the costs of inaction are greater than the cost of action. The oDR fiscal risks report census out clearly for we lose 8% of our GDP by 2070 if we don't act. Of course there are costs of acting by so different scenarios for public and private investments from acting.

The evidence in that report could not be clearer about the costs of inaction, allow far greater than the cost

16:32

Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I was privileged to have a roundtable in my constituency. Many saw net zero become applicable football and ongoing applicable football and ongoing culture war on the rights. Other Secretary of State look at other groups who been together widespread support for net zero, and bring it together it is with great pleasure I welcome the role of these groups. He and I have talked about the importance of climate of his constituents.

Last week 20 my constituents from Hampstead and Highgate came from a climate coalition, mothers Climate Action Network and another group, and other groups to see me. They were very clear that They were very clear that COP30 was a pivotal moment to tackle problems and misinforma to tackle problems and misinforma tion to summarise not just in online but immensely brisker parties. parties. Can I ask what leadership is the UK showing atc COP30 two we tackle this information? What is it doing to make What is it doing to make powerful international partners who may not be on the same page as us are coming with us on the journey because it has any collective action that will solve this very serious crisis?

16:34

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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My noble friend speaks with expertise on these issues and passion. She is right about this. This is about what we do to engage with other countries. We had an environment dialogue with the Chinese list a couple of weeks ago in London. I engaged with the Chinese, India, Brazil, all of them absently key. Brazil as hosts of the summit. She is right that cop30 is a crucial moment when we show we are to take action and that is what we'll do.

that is what we'll do.

16:34

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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Is a sponsor of that final of State statement this afternoo . He is right to highlight the international crisis. has two great a cost doing so. He will be aware costs are politicising this issue for many people in this country. Legislation before the house currently with regards to pensions and where and how they invest. Can he assure the house that he is talking to Treasury and government ministers to ensure that the maximum amount from those pension funds particul arly the Local Government pension fund, can be invested in those green energy projects? It will widen the investment the politicising the issue deepen what they want to see.

Admission. I thank him for his sponsorship bill. He's the voice of good sense, death. He is the voice of good sense on the Conservative benches. He raised a very important issue about pensions and pension investments, is what I will take up. take up.

16:36

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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I want to get all medicine this afternoon have shorter questions and answers please.

16:36

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Romsey and Southampton North, Conservative)

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Thank you Nanda Piersma get. I welcome the statement and the fact that my local hospice will have some of the panels that local government, that is thousands that can be saved that can go back to front line services. line services. What more can you do to ensure that public buildings like hospitals and prisons have hospitals and prisons have the solar panels fitted semi get lower costs but contribute to a climate goals?

16:36

Jacob Collier MP (Burton and Uttoxeter, Labour)

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He is right about this.

16:37

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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expand. It is very successful as It is very successful as a no-brainer. Using natural resources to The energy built and lease money from services. figure.

16:37

Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield, Reform UK)

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A statement from the energy secretary sounded like a desperat job. He's right, the British people do need protecting any protectin from the energy secretary from the energy secretary because businesses are saying the mad ideas are killing growth and ideas and jobs. I winning to give him the benefit of that entrance uncivil benefit of that entrance uncivil question what he has refused to answer. But how much will the Earth's temperature reduced by the UK became net zero tomorrow? It's a question?

16:37

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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It's a question? To and the answer which he just does not want to accept is this. If he listens. p. p. I believe in Britain's ability to make a difference. Truth is, when we passed Truth is, when we passed the climate change act 60 countries followed. followed. He talks written down, I believe in the return. get. Thank goodness we have someone in the table wanting to save the planet. That net zero makes good common sense for constituents who may recognise is not just who may recognise is not just about private security and those of us who face floods know how expensive those are.

It is also about national security and the cost of living. Moving towards stable electrici Moving towards stable electrici Moving towards stable electrici . . But the secular statement on current plans bill payers will be wasting £8,000,000,000 a year switching off windfarms by 2030 we don't take actions by 2030 we don't take actions of how can we stop the transfer of wealth from citizens to s? s? She's right we inherited e. The failure to build the grid infrastructure.

Best thing we can do is acceler te that grid infrastructure. If we can do that we can reduce the constraints payments and I look forward to support from all parts of the house.

16:39

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you madam the piece because of the secular state rightly says that British leadership matters. The choices we make of the country will have an impact on future generations. I don't doubt his personal commitment to tackling climate zero. Is he really sure that all his cabinet colleagues not least the chance of executor are on the same page as him? Given her unwavering commitment to expanding not just Heathrow but Gatwick, Luton, City, and Stansted, despite the advice and consent of the Climate Change Committee?

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Yes I am for some I can tell her we have never had

16:39

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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tell her we have never had a chance of the second so committed to these issues we have the biggest investment in clean homegrown energy in our history in the recent spending review.

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Thank you that this figure. A big beneficiary of social

16:39

Andrew Lewin MP (Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)

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A big beneficiary of social housing will homes plan with £600,000,000 means hundreds retrofitted. We will see bills and emissions coming down our colleagues coming down our colleagues from reform have a rough flare for languages they talk about next stupid zero for some I'm interested to know what

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my honourable friend thinks what language he used to describ the party opposing policy that would cut emissions and cut bills of people living in council homes in my committee? We are advocating for common

16:40

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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sense here. Why not use the natural resourc s that we have you have warmer s. likely.

16:40

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP (East Antrim, Democratic Unionist Party)

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The real driver behind this statement today is the fact that the Minister is losing the argument with his colleagues who are now challengin g the impact of policies of economic growth. He is trying to cover up the costs which the OB art made last week, £30,000,000,000 a year, businesses are struggling on their power bills, and consumers are resisting the net zero demands to fly less, eat less meat, and I because they don't want. Does Mr not see connection between the anxiety he talks about the disposal scare tactics he has made today? All to enable and to say that Britain is taking the

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lead. Since the Paris agreement, emissions have gone up by 30% of the might be leading does not have many followers. The honourable gentleman

16:41

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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The honourable gentleman and I have been arguing about these issues for about 20 years so I think I am unlikely to persuade him. Normally we have good-natured discussions about this. I have to say to him, the idea that this is scaremongering, when we see without own eyes what is happening, as the gentleman sitting in front of him said earlier on the statement, we see it without own eyes. I have to say, what he is doing, what he's advocating for would be a total betrayal, not just of future generations about today's generation.

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I want to say that the secular state has been a global

16:42

Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )

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secular state has been a global years. We all know about the climate change act but at COP15 Cogan Aidan, blatter's intervention will be lots of agreed. Bob would be in worse position without single intervention. The whole house needs to that. that. Looking forward to cop30, you're nobody significant a forestation and repairing of the world ecosystem whether it is seagrass or people. What is planned for leaving

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in that space at COP30? My honourable friend is

16:43

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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very calm. When I met with a group of young people earlier on Sunday, I felt a sense of response see that no country has yet stirring up on these issues was we need to do more. Because they are fearful about the world they will inherit and they look to governm nts to show leadership. On the issue you mentioned it is very important and we will make sure that we make it sticky part of our agenda at cop COP30.

16:43

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Hosepipe ban is likely over my constituency mid Sussex was the frustrate stubbornly because it speaks to decades of failures putting the provisio s that would prepare us for a change in climate that can be lived with buyer Jordan. People expected to support large-scale housebuilding that those same children will need when I water companies fail to fix the leaks, pollute our rivers, and often fail water?

16:44

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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The honourable lady raises an important issue. My right friend has commissione a review of the whole system complete. It's also the case we have not built a new reservoir

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in Britain for 30 years. We have plans for nine new reservoirs as part of answering these future races. I had that real pleasure

16:44

Alistair Strathern MP (Hitchin, Labour)

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I had that real pleasure of visiting a nursery school in my constituency this morning in my constituency this morning to celebrate with their securing distinction. As well as that sobering reminder of my ability to hold attention for-year-olds, it was powerful future generatio s who will bear the brunt in tackling this crisis. Truth is we don't have to look to the future. Local farmers will be hit by flooding, and the failure be. What assurance can be made that we will tackle climate change at source we will be dealing with the mitigations ?

16:45

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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Let me congratulate his school and what they are doing and it shows local action can remake the difference. Globally I can give him the assurance he seeks. What is so important, and I sensed mems across the house, people look to Britain. People say, are you going to lead? Are you going to show the power of example because that is what we have done over 20 years and the governance of both parties we need to keep doing it.

16:46

Llinos Medi MP (Ynys Môn, Plaid Cymru)

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16:46

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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16:46

Rosie Wrighting MP (Kettering, Labour)

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Can Can the Can the Secretary Can the Secretary of Can the Secretary of State

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Can the Secretary of State

16:47

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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. well. This is an obligation that we all to young people. We hold the planet in trust to future generations. The young people today if -- they speak for themselves and we owe it to them to act when the evidence is before our eyes.

16:47

Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)

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The report made it clear that we are not prepared for climate change. nt. My constituents have totally championed farming for over 20 years. What discussions has he had with his colleagues in DEFRA to ensure resilience to the climate crisis?

16:48

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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I congratulate her constituen s on what they are doing to find regenerative ways of doing farming. I know it's something that my colleagues take seriously. We have structures in place that. I think the Environment Minister with -- would agree.

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I thank him for making such a personal statement

16:48

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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when the planet is in such a critical conditions. Also for his leadership domesti ally and globally. jobs. We must ensure that we have the highest level of science for future agriculture. We want to see the transition in farming but also other climate-mitigating factors. climate-mitigating factors. project. project. It is great to hear the fantasti c examples of what people are doing. Government is trying to do its bit but local people are doing theirs as well.

doing theirs as well.

16:49

Shaun Davies MP (Telford, Labour)

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Climate change is a topic among children. Switching renewables is a topic among employers. Renewable companies offer fantastic, well paid jobs. Climate security energy security is vital. Is there a single reason as to why this is not a key mission?

16:50

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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He is absolutely right. This emphasis he makes on . Our exposure to fossil fuel markets controlled by petrol state and dictators leaves us vulnerable. This is an energy security issue, it's a national security issue, and that is why we issue, and that is why we need clean, homegrown power.

16:50

Deirdre Costigan MP (Ealing Southall, Labour)

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Thank you. As the Secretary of State has, the climate crisis is also a nature crisis, especially in nature depleted cities like London. In recognition of this, the Labour council has imaginative plans for regeneration, with wetlands. Does the Secretary of State agree that this government's new fund could help support new fund could help support park? Unlike the piecemeal approach of the previous government, approach.

16:51

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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She is right about this. If we think about the recent hot weather, access to green spaces was a massive issue inequality because in certain parts of the country, people have that access and in others, they don't.

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I think the project that incredible. I thank my right honourable

16:51

Tom Collins MP (Worcester, Labour)

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I thank my right honourable friend for establishing this it. Nothing is more vital than crisis. We live within the nature system, not outside of it. Nothing is more important or better for bringing our communities into the future. Industry understands this. Is he going to bring forward ideas? Would he meet with me to discuss these ideas coming from industry?

16:52

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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I will look forward to discussing those ideas. He is right about the nature He is right about the nature of the nature crisis and climate and nature solutions. Both of them go together. There are big economic opportuni ties within them and he is a champion of them.

16:52

Anna Gelderd MP (South East Cornwall, Labour)

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Does the Secretary of State agree that these issues are at the frontline of the climate and nature crisis? We need a resilient infrastruct re. It is not only essential to protecting areas like south-e st corner, but unlocking new jobs, strengthening the economy and ensuring national security?

16:52

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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She is a fantastic champion of these issues. She is a fantastic champion of them in her previous incarnati on and her current incarnation. The work she is doing is absolutely about what she's talking about and I could not agree with her more.

16:53

John Slinger MP (Rugby, Labour)

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Council in my constituency is hosting an event this Sunday department. In December, 2034, my Honourabl friend joined me to visit this location. further. Does my friend agree that through the Future Homes Standard we are sharing -- showing that a Labour government actually believe in the concept of government and taking responsibil ity and we can actually change things for the better for future generations?

16:53

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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I wish him luck for the event on Sunday. He is right about this. The Warm Homes Plan is about cutting people's energy bills, creating warmer homes and cutting emissions, and they go together.

16:54

Tracy Gilbert MP (Edinburgh North and Leith, Labour)

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We need to put in place a highly localised network of rain gauges as extreme rainfall can be very dangerous. In July, 2021, towns in my constituency faced flooding temperatures. Gauges will help to an ice impact of climate change but help communities such as Stockbr dge prepare. Can he outline what he plans in this regard? in this regard?

16:54

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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It sounds like a very, very important recommendation that my Honourable friend draws attention to. As somebody whose constituency so -- saw two flooding events in a decade. I know how important these issues are. I'm glad she drew attention to this and we will look careful y at it.

16:55

Chris Murray MP (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Labour)

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I welcome this cover's focus on the urgency of the climate crisis and I know that many in the constituency well. The evidence is unequivocal. Sustained emissions of greenhou . Will the Secretary of State commit to steering this for the opposition? Does he agree that the UK has a special responsibility to work towards this?

16:55

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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It is in the DNA of this government. time. Now, we have a minister and the Chancellor who are more supportive of this agenda to move it from the margins to the mainstream more than anyone before.

16:55

Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)

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Can I warmly welcome his statement and particularly his encouragement for members across the south to support the Government's effort to reach net zero by 2020 2030. -- 2030. Does he agree that the newly elected county council should act investments -- To axe all investments is not only a betrayal of residents across

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Kent but particularly young people who deserve to inherit a sustainable planet. My honourable friend is

16:56

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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absolutely right. It sounds like it is anti-jobs, it is making people poorer generations. generations.

16:56

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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I thank him for his statement. When I visit schools in my constituency of Harlow, including the one I visited on Friday, one child asked me about the declining number of blackbirds. The number one issue students raise is climate change. What can he say about actions taken to protect my constituents themselves? words. It's a tough one. On reassuring his constituents On reassuring his constituents in Harlow, I think it has been so interesting hearing people across this House talk people across this House talk about these issues and their own constituents and the strong own constituents and the strong feelings there are.

I say to young people in Harlow and people across Harlow that this is a Government committed on these issues. We are determined to ensure planet.

16:58

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)

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Can I thank him for his statement this afternoon. I will allow a couple of moments for the frontbenchers to change over. -- Front benches. We now come to a statement We now come to a statement on UK-transmigration cooperation. Home Secretary.

16:58

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Thank you. With permission, I will make a statement to update the house on the new joint action between the UK and France to tackle dangerous small boat crossings, crossings which undermine UK and French border security, which put lives at risk in the Channel, which few organised crime in which cause disorder and damage, both here in the UK and in France. The new agreement reaches of the summit means stronger partnership, working with transit countries to prevent transit countries to prevent illegal migration, action against criminal and trafficking gangs who profit from this.

Actions to strengthen the coast. The groundbreaking new returns agreement so that for the first time people are arriving on small boats can be sent back to France. And stronger action here in the UK to stop illegal working and tackle long-term system failures, which are exploited by criminal gangs to encourage people to travel to the UK. I hope the whole house will steps. Global instability continues to drive irregular and illegal migration towards Europe and towards the UK, and it is exploited and encouraged by criminal gangs who seek to make maximum profit from human misery and insecurity.

France faces challenges as well with over 150,000 people claiming asylum there in 2024. The most serious aspect we face as their dangerous small boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk. For 2018, I barely saw anyone trying to cross by boat. In the years that followed, a major criminal industry was allowed to grow and take route along our border. The number of crossings increase d 100 fold, from less than 400 in 2018 to over 40,000 x 20 23.

This has badly damaged public trust in the state to damage border control. Criminal gangs have been allowed to get away with it, leaving the asylum system in chaos. Coordinated work across Europe has been far too big, and so has been the work between the UK and our nearest neighbour for too long. As we have said before, smuggle and trafficking gangs make their money by operating across borders so governments need to cooperate across borders All the All the work All the work done All the work done by All the work done by the All the work done by the National Crime Agency this year.

And crucially you to specialist intelligent and judicial police unit in Dunkirk to speed up the arrest and prosecution of smugglers in France. Third strengthening the border. French action has presented 330 but crossings this year but an 85 have crossed. Criminal gangs are operating new tactics, increasing overcrowding of boats to more people arrived and leading them in shallow waters exploiting the French rules that mean that authorities have not been able to intervene in the water. Those tactics have driven the appalling scenes with people clambering onto crowded boat in shallow waters, disgraceful violence from gang members towards the French police and towards migrants, and people crushed to death in the middle of overcrowded boats.

We cannot stand for this. That is why the new action agreed with France includes establishing a new French company of enforcement officers with stronger public order powers to address increases in violence on French beaches and prevent boat launches before the megawatt hour. Providing training for additional drone pilots to intercept those launches, and crucially, supporting the maritime review, the new review instigated by the French Interior Minister, so they can intervene more effectively, pursuing what last week's declaration describes as a novel and innovative approach to interceptor boats and enhance maritime cooperation to ensure we adapt as a criminal gangs change their approach.

Meanwhile we are changing our domestic law to criminalise those who endanger people's lives at sea, so we can more easily prosecute those who crowd onto overcrowded boats and put other people's lives at risk. Action in both French and UK waters. The innovative approach to returns, we have increased international returns for those with no right to be in the UK. Until now, we have not been able to return people who have travelled by these dangerous and illegal boat crossings to other safe countries that they have travelled through.

Previous government tried to achieve this, indeed they promised it. But never secured an agreement to do so. Under the groundbreaking agreement announced by the prime minister and President Macron last week, individuals who arrive in the UK by small boat can for the first time be readmitted to France. This is the right thing to do. It is also an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime groups in the crossings. We have agreed to establish a safe reciprocal exchange mechanism for individuals in France who apply with appropriate documentation, to be transferred to the UK subject to clear eligibility criteria and stringent security checks.

Transfers to the UK under the new route will match the number admitted to France on a one-for-one basis. Further details of the scheme will be set out in the immigration once final arrangements are in place. This innovative agreement means people who undertake illegal dangerous journeys to the UK, putting their own and other people's lives at risk and paying money to fuel an entire criminal industry, being returned to France where the boats set off from. In return, we will take people who apply lawfully who passed security checks, with priority given to those who have a connection with the UK.

Those who are most likely to be refugees or are most honourable to smuggler gangs. Yes this is the right thing to do, establishing a principal that whilst the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict, we believe this should be done through controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous illegal or uncontrolled criminal routes. It is also the first step to undermining the promises made by current organic they tell people if they travel to the UK, they cannot be returned to the continent.

Now they can be. We will develop the pilot step-by-step and trial different approaches as part of its varying numbers and seeking the most effective ways to undermine the gangs, to reduce boat crossings, and to help France deal the problems that they face in the Calais region. The Prime Minister and French President set out the expectation that this will be operationalised in the coming weeks. Fifth, we will take strong action on illegal working and asylum failures here in the UK because for far too long it has been too easy for people to work illegally in the UK, and for employers to exploit them undercutting responsible businesses.

Already we have increased illegal working raids and arrests by 50% since the election. Already we have more than tripled the value of employer penalties issued to over £89 million. We have launched a new surge in enforcement links to the gig economy with changes in the Borders bill to compel companies to conduct proper checks on the right to work. We will also bring forward further reforms to the asylum system to prevent its operation being exploited either by gangs to encourage travel to the UK, or for people here illegally to find unfair ways to stay.

So we need to be part of the global response to irregular and illegal migration are not separate from it. Working in partnership, not just shouting and pointing at the sea. Everyone knows that there is no single silver bullet to tackle illegal migration and dangerous boat crossings. It takes time to unpick the deep roots that gangs have put down. And to build the foundations of a new cross-border approach. But that is what we are determined to do. Stronger borders, stronger law- enforcement in France and the UK, creasing returns, and building the foundations of a new long-term approach where countries cooperate to prevent illegal migration, and to ensure that there is sanctuary for genuine refugees.

No one should be making these dangerous boat journeys which undermine our border security and put lives at risk. That is why this cooperation between the UK and France is so important, and I commend this statement to the house.

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Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker

17:10

Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker sub thank Home Secretary advanced sight of the statement. The Home Secretary comes here today sounding Secretary comes here today sounding rather pleased with herself. I'm afraid she has no reason to. One year ago she promised to slash the gangs. She said again and again, that was her plan. Indeed it was her only plan. Yet today there is no mention of what was once her favourite catchphrase. That is because her claim to smash the gangs has become a joke, an embarrassment to her and to the government.

We warned law enforcement alone would not be enough. So did the National crime agency. But she did not listen, and what then happened? The 12 months following July 5 last year have been the worst such period in history for small boat crossings, 44,359, up 40% year-on-year. The first 13 days of this month have also been the worst in history. 2510 in less than two weeks, up 213% year-on-year. This calendar year so far has been the worst in history as well, up 57% on last year.

She is setting records, just all the wrong ones. These boat crossings are the worst ever. Does she accept that she has lost control of the borders and she is failing in her most basic

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duty to protect the United Kingdom? She says she has a new deal with

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She says she has a new deal with France. Yet President Macron says this needs EU agreement. Is this this needs EU agreement. Is this true? Does it need EU agreement? And if so, have they provided it? The if so, have they provided it? The deal must of course involve an agreed number. Yet when the Home Secretary was asked, she is unable Secretary was asked, she is unable to say what numbers are involved. Will she now come clean and tell Parliament what number, if any, has been agreed? If there is no agreement with the EU, and no agreed number as part of this deal, then there is no deal at all, just there is no deal at all, just vacuous spin.

The only number we have seen reported is just 50 have seen reported is just 50 illegal immigrants a week. This was put to the Prime Minister last Thursday and he did not deny it. 50 Thursday and he did not deny it. 50 each week represents only 6% of each week represents only 6% of illegal arrivals, meaning 94% could stay. Dr Shi seriously think that stay. Dr Shi seriously think that allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will be any kind of to stay will be any kind of deterrent? Her claim to smash the gangs was a gimmick, and so is her 6% returns deal.

The truth is this, the only way to fix this is to remove every single illegal arrival as sooner they get here, without judicial process, either to their country of origin, or to 1/3 country. That would be a real deterrent. We saw this approach work in Australia about 10 years ago. I'm glad your gentleman mentions that, such a scheme for the UK was ready to start in July of last year. The previous government had done all of the legal and just call work needed.

All she has to do was press Go. But she and the Prime Minister are cancelled it just days before it was due to start. As a result, we now see record numbers crossing. Will she now admit she made a terrible mistake? Will she now start a proper 100% removals deterrent? The damage done by illegal immigration on this scale is immense. Far from closing asylum hotels as they promised, there are now nearly 3000 more people in asylum hotels than at the time of the last election.

I have personally witnessed rampant illegal working from the very hotels that she runs. I saw Deliveroo, who breeds, and just e-bikes in the compound of an asylum hotel where residents have no right to work. Would she commit to ending illegal working from the very hotels that she runs? And we see reports of migrants based on hotels being charged with serious crimes, including rape and sexual assault on women and children. Louise Casey has won a significant proportion of sexual offences are committed by those seeking asylum cases.

Like the 29 year old Afghan was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. His defence counsel claimed he did not understand this was wrong due to cultural differences. This madness has to stop. The Home Secretary cancelled a proper deterrent plan just days before it was due to start. Her claim to smash the gangs lies in tatters. She has presided over the highest number of illegal small boat crossings in history. Would she now apologised to the House and to the country for her appalling failure?

17:15

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Home Secretary. Home Secretary just wants to pretend that the last eight years never happened. He knows that this crisis, the small boat scales went on for 340 weeks under the Tories. A period in which when he was Immigration Minister, overall migration near travelled. An small boat crossings increased tenfold when he was the Hundred and 28,000 people across the channel. How many were returned to France? How many were sent to Rwanda? He set himself it was zero because he didn't even want to count before volunteers.

He keeps saying that somehow... If they were ready to start, they wouldn't have called an election. The scheme had already an election. The scheme had already been running at the cost of £700 million. Since election, this government has returned over 35,000 people who have no right to be here and that is a 24% increase in enforced returns compared to the last year that his party was in charge. It is a 28% increase in failed asylum returns, compared to the last year that his party was in charge.

As for an agreement with France which he doesn't seem to want to talk about very much, I asked him about exactly this when I was home affairs committee -- Home Affairs Select Committee Chair, and I asked him what chance do we have of a bilateral agreement with France to take people who arrived here from He said five years ago that's what he was working on. In fact, he told the committee, overcoat one of our agreements will be to reach those agreement and I think it is strongly in the French national interest to agree with such a return agreement.

Those goods well, it turns out he should have been optimistic about a Labour government reaching an agreement where he failed. He also said " We plan to return as many illegal immigrants as possible. We will return these individuals back to France and we are looking to ramp up that activity." That was five years ago. The fights never went. The activity was never ramped up. The shadow justice secretary try to return people to France. The shadow justice secretary called for the UK to " Take one asylum seeker from France in return for everyone, illegal migrant, that we returned to them." Indeed, he even said more than one.

He said when he was immigration Minister, " Some boats that are just 250 yards away from the French coast have not been stopped by the authorities. This must change." I agree but that was five years ago and he did not change a thing. They never understood that you don't change things by jumping up and down and shouting about them. It needs partnership working and hard graft. That's what this government has done.

17:19

Clive Efford MP (Eltham and Chislehurst, Labour)

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Can I congratulate the Prime Minister and my right honourable friend on succeeding in an agreement deal with France. It shows that treating people with respect can actually get results. And treating them with contempt in a way that the Conservatives did throughout this issue was never going to provide a solution. Can she confirm, of those before volunteers of the government paid, that each of them was paid to provide free housing, free university education and free private healthcare? Who approves that funding within the Department?

17:19

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I can confirm that the deal that the previous government did with Rwanda involved paying £150,000 for every single individual to cover food and accommodation and healthcare, as he said, for five years, so those bills do continue. There was a concern raised by the accounting officer so a direction had to be given on the basis that ministers were advised. It was not value for money but they continued regardless.

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Liberal Democrat spokesperson. Thank you very much. I'm grateful

17:20

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you very much. I'm grateful for the statement. We want to stop for the statement. We want to stop these dangerous channel crossings that first ballooned under the former Conservative government. Cross-border cooperation will be key to achieving this and it is clearly -- there is clearly a lot of work needed after the Conservatives ripped up the returns agreement that allowed us to send illegal migrants back to Europe. I was very interested to hear the shadow home secretary quote President Macron.

He did not quite mention the section of President Macron's remarks that have attributed this problem to the Brexit deal the last Conservative government could do. This deal is a step in the right direction and I sincerely hope it works. But people will be understandably sceptical that such a small scheme act at this stage as an effective deterrent. Questions still need to be answered around how and when the UK and French governments will decide to scale up the pilot so I would welcome more details from the Home Secretary of this.

Feels like this are only part of the solution. The Home Secretary mentioned among other things placing officers within Europe. Will she facilitate creating a stronger UK leadership role in Europe to make it easier to crackdown on the trafficking gangs between these crossings? Does she acknowledge we will be able to fully take the power out of these gangs until we provide regulated entry for refugees to the UK question at one of the best deterrents for putting people off is for applications to be processed quickly so that those were granted status can integrate and contribute to our community and for those with no right to be here to be sent back swiftly? Could the secretary update the house and the average time it takes to process an asylum application after arrival in Britain shows -- shores and how has that changed since last year? I fear the government risks repeating the Conservatives mistakes and getting to grips with this problem, something we all want them to do.

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I thank the honourable member for her questions. The Prime Minister

17:22

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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her questions. The Prime Minister and French President set out the expectation that we will be able to operationalise this to begin the pilot in the coming weeks. The numbers will vary and it is a pilot that will need to be developed. We mean to try different approaches as part of it. I think that is the right and sensible approach. The principle underpinning this is the right one. This is that we should be returning people who have paid money to criminal gangs to come on this dangerous journey that puts other people's lives as well as their own at risk on small boats.

It also undermines our border security. In exchange for taking people who apply legally who are more likely to be genuine refugees, who have been through security checks, or have prioritising people who have a connection with the UK. It is also a way to help undermine the business model of criminal gangs who tell people that there is no way to be returned to France or to any other country if they get on one of these dangerous, small boats and the use that as part of the advertising, and that is something we should be seeking to undermine.

She is right, it has to be alongside stronger law enforcement and that is alongside stronger cooperation we have been building including the new prosecution and investigation unit in Dunkirk to work with our national crime agency and also our Border Security Command as well. We are also significantly speeding up asylum decision-making, bringing the backlog down. We are also taking action to speed up the appeals system because that is an area that is causing delays as a result of the broken system that we inherited.

17:24

Chris Murray MP (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Labour)

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We did not have a small boat crossings 10 years ago, as the Home Secretary points out, and a large part of the reason is because we left the EU without any returns agreement or asylum organisation incorporated into the Withdrawal Agreement. To the Home Secretary confirm that this is actually completely unprecedented. Can I also note that this comes off the back of a very highly successful state visit from President Macron. We have come a long way from a minister questioning whether it is friend or foe.

President Macron is our friend and our foe is the people smugglers. How does she envisage scaling up and how does she envisage the UK-EU relation will have to adapt in the future to accommodate this?

17:25

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I can tell him that we will want to develop this and we will do so in partnership with France. He is right that we will secure this cooperation together and have an impact together, just as successive game -- governments have strengthened cooperation with France through controls, through different border security arrangements and checks around lorries, around clandestinely journeys, and that cooperation strengthened our border security. It strengthened our border security. It has just not been done on small boats.

Building the security cooperation that we have done in the past but has not been done on small boats. That is what is so important. We will build that cooperation because we will best strengthen our border security by working with countries on the other side of those borders who face exactly the same challenges as far better than just standing at the shore shouting at the sea.

17:26

Rt Hon John Glen MP (Salisbury, Conservative)

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Thank you. I always try to avoid rhetoric in this matter. My party lost a significant numbers of MPs because of our failure to deliver on a number of issues prior to the election. I've listened very carefully to the honourable lady. I've listened to what she said about stronger partnerships, stronger law enforcement action, and groundbreaking returns agreement is. But does she not recognise that the scale of the problem, as evidenced by the numbers since the general election, and the scale of public concern requires a much bigger solution than what is proposed? Without a significant deterrent on a much bigger scale, she is not going to fix this problem to public satisfaction.

17:27

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Home Secretary. dangerous boat crossings. They undermine border security and they put lives at risk. What we have seen is the change in the way that the criminal gangs have been operating over the six months. Firstly, to increase the overcrowding substantially increase the number of people in boats. That is putting their lives at risk. Secondly, to ensure they exploit the French rules about not interviewing in French waters -- not intervening in French waters which has led to disgraceful scenes.

People crowding onto those boats from the water. That's why we have to tackle those issues. That's why the UK is changing our law so we can prosecute people who are endangering other people's lives by climbing onto these bigger credit both. And this is why France has instigated this French maritime review so they can intervene in French waters. The French interior minister and I have been working on these developments over several months and I think it is right that we build that cooperation.

Is also right that there is no single solution. We need comprehensive action on every single aspect of this in order to make a difference, to strengthen our border security and to save lives.

17:28

Ms Stella Creasy MP (Walthamstow, Labour )

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I'm sure that the Home Secretary shares my frustration that actually we could have been much further along with a returns agreement. Apparently the shadow immigration minister admitted to a Conservative party members meeting in May that before we left the European Union, has government had worked out that we would be able to return people -- we would not be able to return people under the hard Brexit deal that they were negotiating. Could she outline for us what this will mean for someone applying from France because this is going to be a safe route and therefore it is a very welcome movement for those of us who recognise the horrors in Calais, the limbo we leave people in and the importance of using this to dissuade people from getting onto a dangerous boat because there is a legal mechanism that they could be used that they could use to be reunited with their families?

17:29

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Her question is an important one. We will set out the detail in the immigration rules once the final arrangements are ready to operationalise. We will set out the way in which people will be able to apply from France full stop they will need to have proper identification and also to go through security checks. Once people have applied, we will then set prioritisation decisions, including around whether people have connections to the UK. Also whether people have, are most likely to be from countries which are most likely to be refugees, and also most likely to be targeted by the smuggler and trafficking gangs, and we will set out that detail in due course.

But out that detail in due course. But part of the reason for this being because it has to go alongside returns of people who are paying huge amounts of money to pay the smuggling industry and also to make sure that we simultaneously

17:31

Pete Wishart MP (Perth and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party)

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This is a grubby grotesque little deal which trades live on a selection of who qualifies for this one in one out basis was to this means we will now have different classes and it does nothing to address the crisis that compels people to make this dangerous journey in the first place. It is a gimmick due to fail and to people not work. If there is one thing that can smash the gangs with one simple blow, and that is to have safe and legal routes which worked so perfectly the past people to come to this country.

17:31

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I want to say, the small boat crossings are dangerous, they put lives at risk. We have seen people drowning and also been crushed to death on these overcrowded boats. And it is being driven and organised by cruel gangs who will do anything they can to profit from these dangerous journeys. I say to him, the whole point about having the one to one approach with France is that we will return people who come on those dangerous boat crossings, pay money to the Kringle gangs, and frankly should be returned or part of the returns arrangements.

In return we will take those who apply lawfully, go through the application process and go through security checks. I think that principle is the right one. UK, as we have shown through Ukraine and Hong Kong, will always do its bit to help those fleeing persecution and conflict. However we think there should be much stronger enforcement we should not have this illegal migration that undermines border security and puts lives at risk in the channel.

17:33

Jacob Collier MP (Burton and Uttoxeter, Labour)

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Under the Tories, we had Liz Truss question whether France was actually an ally. To do here last week as the Macron's words, it is nice that Britain has friends once again. In the 340 weeks the party opposite were in charge of the small boats crisis, they sent no one back to France in just four people back to Rwanda. Does the Home Secretary agree with me the way you get result is working with international partners and operating them?

17:33

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I do think we should be working with international partners. That is how we will get the cooperation. Cruel gangs operate across borders, we need government and law enforcement to cooperate across borders to take those gangs down. And to get returns in place as well. The Conservatives did claim they were going to get those bilateral returns agreement in place. That is what they claimed in 2020 and 2021. That is what a claim for years. They claimed again in 2023, that they would seek to do it.

They failed year after year to do it because all they did was shout at France and other countries instead of doing the hard graft get agreement in place.

17:34

Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. This is about principle and practice. The principle is that every country has both the right and duty to secure its borders, and I agree with the Home Secretary that global instability continues to drive illegal migration. I agree with her that we need cooperation upstream. I agree with her previous governments have done far too little. But the scale of this problem requires more than she is offering today. The trend is up, if it continues, 85,000 people cross illegally.

Each knowing they are coming here illegally. This requires much more emphatic action. Everyone who comes should be incarcerated, or those who can be returned should be. And we must recognise the asylum system is being gamed on an industrial scale. What evidence does she have that hostile states and organised criminals are using this as a route to get people into this country to do still more harm? To

17:35

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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We need action right across the board, from the prevention working in partnership with countries like Iraq for example, that we are strengthening, right through to the law enforcement and increased action of the criminal gangs. And also the border security itself an action on the French coast and in the channel in French waters. And also the returns arrangements and strengthening returns arrangements and action here in the UK. Whether that be on illegal working or whether it be on reforms to the asylum system.

I do think that we also need to be clear that they have to be strong standards around issues around criminality. Anyone who comes to the UK through whatever route needs to abide by our laws, and that needs to be in force. He will be aware we have put in place new measures to strengthen the criminality checks the asylum system. To have much stronger action as part of that board as well. I

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hope you will support it rather than voting against it. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I welcome that we have a Home

17:36

Jo White MP (Bassetlaw, Labour)

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Secretary willing to do what it takes to stop those small boats? The French are claiming that the ability to work illegally in the UK is what most influences people willing to take the dangerous journey across the channel. Can Home Secretary outline what she will do to cut down

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illegal working and cut down those incentives? My honourable friend is right. It has been way too easy to work illegally in this country for far

17:37

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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illegally in this country for far too long. And that is why since the election already, we have increased the illegal working rates by 50%. We have increased the penalties for employers who are exploiting illegal migration undercutting responsible respectable businesses. We have increased those penalties by one third. We have to go further. In particular we know this is being exploited in the gig economy where there aren't proper checks in place. So we will change the law. We are bringing in a new law to involve crackdown in the gig economy alongside the surge in immigration alongside the surge in immigration enforcement and biometric checks to be able to check people's fingerprints and check they are on the spot.

We have to have a stronger enforcement and the stronger rules in place. It is a real shame that all the opposition parties, conservatives and Reform voted against the illegal working rules.

17:38

Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)

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Does the Home Secretary agree with President Macron's analysis last week, the reason people want to come here is because the UK is perceived as being attractive to illegal migrants? What he referred to as the pull factors, and what one of his MPs referred to as Britain being El Dorado. If she does agree with the French President, what is she doing to reduce the pull

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factors? As I just set out in the previous answer, I think frankly it has been too easy to work illegally in this too easy to work illegally in this country for too long. And we know that one of the things criminal gangs say to people is, it will be easy to get a job. They even will have people discount they can come and work for those same criminal and work for those same criminal gangs operating in the UK. We know it is part of the way criminal gangs advertise and try and promote their advertise and try and promote their dangerous and illegal business.

That dangerous and illegal business. That is why we cannot stand for this kind of illegal working for it is why we are not only increasing the raids, that arrests are up 50% just in the that arrests are up 50% just in the space of this year compared to last year when his party was in power. And we are strengthening the law. I And we are strengthening the law. I hope he will urge his party to support this law rather than continually voting against it.

17:39

Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central, Labour )

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continually voting against it. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the work the Home Secretary welcome the work the Home Secretary is done with the border security bill that has the antiterrorist style powers to tackle crossing. As she has outlined, dealing with some of these delivery companies who are continuing to hire people arrive on the boats is absolutely critical. I know she said she is bringing in legislation to make it legal. Can she confirm this will be robustly implemented? It is these delivery companies, we know they are, but they are incentivising the boat companies and threatening our national security.

17:40

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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My honourable friend is right. Although some of the delivery companies have said that they will do stronger checks, in practice it is just not happening for top our legal immigration for teams of finding too many cases when they go and do the raids, where the rules are being broken and people are working have no right to do so. And who are here illegally as well. That is why we are increasing the raids, the arrests, and why we also have to change the law so that whether it be delivery companies or other organisations in the gig economy, they have to take some responsibility and not just find that they are making profit from exploiting illegal migration which in the end fuels the work of criminal gangs.

17:41

Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)

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More persecution and climate change means more and more people are fleeing homes for their safety. The Home Secretary talked of the need for compressive action on every single aspect of this, it's a government has cut international aid by £6 billion, other government, the US government has cut its age so dramatically. Does she not agree that without adequate international aid and cooperation to tackle such factors at the source, you're simply setting ourselves up for more humanitarian crises and more

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migration pressures? The honourable Member will know

17:41

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The honourable Member will know the difficult decision we have had to take around overseas aid, in to take around overseas aid, in order to ensure that we can increase the defence investment that we need to keep our country safe. But he is also right that we need to work internationally in order to prevent dangerous journeys but in order to make sure that people can get century and support without having to make dangerous journeys in the first place. That kind of international cooperation to do so, whether it be through the kinds of Resettlement Scheme's that we have run through Ukraine for example, or through much more targeted work closer to home, it is the international cooperation that matters.

17:42

Oliver Ryan MP (Burnley, Independent)

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Can I welcome the action today, she is producing serious solutions. It is now 80 days since a member of Clacton told the world, a competitive strategy has been drafted for the deportation of illegal migrants. Has she seen that strategy yet or any detail on their plans? A Frenchman wrote that Phineas Fogg travel the world in 80 days, does she think that leader of Reform has been too busy travelling

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the world to produce any strategy at all? He certainly has been travelling

17:43

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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around the world, sadly not here today, once more, we are discussing these issues in Parliament. Reform are serious about being able to take action against criminal gangs, while on earth did they vote against the counterterrorism powers to go after them in the first place? Sadly their approach to one in one out seems to simply be about the Parliamentary Parties Panels.

17:43

Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP (North West Hampshire, Conservative)

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I have been a bit taken aback by the lack of ability shown by the Home Secretary in the face of what has been a catastrophic first 12 months in terms of the crossing numbers. It might have been better for her to acknowledge that smash the gangs, which she was was told to make the failure, has been so. We should be grateful that she has finally reached for the briefing note left in the Home Office and in number 10, what about the returns agreement but about a response agreement.

I offer congratulations for her getting the deal over the line with a friend. She will know will only be effective, I do think this has always been the only solution for top Juno will only be effective if we can get to a high percentage of returns to France. Two questions, firstly, what further incentive could she offer to the French to go beyond this relatively small pilot? And given that we are offering swaps and the theory is no one will then cross would she be willing to pay two for once what? And she pointed out, the gangs will react, so does she plan a deal with the Belgians? To first of all I

17:46

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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disagree with him on the issue around a communal gangs because I around a communal gangs because I think whatever you do you have to have much stronger enforcement of the current organza. I was whatever the current organza. I was whatever arrangements are put in place, if the gangs are given free reign to do whatever they want, they will find whatever they want, they will find other ways around any arrangement, and they will find other ways to make money. It is crucial that as make money.

It is crucial that as part of any action we take, we need stronger enforcement against German stronger enforcement against German gangs. National Crime Agency has delivered a 36% increase in high- delivered a 36% increase in high- impact disruptions in the last 12 months compared to the year before. months compared to the year before. And building the partnership with other European countries in order to other European countries in order to be able to go further. I do recognise, your woman has argued for recognise, your woman has argued for one-for-one returns before and he has done so when other people were not doing so.

I recognise the way he has argued for this, and argued for innovative approaches. And I agree innovative approaches. And I agree that we need to start with a pilot arrangement that will allow both the UK and France to trial things in a UK and France to trial things in a way that we have never done before. The previous government have a was made grand claims that somehow everything is going to be solved in the next three days. And they repeatedly failed because they did not build up the credibility and the plans and build up the systematic approach working in partnership or approach working in partnership or

17:46

Olivia Bailey MP (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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I applaud the Shadow Home Secretary for his valiant approach to -- attempt to sound valiant this afternoon. This government has rebuilt relationships and avert a groundbreaking returns agreement that they would have given their right arm for. -- Agreed a groundbreaking returns agreement.

17:47

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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She is right that the previous government did try at different stages to do the kinds of things that we are setting out, but the trouble is they allowed the relationship with friends to deteriorate to such a point that a different point they were doing diplomacy by social media, by different tweets at each other. That did not get the agreements in place did not get the agreements in place that we need. It's important that we have a good relationship in order to strengthen our border security and that is what successive governments have done until recent years.

17:47

Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield, Reform UK)

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I've never heard such pathetic drivel from the Home Secretary drivel from the Home Secretary before. It is about the French warships that pick them up halfway and bring them to our border. Does she agree with me that British Border Force should take these illegal migrants stay -- straight back to France?

17:48

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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No one should be making these are dangerous crossings. It undermines border security and put lives at risk. I would say to him if he really cares about stopping boats and stopping the criminals that organise them, why has him and his party repeatedly brought in against bringing counterterrorism powers to go after the gangs? Why have they voted against strengthening rules for governing get economy? Time and again, they just vote against because they don't actually want to solve the problem.

They just want to moan about it. They don't actually want to change anything with friends. To get France to intervene in French waters as this government has been working to get France to do. And said, all they want to do is shout at the sea.

17:49

Paul Waugh MP (Rochdale, Labour )

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And Egyptian economic migrant was interviewed by the BBC in Calais. He

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