Commons Chamber

Tuesday 2nd September 2025

(began 3 months ago)

Share Debate
Watch Live
Skip to latest contribution
This debate has concluded
11:34
None Portrait Speaker's Statement Mr Speaker
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order, Order, order. Order, order. The Order, order. The clerk Order, order. The clerk will
11:34
11:35
11:35
11:36
None Portrait Q1. What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to the Official Development Assistance budget on UK-supported humanitarian and development programmes overseas. (905354)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Question number one.
11:36
11:37
11:38
11:38
11:38
11:39
11:39
11:40
None Portrait Q2. What assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Sudan. (905355)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Question number two. Can I just begin by acknowledging
11:40
11:40
11:41
11:41
11:42
11:43
11:43
11:44
11:44
11:44
None Portrait Q3. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure humanitarian aid can reach people in Gaza. (905356)
-

Question number three, Mr Speaker.
11:44
11:45
11:46
11:46
11:47
11:47
11:48
11:48
11:49
11:50
11:50
11:51
11:51
11:51
11:52
11:52
None Portrait Q4. What discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the Chagos Islands. (905357)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Number four. The Diego Garcia military base is
11:52
11:53
11:53
11:54
11:55
11:56
11:56
Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
-
-
However many times the honourable gentlemen or the right honourable lady or the Conservative party in the emails to supporters make this claim about the cost it does not mean that they are true. It is not. The 30 billion figure is inaccurate and misleading. It is wrong to ignore the cost of inflation, the changing value of money over the real cost of a deal that last 99 years. The figures are verified by the Government actress department, they draw on long established methodology on these issues.

I set out the costs, we were not scrimp national security and quite frankly, the brass neck from the party opposite of the dis-investing in our Armed Forces and our defence over

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the entire time they were in office, I think it is quite extraordinary. Question number five.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

We are deeply concerned about the situation in Georgia. I have situation in Georgia. I have discussed this with my honourable friend on a number of occasions. We are working closely with European are working closely with European allies to protect democracy in Georgia. I convened in June a meeting of European partners to discuss and address the democratic discuss and address the democratic backsliding Georgia. On 11 July, the Foreign Secretary also condemned the detention of opposition leaders in a statement with European foreign Ministers.

We remain committed to

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Ministers. We remain committed to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path and democratic norms. Can I join you Mr Speaker in congratulating the Minister on his
11:58
11:58
11:59
11:59
12:00
12:01
12:01
12:02
12:02
12:03
12:04
None Portrait Q8. What steps he is taking to support a ceasefire in Gaza. (905362)
-

Question number eight.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

With your permission, I will
12:04
12:05
12:06
12:06
12:07
12:08
12:08
12:09
12:10
12:10
12:11
12:11
12:11
12:12
12:13
12:13
12:14
12:14
12:15
12:15
12:16
12:17
12:18
12:18
12:19
12:19
12:20
None Portrait Topical questions: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

We now come to Topicals.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Question number one.
12:20
12:21
12:21
12:21
12:22
12:22
12:23
12:23
12:24
12:25
12:25
12:26
12:27
12:27
12:27
12:28
12:28
12:29
12:29
12:29
12:30
12:31
12:31
12:32
12:32
12:33
12:34
12:34
12:35
12:35
12:35
12:36
12:37
12:38
12:38
12:38
12:39
12:39
12:40
12:40
12:40
12:41
12:41
12:42
12:43
12:43
None Portrait Ministerial statement: Insolvency of Speciality Steel UK LTD
-

Now comes the statement from Minister Sarah Jones.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I would like to make a statement
12:44
Sarah Jones Portrait Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

I would like to make a statement regarding the insolvency of regarding the insolvency of Speciality Steel UK, Part of the Liberty Steel Group. The company has now entered liquidation, following August 20. First and foremost, the government stands with the affected steel workers in Rotherham, Sheffield, and we stand with their families and the communities who will undoubtedly be worried at this very difficult time. I would like to reassure them and all of those employed by Liberty and Speciality SteelS that we are working with the trade unions and the Mayor of South Yorkshire and the councils and those from affected constituencies to offer all the help that we can.

I want to stress that there will be no immediate changes to the current operation of the business, including employees' jobs and following the employment of special managers, the stakes have been secured and the employee payroll has been processed within 24 hours and other Liberty Steel outside including Liberty Town and Hartlepool, are not affected. An official receiver has been appointed as liquidator by the court. Honourable members will know that they operate outside of government with statutory duty to operate in the best interests of creditors.

Yesterday, I laid a departmental minute, defied the House of the continuing liability associated with the intervention and I regret that due to this liquidation taking place in recess, we have not been able to follow the normal notice period of 14 parliamentary sitting days but there will be a limit placed in the lobby of both houses. The government has agreed to funding the official agreement and they will stabilise the operations and the official receiver will gather company information and report to us only likely next steps, including options for the business and sites of the company.

The total cost of the operation will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the official receiver but will be subject to close scrutiny by my department and the insolvency service. As the House will be aware, the company has faced severe financial and operational difficulties since 2021. Liberty Speciality SteelS had failed to publish accounts and that has led to a separate situation by the parent company and ensure the official receiver will want better information about the business up to this.

I should ensure that the director of the company is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office for fraudulent trade and money laundering. I am sure honourable members will agree it would be inappropriate for the government to enter into commercial government to enter into commercial This government will always take difficult decisions when in the country's interest. That is why we acted with the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe. In the case of Liberty Steel, the lack of transparency, the legal risks and the lack of reliable corporate information means we had no credible route out before insolvency.

It is also worth noting that Liberty Speciality Steels uses electric arc furnace technology that can be powered up or down as needed. Although it should be noted that these furnaces have not been operating since July of last year, that was the situation that we inherited. The circumstances in Scunthorpe were of course fundamentally different. British still operates the UK's last remaining blast furnaces, assets that one shutdown cannot simply be restarted. Allowing those blast furnaces to be close pre-emptive would have removed our ability to make strategic choices about the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe and that was not a position that the government was prepared to accept.

Scunthorpe was therefore a truly exceptional situation and that is why we undertake the unprecedented step of implementing the steel industry special measures act to maintain the same operation of the blast furnaces. The situation with Liberty Speciality Steels is not comparable in that way. The company was issued with a winding up order by the High Court due to long- standing financial issues. Spending taxpayers money on a company operating in such a way would have exposed taxpayers to hundreds of millions, potentially billions of pounds, in hidden costs.

All that said, I very much believe that these steelmaking site in Rotherham and stop edge, brings word and Wednesbury have a future. And I am keen to see them return to production. This has to be achieved by private investment, by an owner that can invest in the workforce and the future of the business, so they can put it on a long-term sustainable footing. We know the business environment has not been good enough UK steel industry, which is why we are already making substantial changes to secure a stronger future for it.

I will say more about the steps we are taking shortly. In the case of Liberty Speciality Steels, goes about saying the company's hard-working employees are key to turning these sites around. Their skills and expertise will be essential to delivering that brighter future. However, in its current state, producing only minimal volumes of steel, with many employees still on furlough, we know some tough choices lie ahead. It is now the official receiver to determine the next steps in the insolvency process.

But let me be clear, this government will stand by the workforce and do all it can to support them through this period of uncertainty. Despite the challenges facing the steel sector today, after years of neglect under the previous government, we believe this industry will bounce back and grow stronger tomorrow. This Government is doing everything it can to make that happen. We are pressing ahead with the bold still strategy for the UK, set to be published later this year. That strategy will set out our vision for a competitive decarbonising resilient domestic steel industry.

Our approach is clear, we want the UK steel sector to thrive, with strong private investment and commercially sustainable operations at its core. And our new industrial strategy we have already announced some major policy changes to increase the future viability of the steel industry. We are reducing electricity costs for steel producers by increasing network charge discounts through supercharger from 60% to 90%. We are changing government procurement rules via the publication of a new steel public procurement notice to ensure UK made still is considered for all public projects.

-- Steel. We are carrying -- strengthening measures to ensure steel producers won't be undercut while also making sure the UK has a steady and reliable supply. Honourable members will know we have also secured a much improved deal for workers at Port Talbot, something the opposition repeatedly said could never be achieved. And we delivered it alongside a 500 Commonwealth Youth Programme to support the transition to low carbon electric art -- art production. I was proud to attend the groundbreaking event in July whichever Tata group.

We will continue to work hand-in-hand with this vital British industry to ensure its long-term success. Let there be no doubt, if Liberty Speciality Steels we will pursue every option to keep steelmaking in Rotherham, Sheffield, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands. We will offer all possible support to the independent official receiver on this all-important next phase and we will continue to work with honourable members across the House to ensure the UK remains a proud steelmaking country now and for many years to come.

I commend this statement to the house.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am very grateful to the Minister for advanced site of this Minister for advanced site of this statement today. But Mr Speaker, here we are again. Another day, another government, a takeover of a key British manufacturing plant. key British manufacturing plant. Another one and 1/2 thousand jobs. One and half thousand people who are facing an incredibly uncertain facing an incredibly uncertain future and the prospect of
12:52
Gareth Davies Portrait Gareth Davies MP (Grantham and Bourne, Conservative)
-
-
future and the prospect of significant job losses. Alongside, by the way, the wider economic impact across supply chains, in aerospace, defence and power generation, that would result from the collapse of this specialist steelwork. And despite so many warm words about the steel industry, despite so many Labour promises to the people who have worked their whole lives in the steel industry and despite the impression of superiority while in opposition, this Labour Government is failing British industry. It is failing to provide certainty of policy, of economic growth, that it said was its central mission.

And it is failing to get a grip on the issues that affect thousands of peoples lives, working people's lives. She says she wants to provide certainty to the steel industry and the people who work in it. She says we can expect a bold strategy, a bold steel strategy for the UK. But where is it? They are not new anymore, they have been in power for a year now. And still no clarity on this supposedly bold strategy. The British steel industry is now in a situation where it is facing a jewelled fierce set of pressures.

-- Dual fierce set of pressures. On 25% US tax and continued high energy costs. We all know their energy costs in this country are too high and yet they have been driven only higher by this government ideological obsession with prioritising decarbonisation over economic growth. Back in May, Liberty Steel warned it faced significant challenges due to soaring energy costs. But instead of focusing on tackling the underlying causes of expensive energy, we have seen the Energy Secretary hacking windmills, while leaving Britain's oil and gas industry in the doldrums.

Leaving our amazing British oil and gas, our greatest energy source, trapped under the North Sea. It is economic illiteracy, aimed at satisfying their own green obsessions. From steel to chemicals, two cars, builders and makers across Britain are paying the price of this Government's socialist green agenda. And it is their workers and investors who will lose out. On tariffs, despite the economic prosperity agreed by the Prime Minister and President Trump, the agreement provisions, lowering US tariffs on UK produced steel and steel derivative products has still not come into effect.

The government has repeatedly avoided answering questions in this House on when this agreement will come into effect. And we heard absolutely no mention whatsoever of this in the statement today or in the note yesterday. So I ask again today, when will the provisions lowering US tariffs on UK steel come into effect? Of course, even if these provisions do eventually come to fruition, steelworkers should be aware of this Government who has over promised and under delivered before, with devastating impacts for workers.

Just look at Jaguar Land Rover. The Prime Minister looks workers dead in the eyes and promised he would protect the industry and save their jobs. The Prime Minister then used these workers as Labour propaganda, across television and front pages as a photo opportunity, when the UK US deal was announced. Then, little over two months later, Jaguar Land Rover announced it was cutting 500 jobs. The very same workers who were promised everything by the Prime Minister, left out in the cold this Labour Government inability to secure a better trading relationship with our closest ally.

So let's today change get some clarity on what exactly this Minister has done and will do for the British workers impacted at Liberty Steel stop firstly, she announced that the government has agreed to funding the official receiver...

**** Possible New Speaker ****

No, no, just a minute... It is the Minister himself, I'm sure he'll

**** Possible New Speaker ****

come to a conclusion. I have lots of questions, I will ask just two very quickly.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

... Please... I will, Mr Speaker. What is the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I will, Mr Speaker. What is the budget for the official receiver? She has not laid out any cost, she said it is related to market said it is related to market conditions that has not set out any estimates. She knows the Treasury will have approved estimates, so please set those out. The Government has made the National Wealth Fund allocate 2.5 allocate 2.5 billion to British Steel. Can she assure us British Steel. Can she assure us that they will follow the investment allocation that assures their operational...



**** Possible New Speaker ****

operational... Order, please, it is not
12:58
12:58
Sarah Jones Portrait Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)
-
-
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just to explain to the shadow minister how this system works. The government has not taken over control. That is not the process of the official receiver. The official receiver was appointed following a court case which began in 2024, it has been very long, very arduous case. And he hopefully will understand that I cannot set out the cost of the official receiver at this point because the official receiver has only just begun the work that he is doing.

It is very early days and we cannot be specific. We know the numbers will be in the millions as opposed to more substantial because the company is not operating in a knob itself and what we should doing is ensuring the salaries are paid, which I hope the whole house will agree the right thing for us to be doing. There are companies that will be coming forward that will be offering interest in buying parts of the company and it will be for the official receiver to look at that and see what the process we should go through.

And I cannot give him the actual numbers on that and I hope the whole House will understand why not. In terms of his wider point, if this Government had not intervened, thousands of people would have lost their... In Scunthorpe and that was about. If this Government cannot intervene we would not have had a better deal the workers import over and we would not have been there supporting them where they are transitioning, we would not be there supporting the building of the electric arc furnace that began back in July.

He asked what this Government is already done, we have already changed the rules on procurement. I worked closely with colleagues in the Cabinet Office on that to make sure that where government is spending money, we are spending money where we can on British business, something his government failed to do. On energy prices we have committed to reduce prices through the reduction in costs that will come from the expansion of the supercharger. Something his government failed to do. We are working on a bold strategy that we will publish this year that will build on that, whether it comes to trade predictions, which we have already taken measures on, when it is about as scrap policy, R&D, jobs, friendships, skills, we will have a bold strategy because we believe in steel.

-- Apprenticeships. Unlike the previous government who said that manufacturing was a Victoria pursue best left to the Chinese, we pursue best left to the Chinese, we
13:01
13:02
13:04
Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
Can I start by associating the Liberal Democrats with the remarks of the Minister in terms of support for the affected families and communities and we welcome the Minister coming to the House to provide some clarity. Steel is a sector of strategic importance for the country, providing vital materials for infrastructure, from Defence, renewable energy, creating thousands of jobs across the UK. The neglect of the industry is part of the disastrous legacy of the previous government with the disastrous war of Putin in Europe and Trump securing economic turmoil with tariffs and that is why the Liberal Democrats believe nothing should be off the table and supporting the sector.

For too long, the sector has been neglected with the Conservative government overseeing a string of disastrous deals and the placing of new trade barriers. In light of the latest insolvency, will the Minister set out what actions the government is taking to set the industry on a truly sustainable footing? What assurance can they provide that job losses will be avoided in the future and what process is being made to bring down industrial electricity prices through the measures outlined in the strategy. What are we doing to convince President Trump to drop the damaging 25% tariffs on steel imports.

What steps are being taken to treat steel as a national asset it is to ensure more steel made in Britain is used to power infrastructure projects in the UK?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the honourable lady for
13:06
13:07
13:08
13:09
13:10
13:11
13:12
13:13
13:14
13:15
13:16
13:17
13:17
13:18
13:18
13:19
13:20
13:21
13:22
13:23
13:23
13:24
13:25
13:25
13:26
13:27
13:27
13:28
13:28
13:29
13:30
13:30
13:31
13:31
13:32
13:33
13:33
13:34
13:35
13:36
13:36
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-
the progress being made to deliver Baroness Casey's recommendations following her national audit on child sexual were and abuse. It was published before the summer recess. The sexual exportation and abuse of children by grooming gangs are the most horrific and despicable crimes. Girls as young as 10 exploited abuse and brutally raped by gangs of men. And then disgracefully let down again and again by the authorities that were meant to protect them. These despicable crimes have caused the most unimaginable harm to victims and survivors throughout their lives, and they are a stain on our society.

Baroness Casey's report chronicled more than a decade of inaction on these appalling crimes by previous governments despite repeated warnings and recommendations. But this government will not lose any more time in pursuing truth and justice for victims and survivors. They deserve so much better. That is why on 16 June, the Home Secretary made abundantly clear that this government would accept all of the 12 Baroness Casey's recommendations colluding the establishment of a new statutory national inquiry to group based child sexual.

And new national policing operation to get more perpetrators behind bars. Since then we have made significant strides in laying the foundations for a robust survivor centred national inquiry. And establishing a national policing inquiry. You're continuing to drive forward the major work streams that were already well underway to tackle were already well underway to tackle these abhorrent crimes. I will first update the house on the progress made to establish a new national policing operation, to get perpetrators to exploit abuse and harm children behind bars where they belong.

Today I can announce that the operation has been established. It will be overseen by the National Crime Agency and delivered in partnership with policing including the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Task Force, and the tackling organised exportation program. From the first time, this new national policing operation is bringing together all of the relevant policing partners under one operation. To ensure a swift and specialist law enforcement response to grooming gang offending. This clarity reproaches ensuring that long-term investigative capability built across police and best practice is standard.

Ending an unacceptable postcode lottery for victims and survivors. This new national operation will eliminate inconsistencies on how cases are handled across forces, and ensure that there is no hiding place for perpetrators. Victims and survivors are central to this operation, and a trauma informed practice will be at its core. I have been meeting over the summer survivors and their support organisations on this issue. This work is already well underway. In January, the Home Secretary asked police forces to identify cases involving grooming and child exploitation had been closed with no further action.

To pursue lines of inquiry and reopen investigations where appropriate. As a result of that commission, 1073 cases have now been identified for full review. And with the new national operation has identified 216 highest priority cases that are those involving an allegation of rape. These are being accelerated as a matter of urgency. We expect policing to meticulously pore over these cases, and work with associated victims to relentlessly pursue perpetrators who should be behind bars. It includes the ongoing investigation relating to South Yorkshire police and the handling of report into reports of child sexual abuse in Rotherham.

Following discussions between the independent office for police conduct, South Yorkshire police and the National Crime Agency, I can confirm it has been formally agreed that the investigation will now be carried out at the NCA under that direction and control of the IOPC. Alongside these ongoing reviews, the operation will also provide additional support for police forces to conduct complex investigations and to ensure that specialist best practices being adopted consistently across the country. I want to thank the CSC Task Force for the way they have helped preparing the way forward.

I can announce today that in the first year of this government that we were in office, from July last year until 2025, the Task Force contributed 827 arrests nationwide, an 11% increase on the previous year. To bolster this vital work I want to update the House that last month I announced the government would be injecting £426,000 of new funding to the tackling organised exportation program which is in addition to the £8.8 million we are already investing in the program this year.

The new funding will enable access to be extended to a suite of cutting-edge investigative apps and digital stools stored within a secure environment, to all police forces in Eglin and Wales. In addition to the 15 police forces which are already utilising the tools, following my announcement of a further investment, another 10 forces are currently on boarding. The expansion crucially supports the first phase of the operation. Police officers will be able to access the AI-enabled tools to assist with detecting and investigating child sexual abuse and exportation.

This includes a tool for translation of foreign language text from seized mobile devices, and has enabled savings of an estimated £25 million so far. The data analysis and review tool analyses large amounts of digital data to identify communications patterns and relationships between suspects. relationships between suspects. Further announcements will be made by operational partners shortly. A competitive update is expected in the coming weeks setting out the full scope of the operation and the support available to those affected. We will never shy away from the facts in these cases.

Following Baroness Casey's audit, her conclusions on the disproportionate role of Pakistani heritage gangs, and building on the work of the Home Secretary has already commissioned to improve ethnicity data in these crimes, we are committed to making it a requirement to collect ethnicity and nationality data of suspects who commit child sexual and abuse offences. The Home Secretary has written to Chief Constable to signal that the current data collection across ethnicity and nationality is unacceptable, and this data must be improved as a matter of urgency.

Work is now underway looking to the annual data requirements to support this process. We are also looking at legislative options to drive forward these improvements. Finally, Baroness Casey recommended the establishment of a new statutory national inquiry that could compel targeted investigations in local areas, to get to truth and justice for victims and survivors. And to drive meaningful change in local systems and structures that had failed so many people in the past. I can confirm that the national inquiry into group based child sexual occasionally abuse will place victims and survivors firmly at its heart.

It will crucially ensure trauma informed accessible engagement for victims and survivors that reflects diverse lived experiences and minimises the risk of re- traumatised nation. The inquiry will examine how effectively safeguarding systems protects children from group based sexual exportation and abuse. And hold institutions accountable for past failings. As the Home Secretary said in June, the purpose must be to challenge what the audit described as continued denial, resistance, and legal wrangling amongst local agencies. The inquiry will consider intersections with ethnicity race and culture, and assess the safeguarding duties of public services, identifying both failures and examples of good practice.

I know everyone in the House and beyond wants to see the inquiry begin its work at the earliest opportunity. Colleagues will know that this requires the appointment of a chair 2015 nuclear agreement of terms of reference. Following the recruitment process over the summer, Home Office officials, the Home Secretary and I have met with prospective candidates for the chair of the inquiry, we are now at the final stages of that appointment process. The chair must have credibility and experience to command the confidence of victims and survivors as well as the wider public.

And meaningful engagement with victims and survivors is paramount. To support this, a dedicated panel of victims and survivors has been established which will contribute to that selection process of the chair. This is a critical milestone. Once the point is confirmed, the House will be updated at the earliest opportunity. Members across the House will understand that this process must be done properly and thoroughly. We must avoid a repeat of what happened the efforts to appoint a chair the original Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

When three chairs were appointed and subsequent he withdrew, from July 2014 onwards, prior to the eventual point of Professor Alexis Jay in 2016. A full two is after the original chair was named. We are determined to ensure it does not happen again. In line with the inquiry to act, the appointed chair will play a central role in shaping the commission's task of reference. These will be published and subject to consultation with stakeholders including victims and survivors. The inquiry is expected to run for between two and three years enabling it to examine a broad range of issues, and honouring the recommendations but it must be time-limited to deliver answers swiftly.

This has been a key request not from victims and survivors but also members across the House. The inquiry will begin identifying priority areas for review, deducting targeted local investigations and reporting findings at local and national levels. These reviews will be tailored to a specific context of each area and may involve a wide range of organisations cleaning children and families services, police, the CPS, and health and education providers and youth services, third sector organisations, and central government departments whose actions and decisions have affected what has happened locally.

Where appropriate the inquiry will issue recommendations at both local and national level. We will keep the House informed of all appointments The government will ensure this enquiry is robust and capable of delivering the truth. As we have said, we are determined to ensure that every survivor gets the support and justice they deserve, every perpetrator is put behind bars and every case, historic or current, has been investigated and every person or institution who looked the other way held accountable, that is a stain on our society and it should

**** Possible New Speaker ****

finally be removed for good. Before I caught the shadow Home Secretary, given that the Minister Secretary, given that the Minister has taken 12 minutes, I will extend
13:48
Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
-
-
has taken 12 minutes, I will extend the time allowed for both shadows to six and three.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the Minister for advanced side of the statement. Let us remember, victims are at the heart remember, victims are at the heart of this, younger girls, some only 10 years old, were groomed and gang years old, were groomed and gang raped by men of predominantly Pakistani origin. Girls like Jane, Pakistani origin. Girls like Jane, just 12 years old, when she was raped by an illegal immigrant, found raped by an illegal immigrant, found by police, instead of arresting -- by police, instead of arresting -- the rapist, they arrested Jane.

Or Anna, only 15, they told social Anna, only 15, they told social workers she had been gang raped, instead of helping her, they allowed instead of helping her, they allowed her to marry her abuser in an Islamic ceremony. The social worker Islamic ceremony. The social worker even attended the ceremony. The ringleader of the Rochdale rape ringleader of the Rochdale rape gang, was actually employed as a gang, was actually employed as a welfare rights officer by Oldham Council. In another case, a man Council.

In another case, a man tried to rescue his daughter from being raped but instead of protecting her, the police arrested protecting her, the police arrested her dad. I spoke to a mother whose daughter was raped by taxi drivers of Pakistani origin, when she complained to social services, they said if she dared to raise the matter again, she would lose her daughter. I spoke to a retired police officer who was told by a senior officer at the time to stop investigating abuse by Pakistani origin taxi drivers in Bradford because the police locally did not want to offend Bradford's Muslim community.

A former Labour MP was even told by senior Labour Party figures to stop asking questions in his constituency to avoid antagonising the Muslim community. These crimes were covered up by people in authority because so- called community relations were seen as more important than protecting younger girls. This is a disgrace. The Minister claimed, in her statement, that nothing had been done about this previously, I do not want to dwell on this, but I will remind her, it was the last government who set up the enquiry in 2014.

Set up along running enquiry, much broader, that touched on this. Started to collect data on the ethnicity of suspects, set up operations to combat sex crimes, I attended many meetings on that. Set up the grooming going task force that led to many arrests and introduced legislation to require mandatory reporting, I am glad the government is continuing that work. It is clear, however, much more is needed. But this government has had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, every step of the way.

When the rejection of Oldham's call for a national enquiry became public on 6 January, the Prime Minister smeared, far right, those supporting calls for that enquiry. That language is how these crimes got covered up in the first place. 10 days later, the government partially U-turn and announced local enquiries. On 16 June, faced with a parliamentary vote two days later, the government finally announced a full enquiry. Not because they chose to, not because they wanted to, but because they were forced to.

What the prime Minster claimed was a far-right bandwagon January had become government policy by June. Here we are, three months later, almost no progress has been made. My office has been in contact with survivors in Oldham today and they have heard nothing. Now we discover that no chair has been appointed, there are no terms of reference, there is no news on towns like Oldham or Bradford, nothing of substance at all, this is not good enough.

Will the Minister tell the House, precisely, when a chair will be appointed and when we will have the terms of reference. Will this enquiry have full statutory powers under the 2005 act? Will she confirm all 50 towns affected will be covered, will she confirm that no police force or cancel will be able to investigate themselves? And will she confirm, most importantly, this enquiry will look at those in touristy, police, CPS, councils, who covered this up because those people were more interested in appeasing certain minority communities and they were in protecting younger girls.

Finally, does she agree, those individuals responsible for deliberately covering this up should be prosecuted for misconduct in public office and if they are convicted, they should be sent to jail.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank, partially, the shadow Home Secretary, I want to correct Home Secretary, I want to correct the record, I did not say he had done nothing, I said there had been
13:54
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-
a decade of inaction on these appalling crimes. That is exactly what I said. I also answered, in my statement, many of the questions that he has asked, what I will not do, his office might have spoken to some of the victims today, I spoke to them personally last night, I keep in touch with lots of victims, what I will not do, what I will never do, is make it so that they are not involved. It takes time to make sure that this process is completely victims centred and I will...

Frankly, what I will say to him, I am sure that this is what he and others have written to me about, they will want to see that too. That is the process we are undertaking. In answer to his question, note local authority area can turn it down, I have said a number of times, it is a powerful statutory enquiry. I have to say, I have seen scaremongering, victims have written to me, to say, this will not cover people who covered things up.

Let me be clear, and have it be taken away by everybody who has the best interest at heart, it will cover what it needs to cover to uncover the truth. And no stone will be left unturned and that will make difficult conversations and if people are found, by our court system, to have undermined and have disgrace in public office, of course should be sent to prison. However, that has never happened to date. So, of course, I hope that we uncover the kind of social workers he referred to and I hope they face the full force of everything they deserved to face.

There is nothing that says anybody can avoid this, it will be up to the enquiry, which is independent, and statutory to work with areas about where this will be.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Can I thank my honourable friend
13:57
13:58
13:59
Lisa Smart Portrait Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
about this issue, in this House, our first thought must be with the victims and fivers. No child should ever suffer the trauma of sexual expedition or abuse, these crimes are abhorrent and an assault on the values of society. We carry a responsibility to act, to secure justice for victims, ensure offenders answer for their crimes and build a future where such suffering is not repeated. In 2022, Professor Alexis Jay published an independent enquiry and in June, Baroness Casey released a report on exploitation.

I am grateful to the Minister for the update on progress that would like to ask when she thinks she is likely to have invited the regulations. One of the key regulations was that the government must end the practice of out of area taxis by introducing stronger national standards for taxi licensing and driver regulation. Across Greater Manchester, we know this problem well and drivers have exploited the fragmented system by obtaining the easiest licences from councils in one area and operating elsewhere.

Many taxis working in Greater Manchester are licensed 100 miles away, in Wolverhampton. Could the Minister let us know about the work she is doing to address this issue, it feels like there is an opportunity this afternoon. Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The opportunity has not yet been taken. Will the Minister work with colleagues across the House if an amendment to the Bill is the way to achieve this to ensure this regulation can be And finally, this is something I and others have raised repeatedly, progress was hinted at in recent press reports.

Cannabis confirming policy legislation for a Hillsborough Law? As promised many times by the government. To guarantee that public officials and authorities cooperate fully with a duty of candour in cases such as

**** Possible New Speaker ****

this including the upcoming national inquiry? I thank the honourable lady, and

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the honourable lady, and to pick up on some of the things that she asked, specifically, and
14:02
14:03
14:03
14:04
14:05
14:06
14:07
14:08
14:09
14:10
14:11
14:11
14:12
14:13
14:14
14:14
14:15
14:16
14:17
14:18
14:19
14:20
14:20
14:21
14:21
14:22
14:23
14:24
14:25
14:26
14:27
14:28
14:28
14:29
14:30
14:31
14:32
14:32
14:34
14:35
14:36
14:36
14:37
14:37
14:38
14:40
None Portrait Presentation of Bills
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Sentencing Bill. Reading Second Reading what day? Tomorrow.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Tomorrow.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Tomorrow. Vehicle Registration Marks (Misuse

**** Possible New Speaker ****

and Offences) Bill. Second Reading what day? 12th of September.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

12th of September. 12th of September. Which brings

**** Possible New Speaker ****

us to the Ten Minute Rule Motion. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I
14:40
None Portrait Ten Minute Rule Motion: Babies and Infants (Allergy Guidance)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for a review of allergy guidance
14:40
Becky Gittins Portrait Becky Gittins MP (Clwyd East, Labour)
-
-
for a review of allergy guidance relating to the feeding and weaning of babies and infants, and for connected purposes. For new parents, having a child I am told is one of the most amazing and fulfilling times of their lives. I hope to be able to report back to the House and the validity of that claim later in the air. It can also be a period of huge anxiety, however. Parents are right to commend a brilliant NHS in pregnancy in the first few months of a child's life.

There will be inundated with information either via medical professionals, peers, support groups, or the internet. And of course they will make the best decision they can based on the information that they have. This is personal to me. As a long-time allergy sufferer, affecting my first child, I've been actively seeking out information on how I can best mitigate against my child growing up with some of the food allergies that I have. And I'm not alone. Rates of allergic disease such as asthma, hay fever, and food allergies have been increasing.

The UK has some of the highest rates of allergic conditions in the world. Affecting over one quarter of the population. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. In terms of interaction with the NHS, around 6% of all visits to the GP are due to allergies. And medicines to treat allergic diseases account for 10% of the total GP prescribing budget. The direct cost to the NHS are managing allergic diseases is over £1 billion per annum. In reality the cost is likely to be much higher.

The cost to the individuality sufferers and their families is greater still. With huge impacts on their lives which many of us know all too well. Increased anxiety, social isolation, and limited opportunities for things like travel and other experiences because the health risks are far too high the allergy awareness far too low. When it comes to food allergies, we know that on average two children in every classroom are affected. food allergy UK has doubled between 2008 and 2018. The scale of the problem is huge.

As allergies impact every classroom in every GP surgery in the country. Having spoken to some of the most noted allergy specialist in the country, it is clear to me that current food allergy guidance for feeding and weaning of babies and it should be reviewed with a particular focus on those children that are showing early signs of allergic disease. Better addressing allergy and primary care level 2 relatively simple but hugely effective way of moving the allergy conversation towards prevention. The government's new 10 year plan for the NHS rightly demand the focus on prevention.

Invention on allergy is about recognising the key principles that prevent severe conditions from developing rather than purely focusing on the treatment of those severe conditions is better both for the patients and the financial sustainability of our NHS. Rather than long waits to see allergy specialists in the hope of medical trials once the child has already developed an allergy, which have huge waiting lists and are sadly not effective everyone, improving our approach to allergy public health advice and primary care can be the key to preventing children from developing allergies in the first place.

The guidance should be reviewed for a number of reasons. To improve the clarity and consistency of message, to increase awareness, to help empower healthcare professionals, to ensure that ethnic minorities are not being put at a disadvantage. However, before I go into detail as to why the evidence suggests we need this review, I want to be clear about what this bill is not. The current NHS guidance is that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of the baby's life.

And continuing it into the baby's second year or beyond alongside other food is best for the development. This bill does not contradict that advice. The bill is not about changing the advice for the majority of parents. Only to those who are beginning to show signs of allergy development, which is those children severe eczema, and already showing signs of food allergy. In addition, any suggestions of early weaning for this cohort of children is to be done alongside breastfeeding. With no suggestions in studies eyesight to support this bill that breastfeeding rates are impacted by altering public health advice to better prevent allergies.

When it comes to introducing food that could trigger allergies, NHS guidance shows that delaying the introduction of peanuts and eggs beyond six to 12 months may increase the risk of developing an allergy to these foods. Report this advice is based on is almost 10 years old. In response, other countries around the world have taken a more aggressive approach to allergy prevention over the past decade. We in the UK needs to learn and adapt based on the outcomes of these different approaches.

However when we look at the medical guidance and evidence from other parts of the world including the US and some parts of Europe, it goes further. And encourages the early introduction of these allergies. This is particularly the case for children who are displaying allergies early on. The learning early about peanut allergy looked at the introduction of peanut into the diet of infants aged between four and 11 months at high risk of peanut allergy. High- risk infants were defined as those with presence of significant eczema or pre-existing egg allergy.

Published 10 years ago now, the study demonstrated that consumption of peanuts containing snack by infants who are at high risk of developing a peanut allergy prevents the subsequent of element of the allergy. Of the children who avoided peanuts, 17% developed a peanut allergy by the age of five. However only 3% of children who were randomised to eating the peanut snack developed the allergy by the age of five. In terms of guidance, the US it is recommended that children who are believed to be most likely to develop peanut allergy, infants who had severe eczema, egg allergy or both, introduce these children to peanut -containing food at between four and six months.

Or get a referral to an allergist who will give the child a skin prick test or blood test to see the child is allergic to peanuts. European guidelines make similar recommendations about the early introduction of peanut and egg Whilst NHS guidance suggests, I believe there needs to be more information given to parents when their child is showing early signs of allergy. Having spoken to young parents and parents to be, the feedback I have had is that often the information for these children inside it too difficult to find or the medical professional they are engaging with is more likely to take a safety first approach and not encourage the early introduction.

I believe that a review of the guidance will help to empower the NHS to give the best information to parents at a time when they can be at their most anxious. This must be supported by education and awareness together with training for healthcare professionals who support these parents so that the advice they give is both consistent and reflects best practice. Finally, as I touched on upstart, current lack of guidance is likely to impact young children from ethnic minority families.

Evidence suggests these children are more likely to develop an allergy and predisposed to have multiple allergies. They are more likely to be disadvantaged if there is not clear guidance on how parents can navigate those months. I ask honourable members across the House for their support with the Bill. So that we can support parents to give their children the best allergy advice and mitigate against the effects of and ultimately, in many

**** Possible New Speaker ****

cases, prevent allergic disease. The question is that the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The question is that the honourable member have used to bring in the bill. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye", and of the opinion say, "Aye", and of the contrary, "No". The Ayes have it, contrary, "No". The Ayes have it, the Ayes have it. He will prepare and bring in the Bill?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Jim Shannon, Chris Law, Alex McIntyre, Sarah Coombs, Judy McIntyre, Sarah Coombs, Judy Gosling, Meier Ellis, Pam Cox, Claire Hughes, Catherine Fuchs and

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Babies Babies and Babies and Infants Babies and Infants (Allergy Guidance) Bill allergy guidance bill.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Second reading, what they?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Friday, 12 September. The clerk will read the orders of

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the day. English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill second reading.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Empowerment Bill second reading. Recent amendment in the name of the official opposition has been selected. Minister to move the
14:51
None Portrait Legislation: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Second reading
-

selected. Minister to move the second reading. Angela Rayner.
14:51
Angela Rayner Portrait Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)
-
-
Thank you, I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time. This government was elected on a manifesto to deliver change, real change for working people, change that people can see and feel around them. That means more money in their pockets, decent jobs, new homes, good transport links, thriving High Street and opportunities for young Street and opportunities for young people. After 14 years of a Tory government, unwilling to take the tough choices to make life better for working people, it is no wonder that people have lost hope that real change is possible.

We have a plan to change this. To give people with skin in the game real control over their lives. Power to have a real stake in their place and share in our country's success. Our landmark English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will deliver this and more. It will help to build a modern, state based on a fairer partnership between government and local people with the aim of renewing people's faith that the state can work for them.

That faith has been sorely tested in recent years. After over one decade of broken promises from the benches opposite, people are so -- associate Whitehall with fairly and decline. The communities that once built Britain have seen jobs disappearing, homes crumbling and want strong community divided. Things that are parents and grandparents once relied on. That I relied on as a young mum, fallen by the wayside. It is my mission to rebuild these foundations of a good life for all communities in all parts of our country.

I worked on the frontline of local government and I saw how it changes people's lives. I note that I will not achieve our goals unless we fundamentally change the way that our country is run. That means handing power back to where it belongs, local people with skin in the game. So that they can make decisions on what really matters to their communities. This is what the bill will do, it will drive the biggest transfer of power in a generation. And end the bent -- the begging bowl micromanaging culture.

It will make devolution the default setting, giving new powers over planning, Housing and regeneration to get Britain building as part of the Plan for Change. Rebuilding local government so that it can deliver good local services and empowering local communities to have a bigger say in shaping the local areas.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

In her attempt to drive, will she

**** Possible New Speaker ****

In her attempt to drive, will she tell us where the accountability... Whether scrutiny will come from and where the voice of local people is where the voice of local people is going to have a place to be had?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

going to have a place to be had? I thought the previous government were the ones to turbocharge were the ones to turbocharge devolution and were moving on that agenda, we believe that devolution agenda, we believe that devolution is a good thing and that these measures we are taking will enable measures we are taking will enable local areas to be empowered to drive that growth that we desperately need that growth that we desperately need in all parts of the country.

This is long overdue, England is one of the long overdue, England is one of the most centralised developed countries most centralised developed countries in the world and the system, too often, works against rather than with local people too many decisions, affecting too many, are decisions, affecting too many, are made by too few. That combined with made by too few. That combined with short-term politics has left the country in a doom loop of worsening regional divides.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank her for giving way, could I advise the right honourable lady to look north to Scotland to see how to look north to Scotland to see how it should not be done. The Scottish government has centralised powers that wipe away communities like my

**** Possible New Speaker ****

that wipe away communities like my constituency. That is how we should not do it. I thank the honourable member for

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the honourable member for his guidance, I have always looked his guidance, I have always looked north, contrary to others' beliefs, very proud of the north. I gently say to the honourable member, I think the challenges of regarding the government of Scotland at the moment and hopefully we can reverse that and have a government that believes in putting the power in looking local people's hands. You looking local people's hands. You only have to look at the difference made to see there is a better way.

From building tens of thousands of From building tens of thousands of new social homes in Liverpool, to fighting child poverty in the fighting child poverty in the north-east, to making people's communities quicker and... Commute communities quicker and... Commute quicker and cheaper in Manchester. quicker and cheaper in Manchester. London's alfresco dining and world

**** Possible New Speaker ****

leading culture. I will give way. Thank you, my right honourable

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, my right honourable friend has been generous, we are proud of the work of our Greater Manchester Meier, Andy Burnham, on Manchester Meier, Andy Burnham, on the issue of driving change, I want to raise the point about drivers, half of private higher taxes in half of private higher taxes in Greater Manchester's art licence outside the area, it undermines outside the area, it undermines accountability. Does my right honourable friend agree that this honourable friend agree that this Bill is the chance to fix that, protect passengers, raise standards and invest in trade.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

and invest in trade. Well, as my honourable friend... Another Greater Manchester MP will know, the mayor has been trying to know, the mayor has been trying to take steps for some years and he will have heard the statement previously that I was listening to, I think the Minister there, as well I think the Minister there, as well as myself, is clear that the commitment is to bring forward legislation as quickly as possible and we need to make sure that the and we need to make sure that the vehicle is there.

The Leader of the House is that hero's welcome whose House is that hero's welcome whose job it is to make sure that happens. We have also given young people a voice in decisions in the East Midlands with driving forward a mass transit network for West Yorkshire. To supporting women and girls interactivity and support in North Yorkshire and not to forget working to secure the future of Doncaster airport. Securing the extension of the Birmingham tramline and I will give way...

give way...

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the Secretary of to function great, for many years under the Tories, the West Midlands was at the bottom of the league table for the bottom of the league table for regional transport. The mayor has secured £2.4 billion of investment. secured £2.4 billion of investment. Will she confirm powers in this Bill will make it easier for Combined will make it easier for Combined Authority's to deliver these kinds Authority's to deliver these kinds of project in the future, including further extensions of the metric to South Birmingham.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

South Birmingham. I give full credit to the mayor who has been working tirelessly to who has been working tirelessly to invest in the future of Birmingham. I thank my honourable friend for his I thank my honourable friend for his campaign pressing the case, his constituents are better off for it. constituents are better off for it. The investment will bring new jobs and better transport links and this is just the start. I give way.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

is just the start. I give way. Speaking of jobs, in London, are

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Speaking of jobs, in London, are Labour mayor, in his first two terms, have seen that creation of terms, have seen that creation of 330,000 jobs. These are high quality jobs, ringing opportunity to jobs, ringing opportunity to Londoners from all walks of life, the sector as stated greatness is the testament to growth that devolution can deliver which will be further boosted by this Bill.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I do agree with my honourable friend, this is about unlocking friend, this is about unlocking growth in all parts of the country and most honourable members will see and most honourable members will see that people with skin in the games, working across the board to make working across the board to make sure the potential is reached, not just in London, London is incredibly just in London, London is incredibly important, but also across all of our regions.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

our regions. I want to thank the mayor for the investment she is making across West investment she is making across West Yorkshire as well as the new bus station in my town... One of my tones of Dewsbury. Separate from those investments, how will this those investments, how will this Bill and this new legislation. A Bill and this new legislation. A council from making decisions that distribute the funding unequally distribute the funding unequally across the borough and how will it stop the council from making a decision to shutdown export centre that was used by people of all ages that was used by people of all ages on the pretence of RAAC and not take the steps to investigate and have a the steps to investigate and have a

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Welcomes comments with regards to the mass transit network in West the mass transit network in West Yorkshire which I'm sure bring added benefits his constituents. In terms of the other elements, or see local of the other elements, or see local councils meet with elected officials to make decisions. But councils have faced significant pressure that I'm faced significant pressure that I'm sure he is aware of since the 2010 sure he is aware of since the 2010 austerity. I was in local government at the time and another being a union representative seeing the union representative seeing the devastation.

We are trying to restore local government, empower them instead of them having to make incredibly difficult decisions that are harmful to their constituents, it is being able to grow our it is being able to grow our economy, a bigger slice of the cake. Are already investing more into local government so people can deliver the services wanted. Within deliver the services wanted. Within this bill is the community assets element may be able to help element may be able to help communities on the high street with regards to sports facilities that they can utilise as an asset that they can utilise as an asset that they value in their local area.

We are also improving local transport are also improving local transport people in the west of. Our brilliant ambitious mayors are making a ambitious mayors are making a difference. Every day, for their regions, working with them, we have already achieved so much after just one year in office. We are on track to achieve devolution across almost 80% of the country covering 44 million people. We have created integrated funding settlements, for Greater Manchester and West Midlands, doing their mayors tools and freedoms to make decisions to get growth going.

With Liverpool city region, London, the north-east, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire set to benefit from the same freedom next year.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

We are in London, the greatest city in the world. And we have all city in the world. And we have all just come back from holiday. -Ere just come back from holiday. -Ere Sadiq Khan has got ambitious plans to levy an accommodation overnight tax that would put us on a par with tax that would put us on a par with Paris and New York, and overnight stay levy to harness our growth. Those funds could generate tourism Those funds could generate tourism as a sector and improve the experience was I wonder if she might experience was I wonder if she might be open for using this bill to give mayors everywhere the power to devolve that decision?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

devolve that decision? Madame Deputy Speaker, any new

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Madame Deputy Speaker, any new tax is a matter for the Chancellor at the budget. It must balance the at the budget. It must balance the potential revenue and the benefits against the impact of taxpayers and the economy.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the economy. I thank the Secretary of State for giving way. I welcome the for giving way. I welcome the efforts and the bill to strengthen communities and local democracy. I'm worried that not enough is being worried that not enough is being done to protect private renters. In Lambeth nearly 1/3 of residents are renters, and rents are rising faster renters, and rents are rising faster than wages. The average rent is paying 70% more than the national average which is leaving people struggling and in poverty.

The Renter's Rights Bill was a step in the right direction but it fell short. Thus my right honourable friend agree that this bill is an opportunity to give metro mayors the power to have rent controls and

**** Possible New Speaker ****

protect renters in their cities? The Renter's Rights Bill does

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The Renter's Rights Bill does have measures within it which means renters can challenge unfair hikes. The previous government said many The previous government said many times they were going to do something about the Section 21 no- fault evictions. Our Renter's Rights Bill will make sure we end Section 21 no-fault evictions which has 21 no-fault evictions which has caused so much harm their constituents of people around the constituents of people around the country. Our devolution revolution is well underway. With others queueing up to join it.

This is what queueing up to join it. This is what we committed to in our manifesto we are delivering it through this bill. are delivering it through this bill. It will make devolution the default for how government does business. With new strategic authorities having powers to pilot and request new functions, and government having a duty to respond with certain requests. Meaning we can deliver

**** Possible New Speaker ****

devolution further and faster. I'm grateful to the secular state for giving way. On the point of specifically devolving the ability to run pilots, and following up the points made by the member for points made by the member for Clapham and Brixton Hill, Bristol city council has had a cross party vote including from Labour councillors saying they want the power to pilot rent controls, and recent results have come out which shows the typical private renter in my constituency spent 45% of their income on rent.

That is not sustainable for top this bill could

**** Possible New Speaker ****

offer the opportunity for that pilot. Interventions have become far too

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Interventions have become far too long. There are many members in the chamber who wish to contribute. More

**** Possible New Speaker ****

chamber who wish to contribute. More What I would say to the honourable Lady she is absolutely honourable Lady she is absolutely right there is a challenge in housing at the moment which is also contributing to the situation for contributing to the situation for people. That is why we have ambition people. That is why we have ambition to build more houses. This bill gives powers for us to have strategic plans so we can get on strategic plans so we can get on with building the homes that people need.

And the Renter's Rights Bill does start to make progress so we can make it fairer for renters which of course the previous government promised but failed to deliver. I will make some progress. The will make some progress. The strategic authorities will be created as a new category of authority in law. They will make it authority in law. They will make it easier for local leaders to work together over larger areas to drive through big progrowth projects like integrated networks and of course housing.

These will operate at three levels. Foundation, mayoral, and established. With the particular powers and responsibilities each will have defined by the bill. Working alongside element Aryans and local councillors, mayors drive forward the delivery of people's priorities, driving growth, unlocking infrastructure, and empowering national renewal from the ground up. That is why the bill will give them wide-ranging new powers in areas like transport, planning, and economics of element. I will make progress. We will create new planning powers to raise mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy which have generated over £1 billion since 2012 in London and alongside investment and leadership from Sadiq Khan helped found the Elizabeth line.

The expansion of the remit, the bill will allowed mayors who choose to raise this to spend the mayoral precept on a full range of functions ensuring that local taxes are spent on local priorities. I am sure the shadow Secretary of State will welcome this change given it was the party opposite that first introduced the mayoral precept nearly a decade ago. Mayor Boris Johnson used the business rates to pay for crossrail. I hope shadow Secretary of State will support the new powers in the bill so mayors can intervene in major strategic planning applications to unlock housing as long as the housing is in the constituency of course.

We will also introduce powers to licence shared cycle schemes they work for everyone, and the bill will also see more mayors take on lease and crime Commissioner functions and become responsible for fire and rescue functions. Allowing them to take a joint approach to improving public

**** Possible New Speaker ****

safety. I thank the Secretary of State

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the Secretary of State for giving way. In my constituency we are a proud Coastal Community we are a proud Coastal Community Team we have been affected by connectivity in terms of educational connectivity in terms of educational outcome and investment and skills. Does the deputy prime list agree with this bill, we have the chance with this bill, we have the chance to deliver long meaningful change, a change that the residents deserve?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

change that the residents deserve? I absolutely agree with my honourable friend. This is about all honourable friend. This is about all areas being able to join up and create that inclusive growth for create that inclusive growth for their areas. By combining the efforts we can unlock the potential efforts we can unlock the potential and his constituents will feel the benefit of taking this forward. The benefit of taking this forward. The new powers also means new duties including to produce a local growth including to produce a local growth plan.

Demonstrating how mayors plan to unlock growth through planning to unlock growth through planning and housebuilding. And a duty to cooperate with Local Government Pension Scheme managers so mayors can attract investment into their can attract investment into their local areas unlocking jobs and opportunities. Mayors across the country and also be able to appoint commissioners to support them as their responsibilities grow just like in London. The bill strengthens the ability of mayors to work with the public sector, and local partners, so mayors can lead the helicopter view of public services across the region.

We are backing the ambition of untapped potential in local areas with a more ambitious role of the mayors representing them. This has to be underpinned by elections that command public confidence. Because of changes made by the last government, mayors can be elected onto the fraction of the vote, despite serving millions of people and managing £40 million budget. We can do better than this. The bill will therefore revert to a supplementary vote system for elected mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners after the May 2026 elections, to provide rater accountability and a strong personal mandate for mayors.

In addition the bill will bar mayors from also sitting as MPs ensuring that local places benefit fully from having dedicated local champions.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

If she feels that mayors their authority should have a supplementary vote, and that gives supplementary vote, and that gives them sufficient authority, why doesn't she feel the same for members of this house?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

members of this house? Millions of people are represented by mayors and they have huge powers over big regions. We want mayors to have a strong want mayors to have a strong personal mandate for the community they serve. Rather than being elected on a fraction of the vote. It is right that First Past the Post is in place in general elections to

**** Possible New Speaker ****

maintain the constituency link. He has been patient. I am truly grateful to the right

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am truly grateful to the right honourable lady. This is I hope a non-party-political point. The White non-party-political point. The White Paper in advance of this bill mentioned rightly that there had mentioned rightly that there had been consultations on strengthening the standards and conduct framework the standards and conduct framework for local authorities. This relates to a campaign which many of us have to a campaign which many of us have been involved in to try and protect local council clerks against bullying.

We were pleased to be bullying. We were pleased to be called into that consultation. There is nothing about this in the bill.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Dr Shi plan to bring it forward in separate legislation? I thank the honourable gentleman

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the honourable gentleman for raising this issue which is very important. We intend to bring important. We intend to bring forward legislation. Our response to the consultation sets out our plans the consultation sets out our plans for a whole system of reform trading empowering local authorities to suspend councillors who are guilty suspend councillors who are guilty of serious misconduct for up to six months with the option to withhold allowances and institute premises allowances and institute premises and facilities bands.

We are committed to ensuring this is dealt with swiftly and fairly across the country at local and regional mayoral levels. We want to take action on this issue and I thank action on this issue and I thank remember. Let me be clear, stronger mayors and strategic authorities mayors and strategic authorities will not replace councils or the crucial work of this house. MPs on crucial work of this house. MPs on all sides the house will continue to be a local champion for their areas, and we expect mayors to engage in regular and constructive dialogue with MPs working together with the best interests of their best interests of their constituents.

Alongside the freedom of mayors to focus on local priorities, my department is priorities, my department is continuing to explore a local Public Accounts Committee style model to improve the system of accountability, of scrutiny of local spending. This government expects mayors to use their new powers to deliver real change, not to maintain the status quo. This is not about grandstanding or making little point. It is about using the levers of growth to unlock infrastructure and drive investment. The role of local authorities in delivering vital local services, and improve local neighbourhoods, is essential and it will continue.

We also expect to see strategic authorities working hand in glove with their constituent councils to deliver for their residents. The bill will help rebuild local government for the communities who depend on it day in day out. As a fit and legal foundation of devolution, the bill will establish the Local Audit Office help fix the broken fragmented Local Audit Office them. We will also reform local authority governance requiring councils with the committee system to move to a leader and cabinet model.

In putting a stop to that new local authority mayors that have been created. This change will streamline decision- making across all councils and make it easier for people to understand how their council is run. It will also give that tools to deliver local government reorganisation resulting in better outcomes for residents, and a significant saving which can be reinvested in public services and improving accountability. So that all levels, we are backing local people to drive growth and greater opportunities for all.

Because from top to bottom, the best decisions for communities are made by those who know the area best which is why this bill will also give local communities across the country much needed new powers. A bigger say in shaping their place through effective neighbourhood governance, with councils required to make sure this is happening. And the tools to transform their high street and neighbourhood through a street and neighbourhood through a And to protect sports grounds, at the heart of so many communities and a source of great local pride.

The Bill will also support our High Street by banning the unfair practice of upward only rent reviews, preventing the blight of vacant shop fronts. It is only when every community succeeds that our country succeeds. This Bill and our reforms hold a new era for Britain, a new way of governing that put politics at the service of working people, where previous governments promise and feel the British people, this government is keeping faith. I note the recent amendment from the party opposite and I must say, after his government left this country with the worst housing crisis in a generation, I am dismayed that his party would oppose a Bill that would unlock housing and on a vast scale, which empowers local communities to take back control of their High Street by ending the Tory policy of upward only rent reviews.

A Bill that will end the begging bowl culture of the last government whilst Tories made empty promises to level up, this Labour government is getting on with the job. Within days of taking office, secretaries of state were passing down powers for the sake of our towns, cities and villages with the Prime Minister leading the way. It has not always been easy, Madam Deputy Speaker, real change takes hard work, we are delivering growth and opportunity. This is how British people will take back control and unite the country at times when we have never needed

**** Possible New Speaker ****

it more. I commend this Bill to House. The question is that the Bill be read a second time. Shadow Secretary of State.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, madam Deputy Speaker. The English devolution and community The English devolution and community empowerment bill. It is a title... It is a title straight out of the It is a title straight out of the Ministry of truth. Because this is not about devolution, it is a blatant power grab by the Deputy Prime Minister. A right honourable lady... A right honourable ladies lady... A right honourable ladies for whom I have a huge amount of respect.

But it is clearly a power grab by her and her department. It is not about community empowerment is not about community empowerment at all, it is about stripping power from local authorities and concentrating it on Whitehall and the people who are being held by the people who are being held by Whitehall... Big Brother would be proud. Centralisation is devolution. Whitehall diktats is community empowerment. The fact that it does the opposite of what it claims, as we have set out in our recent amendment, is why we cannot give this Bill a free pass.

Because this Bill sightlines communities. This Bill forces restructuring without content. This Bill wastes money whilst families are facing higher bills because of Labour's mismanagement. This Bill disrupts and distracts councils from building the homes that local people need. Those are our objections, that is what we have set out in our recent amendment and if the government wants to win the confidence of this House rather than shoehorning backbenchers through the divisional lobbies, it needs to justify the demands embedded in this Bill.

We will set out what those demands are, through the debate and summing up, I hope the government answers these questions. Why centralise control? Why raise taxes? Why deny residents their voice? These are the questions that are being asked and these are the questions that the Treasury benches need to answer before credibly making progress through this House with this Bill. Madam Deputy Speaker, the case is set out before the House, and before voters opposite get too excited, let be put a few spectres that have been raised to bed, the Conservative party believe in evolution, we created many of the roles that currently exist we created police and crime commissioners, we empowered parish councils, we gave families the power to block excessive council tax rises.

We devolved by consent... By agreement with local leaders, not by Whitehall diktats because the simple truth of the matter is that Labour do not and have never believed in devolution and they do not deliver meaningful devolution. They are abolishing councils, they are abolishing councils, without consent. They are forcing councils to sign up to their model of restructuring. Elections are the foundation of democracy and denied them undermined public and confidence. In truth, denying residents the democratic voice was done because Labour fears what people would say to them at the ballot box.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

He has just listed a load of reasons of what the Tories did with reasons of what the Tories did with devolution. The reason we need devolution is because his government significantly underfunded local government, which is now on its knees and we have to take action to knees and we have to take action to get local government back in a good place, and devolution and local government reform is one of those

**** Possible New Speaker ****

actions. He said the quiet it out loud, males. Let's look at what they actually deliver. As I say, this was written before that intervention. They put up taxes. They increase the tax burden on local people. Liverpool city region, up by 26%. Greater Manchester, up by eight%. West Yorkshire, up by six%. In labour, and the Sadiq Khan, up by over 70%.

70% since he took office in 2016. They are quiet now, aren't

**** Possible New Speaker ****

they? Because the truth hurts. Go on... 20 answer why they keep getting

**** Possible New Speaker ****

20 answer why they keep getting

**** Possible New Speaker ****

20 answer why they keep getting re-elected? -- code he answer why they keep getting re-elected then?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

they keep getting re-elected then? I will mention Paul Bristow later

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I will mention Paul Bristow later on, because the difference... The difference is that we keep costs difference is that we keep costs down. For example, Ben is delivering 80 preset. If more places... If more 80 preset. If more places... If more places get males under this conserve places get males under this conserve and to -- get males under this and to -- get males under this proposal, will the Minister or whoever it is replying, Wiltshire whoever it is replying, Wiltshire guarantee or will they guarantee that costs will not go up under this model.

Will they guarantee that Council Tax will not rise under this model or is this another set of taxes on hard-working families by stealth. The record of Labour males is that the increased taxes by well above the rate of inflation. And also, will the pressure on parish council presets also hit hard- working local people in the pocket? Because on these benches, once again it will be hard-working families who paid the price for their ineptitude. It is not only families that will be It is not only families that will be hit, this can Bill forces councils to merge.

And councils that have to merge. And councils that have been careful with their money will be forced to inherit the debt of be forced to inherit the debt of other councils. How on earth is that fair? Penalising good financial fair? Penalising good financial management at local government level. What protections will be in level. What protections will be in place to protect people from higher bills, because looking through this Bill, there are no protections.
15:27
James Cleverly Portrait Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)
-
-
How does he think my constituents on the Isle of Wight feel about being fused under a Combined Authority with Hampshire, without having a single say on it?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

This goes to the heart of the proposals. For all of their words about community voice, this is a about community voice, this is a classic example, I visited the Isle classic example, I visited the Isle of Wight, not only in a personal capacity but as a guest of my honourable friend, and I knew that honourable friend, and I knew that whilst the county has got many excellent things, the people of the Isle of Wight wants to maintain their autonomy and they should have

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the right to do so. It is not just that local

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It is not just that local councils will lose control of their finances. Local councils will lose finances. Local councils will lose control of their powers. These powers are being stripped from them powers are being stripped from them from clauses in this. They are gaining sweeping planning powers, gaining sweeping planning powers, sweeping transport powers, without council consent or indeed council consent or indeed representation. Let me give an example, what if communities oppose example, what if communities oppose punitive anti-driver proposals coming from their local coming from their local neighbourhoods.

How can they make their voices heard. Who will win? Will it be the mayor imposing it upon them or will it be the local communities. And what will be the accountability model for them? There accountability model for them? There is nothing in the Bill that we can see where they can be held accountable? No provision, no provision for meaningful scrutiny doing the tenure of the May oratory. She makes reference to the upward only rent reviews. I complete get, that is a superficially attractive set of proposals but what actual assessment has been made on the effective evaluation of commercial property, including properties that are owned by the Local Authority themselves.

If she is confident that it is a good idea, why was there no support? Why was there no consultation of these proposals? Do ministers really think that is best practice when it comes to creating a stable investment environment and confidence in people spending money in High Street properties, commercial properties that keep our communities alive. The silence on those questions in this Bill is deafening because they have no answer, because this Bill is not about empowering local communities, and it is definitely not about empowering local councils, it is about creating a cohort of puppet males, controlled by the right honourable ladies department.

I respect her enormously, her ability to strip power, not just from local councils, that is something well worth watching and I think we should be impressed with that. I put it to the benches opposite, if this is about community empowerment, why about community empowerment, why about community empowerment, why If it is about fiscal responsibility, why will it be a burden on people who pay rates and council tax why does it hamper councils with increased bureaucracy? Devolution can work and does work when it is done properly and we know that it works because Conservative mayors have delivered.

Then Ben Houghton secured Treasury North in Darlington with 40,000 high-skilled Darlington with 40,000 high-skilled roles. This was all with a zero- mayoral precept. The ending of Labour's ideological attack on drivers. Boris Johnson delivering the 2012 Olympic Games and securing Crossrail. And in the West Midlands, Andy Street, a household name and a champion for his region, and replaced by who? A person who is not even a household name in his own household.

That says it all. As the Conservative party, we deliver. We deliver devolved government which delivers jobs, infrastructure,. Labour has delivered higher costs delivery.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am sorry for treading on his punchline. I am pleased to hear his punchline. I am pleased to hear his new-found enthusiasm for Teesside. It is something that we all share. It is something that we all share. Would he like... Does he stand by those comments that he made or would those comments that he made or would you like to take this opportunity to apologise to my constituents?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

apologise to my constituents? He needs to keep up. I addressed

**** Possible New Speaker ****

He needs to keep up. I addressed those comments at the time. I have been to Stockton and have campaigned with the Conservative Mayor for the with the Conservative Mayor for the town. He will know, because I've campaigned and knocked on doors in Stockton and I respect the time but Stockton and I respect the time but the point was about the then-Labour representative who I was not representative who I was not impressed with. The simple fact of the matter is that we were always the matter is that we were always the sceptical that the content of the bill would match the the bill would match the aspirational title of the bill.

We set five tests and they were framed in the form of five simple in the form of five simple questions. One, is it a genuine choice for councils? Two, do all affected tiers agree with changes? Three, is a genuine public support for the changes? Four, will the changes keep bills down? Five, will they protect social care? Having looked through the ill it is clear that the answer to all those questions is no. Five questions, five failures.

As I have said, conservatives are in favour of devolution when done properly but only if it is actually meaningful and only if local communities and immediate representatives actually have got the power to deliver. We are the champions because we delivered it. We have proven that it works. It must be by consent, not compulsory. It must be partnership. compulsory. It must be partnership. We must empower councillors and councils, not a reason. The bill is not dead religion, but central control, higher tax, weaker local democracy.

This bill is a power grab by the right honourable lady and it fails to deliver on its promise and that is why the House must decline a second reading and demand that the government rethink the proposals. government rethink the proposals.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Before I call anybody else, with the exception of the spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, there will be an immediate time-limit of five minutes.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

five minutes. I rise to support the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill which is a vital step towards local government, more fear investment and greater accountability across England. I do this with 17 years of experience as this with 17 years of experience as a local councillor, five of which as the leader of the local council in Lancashire which forms part of my Lancashire which forms part of my constituency. The scope of the bill covers many distinct subject matters covers many distinct subject matters but I intend to focus brief comments but I intend to focus brief comments on part three, chapter 1, local government reorganisation.

Let's be
15:37
Paul Foster Portrait Mr Paul Foster MP (South Ribble, Labour)
-
-
government reorganisation. Let's be clear, Lancashire is now an outlier. 74% of the English population are under unitary authorities, delivering all local services through a single, countable body but Lancashire as part of the shrinking 26% operating under a two-tier 26% operating under a two-tier system. Frankly, no one would design the two-tier system today because it is inefficient, confusing, expensive. Residents do not understand why one council is responsible for what holes androids and another for pavements and parks and education is in the county planning is with the other district.

Why one council collects waste and another disposes of it. Why they are paying for two sets of councillors for the same geographical area. Why are residents left with two tiers of democracy? The result is located services, inefficient staffing, and confused accountability. We know that change works. With the shared services and our counsel, we save over £1 million for taxpayers, real money into local budgets. Imagine what could be achieved with a fully unitary structure across Lancashire.

In my time as the leader of the council, I froze council tax for three consecutive years while still delivering effective services. The bills kept rising and at the county council in Lancashire, I only increase tax due to inefficiency. Constituents were confused and did not understand that the local district council only accounted for around 11% of the overall bill. In fact, they were paying more to the Police and Crime Commissioner Andy District Council. -- Than the district council. Beyond efficiency, is about unlocking the collision.

Lancashire has been left behind. -- Unlocking devolution. We have missed out on hundreds of millions of pounds of investments in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and the Liverpool City Region. That is why I welcome the powers in the bill which allow the Secretary of State demanded legislation where appropriate from a two-tier system to a unitary model. As a necessary tool to drive reform and I commend the Secretary of State and Local Government Minister for

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the poll question. The original question was the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The original question was the bill be read a second time. The question is that the amendment be question is that the amendment be made and I called the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Democrat spokesperson. I start by welcoming the Shadow Secretary Of State to his place on
15:40
Vikki Slade Portrait Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
Secretary Of State to his place on the bench. Transferring power closer to communities by devolution is critical in getting service delivery rate and building public trust. The public consistently say they have more faith in local government than national and the bill was meant to deliver on that promise. In the first weeks of office, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to get to those with skin in the game and pledged to help citizens take back control and we agree with that desire.

What we are seeing here is a bill that centralises decision- making, limits community influence and because it leaves people unsure of the future, risks deepening inequality between regions. The White Paper promised mayors for all regions and community organisation but this bill gives powers to merge from Westminster but fails to strengthen towns and parishes, closer to people, and allows councils who have rejected combined authority to be forced into one with neighbours.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I'm grateful to my honourable friend forgiving me. Does she agree the Conservatives have some nerve the Conservatives have some nerve talking about top-down organisation when the imposed and unwanted and when the imposed and unwanted and unpopular unitary council against people's bushes in Somerset? Does she agree that this bill should she agree that this bill should introduce fair votes to restore introduce fair votes to restore faith in democracy and politics, for this place, as well as councils across the country? There a similar thing happened in Dorset.

The honourable member for Christchurch honourable member for Christchurch actually voted against a merger in actually voted against a merger in our area and failed. I welcome onto the issues of proportional the issues of proportional representation. Strategic mirrors have the potential to be regional champions and the Liberal Democrats champions and the Liberal Democrats recognise the benefits in London and recognise the benefits in London and Manchester. -- mayors. This does not standardise the bill provide equal footing for all regions. Some get footing for all regions.

Some get the funding and others are left behind with no timeline or support

**** Possible New Speaker ****

to a conclusion. I am grateful to my honourable friend forgiving me. In areas like Shropshire, it is not clear if they will have two form a combined authority and they are on the border with Wales and there is no obvious partner. I'm concerned Shropshire will be forced into a combined authority with an area that does not look like Shropshire nor give benefit to residents. But she agree that this must be better thought through?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I share the concerns that in some areas there is real risk that areas should be left behind and there is a should be left behind and there is a muddled approach. I'm asking for assurances from the Secretary of assurances from the Secretary of State to ensure the areas don't fall further behind the areas on the program. We are pleased the program. We are pleased the government is reversing the disastrous decisions of the disastrous decisions of the Conservatives to use first past the post for regional elections and it post for regional elections and it is ridiculous that one may won on just 25% of the vote.

-- one mayor. We believe there should be an alternative voting system so voices are properly heard and we continue to be the case that the government believes in majority support for elected officials, why not extend elected officials, why not extend

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the mandate to MPs and parties, too? The Sussex elections that are due

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The Sussex elections that are due to take place in May next year will be on the current system of first past the post, rather than the past the post, rather than the proposed system the government say they are in favour of. But she agree that is not fair for residents in Sussex when everyone else gets to vote in a better system when they are behind by one year?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I will skip to something later in my speech where I will share the concern of electoral officials that concern of electoral officials that this legislation can deliver in time for change is scheduled for next for change is scheduled for next year and I recognise the anomaly but even electoral officials are worried about the timeline for the bill and making change for 2036 and for those making change for 2036 and for those who have had elections delayed already. -- 2026.

There are concerns about the Paris of the commissioners about the Paris of the commissioners -- powers of the commissioners appointed by the mirrors and concerns they could hold more sway concerns they could hold more sway than elected authorities. -- mayors. than elected authorities. -- mayors. There is a proposal for sweeping powers without Parliamentary oversight and consent. I'm seeking an inflation of how and when those powers would be used so we can assure local leaders that they will assure local leaders that they will not be overwritten.

There is concern about the loss of highly experienced counsellors through the removal of counsellors through the removal of district councils and I noted the concerns about putting power into concerns about putting power into the hands of too few people. I am wondering how we can be assured that wondering how we can be assured that there is a democratic and skills deficit and that people are properly represented. For the last decade, the Conservative government has cut funding to councils and forced them to do more.

The economic mismanagement and failure to fix social care has any councils on the brink of collapse. This was an opportunity for real local government reform and the fuel it government reform and the fuel it

**** Possible New Speaker ****

A particular concern of my constituents that we shared to local authorities, one in Somerset one in authorities, one in Somerset one in Devon, the difficulties we have around SEND. I wonder if you would around SEND. I wonder if you would take into account the difficulties this Bill could potentially create for local authorities who are already struggling to deliver good

**** Possible New Speaker ****

children? I thank the honourable member for her intervention. Special educational needs, as I'm sure the House will have me talk about many House will have me talk about many times, is a huge passion of mine and it is going to take so many councils to a very dark place stop and I to a very dark place stop and I trust the Minister here is that on a regular basis and that we will be seeing in the Fair Funding Review seeing in the Fair Funding Review something really serious about special educational needs.

Local authorities have unique access to authorities have unique access to every household and business, which gives them huge opportunities to improve people's health and well- being. This Bill requires strategic authorities to improve the health of authorities to improve the health of their communities. But I concerned their does not provide substantial funding to do that and without that funding, I cannot see how it can be funding, I cannot see how it can be achieved. Whilst the Bill make substantial improvements to the workings of audit, it does miss the workings of audit, it does miss the opportunity to shine a light on all of the places that taxpayers money is spent through the introduction of local Public Accounts Committee.

I was... To hear the Secretary of State refer to this being in her thinking that rolling them out alongside strategic authorities would really age transparency, improve value for money and enable organisations to share resources for the good of the community. I would urge the government to reflect on this as we go towards report stage. The Bill also proposes that strategic authorities take on the functions of Police and Crime Commissioners and crime authorities. But because of disparity in boundaries, there is a real risk that community priorities will not be maintained and with this being controlled by appointed, rather than elected commissioners, further reduces democratic accountability.

How will the Government ensure fair funding and effective policing and fire services where strategic authorities cover vastly different communities? Councils have expressed similar concerns where there is a mismatch between places within those authorities stop for example, the different needs between urban and rural or the inclusion of a single authority among a cluster with very different levels of deprivation of demographics. Where decisions are decided by simple majority vote, some communities feel their voice will be heard. Weighted voting and the meaningful inclusion of town and parish councils can ensure local insight retained, particular round issues like planning and transport.

The representation must not end there. This Bill was an opportunity to ensure that local services draw on and are informed by the full range of lived experience of an

**** Possible New Speaker ****

area. I'm grateful have a giving way.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I'm grateful have a giving way. The share my concerns that this Bill could actually increase the difficulty residents have in accessing services, where accessing services, where authorities that currently deliver authorities that currently deliver services on a countywide basis are then a crack that is split into multiple authorities, creating orders within counties that can then

**** Possible New Speaker ****

orders within counties that can then make it difficult to access services? My honourable friend makes a very good point and there is also the good point and there is also the opportunity of course to use more effectively our town and parish effectively our town and parish council systems to grow community empowerment. Instead, the creation of neighbourhood committees feels like a top-down solution. Without statutory powers or badges, they risk becoming symbolic rather than risk becoming symbolic rather than effective and whilst it is welcome that existing town and parish councils do participate, the Bill does not provide a framework of does not provide a framework of communities wanting to establish new counties or the funding to do so.

This recounts long underpinned the civic identity of towns and driven civic identity of towns and driven the activities that reflect their origins. Their loss some of these origins. Their loss some of these very ancient towns and cities, like Colchester and Winchester, without the funding to support smaller the funding to support smaller immunity led councils, there is a real risk our distinct history, culture and civic pride in our communities could be eroded. We cannot allow that to happen. Turning to the changes on community right to be, the Liberal Democrats welcomed the changes to right to buy first refusal.

I've seen some some fantastic examples of this working, such as the anchor pub in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole. But the successes are

**** Possible New Speaker ****

viewable between -- few and far between. I thank my honourable friend

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank my honourable friend forgiving me on that point. Certainly communities like the one in Teddington in my constituency in Teddington in my constituency would very much welcome this new community right to bid, where we have had playing fields laying derelict for over a decade at a derelict for over a decade at a park. However, whilst the Bill makes provision what happens when there is a disagreement over price, it is silent on whether even at market valuation a community bid is refused by the buyer.

Will she agree with me that the Government must look to go

**** Possible New Speaker ****

further on this point? I agree with the honourable member that there is opportunities member that there is opportunities to do much more around this as we move into the Bill Committee stage. And communities long struggle to And communities long struggle to save these assets not because of a lack of passion or volunteers but because the systems are stacked against them. The Museum of broken dreams which is currently on display elsewhere on the Parliamentary estate chosen really good examples estate chosen really good examples of this.

Where community groups have lost out to commercial developers who then demolish buildings and walk who then demolish buildings and walk away or where they cannot get the support to assist. We are pleased to see sporting assets included in the right to buy and welcome their indefinite inclusion on the register but we would like to see environmental assets included as well, so that we can protect our land restoration and nature management. Also would like to look at restoring the funding for neighbourhood plans, so that smaller authorities who are now going to struggle to make those plans for the tiny communities could do so without

**** Possible New Speaker ****

onerous cost to the residents. I would like to thank my honourable friend forgiving way. I honourable friend forgiving way. I would like to pick up on her point about environmental concerns. At the moment, local authorities have a very weak duty on biodiversity from time to time to consider what they time to time to consider what they might do to conserve or enhance biodiversity. Does my honourable biodiversity. Does my honourable friend agree that the devolution Bill offers a real opportunity to strengthen these environmental protections, to get this country

**** Possible New Speaker ****

protections, to get this country back on track? I believe that this community

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I believe that this community right to buy has huge opportunities for councils and I hope that in the time we spent in committee we will time we spent in committee we will be able to improve and enhance the Bill for everybody. As a former retail business owner I welcome the removal of upward rent reviews, business should should not be locked into rising cost when market conditions ship and it is a long overdue reform that will help small overdue reform that will help small businesses adapt and survive.

The Bill makes interesting and work on changes on things like Pension Schemes and transport devolution does miss these opportunities to also improve council standards and attendance and fails to establish in statute the promised council of statute the promised council of regions and nations and the Local Authority Leaders' Council, both of which are important for giving Local Government a stronger voice in Whitehall. In conclusion, the Liberal Democrat support the principle of devolution will stop we recognise the crisis in local government funding and we welcome the Fair Funding Review promise later this autumn but this Bill does not deliver the ambitious shift of power our communities need stop it risk this in French as in places left at the you with no funding or timing to iPod.

-- Risk difference in franchising stop we cannot support a bill that misses the chance to truly empower communities as we laid out in our reasoned amendment and we urge the government to think again, revise and recommit to genuine devolution in community empowerment so we can support it.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Can I draw the house's attention to my register of interests, including that I remain a fellow of the Royal institution of Chartered the Royal institution of Chartered Surveyors. My contribution today is to assist the Secretary of State and to assist the Secretary of State and the Government in ensuring this important bill truly delivers on my right honourable friends ambitions
15:54
Alison Taylor Portrait Alison Taylor MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Labour)
-
-
right honourable friends ambitions for a transformative change to our communities, a vision that we both share. Others in the House will want to articulate the advantages of devolving power and increasing strategic focus for the English regions. But I have an expertise in commercial... Forgive me for focusing on this one point. The Bill represents a crucial step in the vital work of promoting economic growth and opportunity for our communities. Our constituents will all have witnessed first-hand how the previous government's failure to promote growth and support economic activity has contributed to the decline and the well-being of our decline and the well-being of our communities.

As a result, of spending 30 years in the commercial property industry, numerous organisations and businesses have contacted me directly about the proposals to ban upwards only rent reviews. The Royal institution of Chartered Surveyors is already working in making lease terms, including rent reviews, more transparent. And since 2020, the code for leasing business premises in England and Wales first edition, which includes advice on rent reviews, has been in place for chartered surveyors to adhere to when advising both landlords and 10. The proposal to implement by legislation a universal ban on leases...

On-call horses with commercial leases for the provision of upwards rent reviews creates uncertainty for the funding property development. My concern is that this legislation would apply to all commercial properties, not just high-street retail or small business properties. As currently drafted, the government's proposals would impact on high-street retail but on all commercial sectors as well. The ambition to protect the High Street, retail and small business particularly in tough economic conditions is certainly not underestimated nor unwelcome by me.

There is a surplus of vacant and suitable, poorly configured and energy hungry retail units crying out for regeneration in most towns across the United Kingdom. As there are in the towns of Paisley, Renfrew and Erskine in my own constituency. But I do not believe it is just upward only rent reviews that are preventing the regeneration of our towns and cities. This technical aspect of the Bill is an issue where my professional background can help to improve the Bill and help to prevent unintended consequences for the Government's growth agenda.

I really understand the desire to support small businesses on our High Street and I understand the pressures faced by small businesses through difficult trading conditions. Property development can be the foundation stone of economic growth in our regional economies. My experience is that new sustainable development in the right place can be transformative, a source for jobs and training, in construction, and a source of employment and opportunity in operation. New transformative sustainable development adds vitality to an area, acting as a spur to further development and wider investment.

I know that all members will intuitively feel that upwards only rent reviews are unfair but this is a simplistic view. One of the earliest pioneers of upwards only rent reviews was the Church of England's Church Commissioner is. They did this to ensure certainty of income for the church and they remain one of the largest landowners in the country. My concern is that this well intended focus on the genuine problems of small business and the High Street could have unintended consequences for the broader property development sector.

If I might close... My right honourable friend to consider an amendment to this clause to ensure it focuses where it is needed most without impacting on all sectors of property. I will of course stand by ready to help with this endeavour.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. Thank you. This Bill is supposed

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. This Bill is supposed to be the Government's flagship piece of legislation to empower piece of legislation to empower England cities, regions and communities. But there is disappointingly little in the Bill about strengthening accountability about strengthening accountability in existing devolved bodies, especially the Greater London especially the Greater London Authority. It is right that power is returned to cities, regions and communities. Those who hold the ball communities. Those who hold the ball power must also be held accountable for their decisions, actions and for their decisions, actions and delivery.

Nowhere in England enjoys more devolved powers in London. That is in part why it is the only area with a directly elected assembly with a directly elected assembly devoted to scrutiny. But as the Mayor of London's responsibilities, powers and budget has grown, the assembly has become weaker and assembly has become weaker and weaker in comparison. A notable weaker in comparison. A notable issue is the two thirds majority that is required to amend the mayor's budget and strategies. But mayor's budget and strategies.

But this is impossible to achieve in the London Assembly. And that is why no London Assembly. And that is why no budget or strategy has been amended in 25 years. Nor can the assembly call in mayoral decisions unlike other combined authorities. And unlike combined authorities, London's 32 boroughs are excluded from decision-making. It means the mayor does not have to seek consensus, negotiate or even listen to opposing views. And in a city the size of London, it effectively alienates and disenfranchise millions of people.

That political fracture was made clear when Maya Khan imposed ULEZ expansion in outer London despite overwhelming opposition. -- Mayor Khan. There is a glaring democratic and an accountability deficit in London and that is why so many of my the other constituents are now questioning the London Borough of London putting its place in the Greater London Authority. They have never paid more to City Hall yet people feel they are ignored on every issue. Mayor Khan has increased council tax by 77% in nine years, 77%.

Meaning London is now paying nearly £500 a year to plan his policy. Let's not forget the huge sums Londoners now pay City Hall thanks to his road charges. In the first three months of this year, motorists forked out nearly 220 million thanks to Maya
16:01
Peter Fortune Portrait Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)
-
-
Khan's ULEZ charge, the Blackpool Tunnel toll and his high congestion Tunnel toll and his high congestion charge. What do they receive in return for this money? ULEZ cameras, too few police officers and too few police officers and too few police officers and This bill introduces This bill introduces simple decisions as the default process and combined authorities but it stops short of doing that in the London Assembly. This Is a Mistake. It Assembly.

This Is a Mistake. It Assembly. This Is a Mistake. It Should Abolish the Majority Required and Allow a Simple Majority to Enforce Changes. This Alone Would Transform politics in London and Transform politics in London and force mayors to the people. The government should consult a new government should consult a new model to give the 32 boroughs of model to give the 32 boroughs of voice, so Bromley can no longer be ignored. Finally, the bill should give the London assembly the power give the London assembly the power to call in mayoral decision.

My constituents have had enough of being ignored by Mayor Khan. If the government wants to maintain the support of Londoners for devolution, the London Mayor must be held accountable.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Devolution and local government reorganisation must not simply be a sticking plaster of the problems of today but we must determine what we today but we must determine what we want coming decades to look like for want coming decades to look like for communities. We must ensure people in places like Ipswich and Suffolk have resources and powers to affect have resources and powers to affect our own futures. Decision-making issues have hampered progress. We must usher in a new era of ambition.

It has been encouraging to see all
16:03
Jack Abbott Portrait Jack Abbott MP (Ipswich, Labour )
-
-
It has been encouraging to see all the district and borough councils work collaboratively and with compromise to form a forward-facing submission but the contrast is stark with the county council and it is disappointing more time has been spent aiming to discredit ideas and proposals rather than promoting why plans are right for the country. At times, the tactics have been bizarre. There is a serious point. Residents are entitled to information and not a PR campaign that is heavy on spin.

I accept that turkeys do not vote for Christmas but I expect local authorities to hold themselves up to a higher standard and while it betrays a lack of confidence in their own proposals, by running such a misleading campaign, it treats residents of the lack of respect and with disdain. Residents will wonder why councillors are spending so much time and resources on an overwhelmingly negative campaign at a time when potholes are not being filled and SEND needs not met, all the while, raising council tax.

It does not look like an authority ready to grasp the future but one that looks to keep power and status for themselves. Alongside the investment in communities by the Chancellor, this bill and the wider plan of the deputy Prime Minister offers areas the chance to turbocharge investment, growth, opportunity, giving us the chance to determine our own future. I am supportive of the bill for the transformative effect it will have on the country but, on a local basis, Greater Ipswich Counsel could do more than regenerate the town and local area and it could become an economic powerhouse.

France would be able to set conditions for the area, too. This is not just my personal view but once your by every district and county council in Suffolk as well as parties of all stripes across Ipswich and with my discussions, including at my recent town hall event, it is the option that David favour, too. It would renew the economic foundations and deliver the infrastructure that we need after years of neglect. -- That they would favour. They will be able to power new jobs and investment for the area and there will be opportunities for growth around Cambridge and Peterborough.

People want councils to deliver public services effectively, responsibly, accessibly. This is why I believe there must be sufficient scale to achieve this but people want councils and councillors to be rooted in the community so that they can listen, understand, act in best interests. I believe three unitary authorities in Suffolk, working alongside East Anglia, achieves the balance. It's not about loosening the fabric that holds the county together but strengthening it. I moved to Suffolk 25 years ago and it is my home and I cured the about what happens next.

For a long time, we have been poorly served by short-term attitude and an approach of doing nothing. I have thought about all the ways to make the changes we need to set a new path and the bill debating today is the driving force behind how we do that. As my right honourable friend the deputy Prime Minister set out time and time again, the goal of devolution is not to tinker around the edges of the current system or stick with a system that is not working for 11 but we should look to the future and transform, services, and communities the better.

I proudly support the bill and I will continue to work for an ambitious devolution settlement that meets the needs of people from Ipswich, Suffolk, East Anglia.
16:07
Martin Wrigley Portrait Martin Wrigley MP (Newton Abbot, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
I draw the attention of the House to my register of interest as a sitting councillor. When I came into this place I sat on three different councils and so I have a good history of local council knowledge. The bill focuses on mayors but we are further putting power in the hands of local people. In Devon, it is quite different to thinking about the Mayor of Greater Manchester, let alone the idea of the mere of Devon and Cornwall.

-- Mayor. The idea that we are organising councils will save money is fantasy. We will see a few senior executives go but we will not see more people doing the bins, on the streets, doing the work that must be done. This will not be a means of saving money. It will cost a huge amount of money to do the reorganisation which is not being funded. Of course.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The government has claimed measures will save money but the County Councils Network has revealed the organisation could make no savings and so does he agree with me that the measures are based on out that the measures are based on out of date reports for local authorities? I thank my honourable authorities? I thank my honourable friend for the intervention and agree entirely. I would like to focus on and three other areas which focus on and three other areas which have not been covered by my have not been covered by my honourable calling.

We are forgetting key roles played by town and parish councils. The bill misses that the role played by the national that the role played by the national parks authorities. Parish and town councils are the first port of call for residents and are closest to the for residents and are closest to the ground, most responsive to the day- to-day needs of communities and they are the truly local hands. As district councils disappear, local assets of less significant value assets of less significant value will suffer, be overlooked, or sold off, without considering local input from the town or parish council, from the town or parish council, despite any changes to the community despite any changes to the community route which we have heard is few and far between in terms of successes.

There must be a statutory obligation in the building work with most local and community bodies and parish councils and town councils, a duty to cooperate must be put into the bill. Neighbourhood committees or areas, as vaguely set out as they are in the bill, may play a part in keeping planning and other local ventures are local. There must also be consideration and work with town and parish councils and this must be a statutory requirement. The bill allows mayors to request collaboration and convene powers but these are discretionary and may be used or may be ignored.

There is no statutory requirement to cooperate and that is a profound weakness. I would like to come onto National Park authorities. National parks are not mentioned once. They carry the legal responsibilities of some of our most precious landscapes. National authorities like Dartmoor have a majority of members from a mix of local authorities. From five different authorities. And a minority of government-appointed members. Without changes, should Dartmoor and that within the boundaries of a new unity which will effectively be managed as part of that unitary and lose unique identity.

Planning authority will be overridden and the strategic vision maybe consumed. We must allow people to access the and dry and we should not let it be ripped apart for profit. The bill must address how authorities will maintain independence and protect the identities of the areas that they sell. Another missed opportunity if you need to make the provision of public toilets a statutory responsibility. Too often, councils in financial difficulty cut these vital facilities. In Devon, we know that there will be no money left over once the SEND overspend has been paid for by the carefully managed districts and reserves.

It will be a case of no money left. Finally, I welcome the return of the alternative vote for mayors put out the government to go further and introduce proportional representation for all unitary councils. Absolutely make every vote count.
16:12
Abtisam Mohamed Portrait Abtisam Mohamed MP (Sheffield Central, Labour)
-
-
I congratulate the deputy Prime Minister for bringing forward the bill, one that embeds our ambition and championed the promise of devolution. It will mark the biggest transfer of power from Whitehall to our regions in a generation. It means the protection of public spaces will result in the strengthening of local economies and infrastructure. Devolution should infrastructure. Devolution should bring us closer to the people and promote local accountability and I welcome the parts of the bill that will assure this.

The creation of the right to buy, increase local policing, and measures to reduce health inequalities are welcome steps in the right direction. The spirit of the bill is one that we should all support. I would like to bring clause 57 to the attention of the government, which effectively abolishes the committee structure and introduces a measure that would impact on Sheffield, one of 38 councils running under the system. Over 80,000 people in a democratic referendum in Sheffield voted decisively in favour of a modern community structure over the cabinet model that is imposed by clause 57.

Through the referendum, citizens of Sheffield chose collaboration instead of decision-making power concentrated in fewer hands. Six years on from the referendum, the committee system works for Sheffield has delivered meaningful scrutiny we are it was lacking before and has worked in areas where public trust was under threat. We are not here to discuss the merits and disadvantages of these two models of local governance. What matters is residents have made a democratic decision at a local level and it is important that the mandate is respected and upheld.

If the bill passes in the current form, Sheffield is one of several councils that will be forced to undo those years of democratic engagement. I have received countless emails from constituents and campaigners who have stressed just how important this democratic engagement has been for Sheffield and they are right, one size does not fit all. The view is echoed by the LGA.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

My honourable friend is making an important point in her speech. But she agreed that for Sheffield, her counsel, the committee system has been better and more inclusive and been better and more inclusive and more democratic for her residence than the original cabinet system. than the original cabinet system. Would she endorse the view that any council that wants to go down the committee route or any committee committee route or any committee that has decided should retain that

**** Possible New Speaker ****

that has decided should retain that The point I'm going to make is about existing committee structures retaining, rather than new committees going forward. This is a committees going forward. This is a view echoed by the LGA who have also called for councils to retain the called for councils to retain the structures until local communities choose otherwise. Similarly for my constituents this is a matter of constituents this is a matter of principle. Until the people of Sheffield choose another structure, Sheffield choose another structure, another referendum, as promised, their decision should be allowed to stand with the same flexibility has stand with the same flexibility has been offered to those who chose to directly elect council mayors.

There directly elect council mayors. There is still time to reflect this flexibility in this bill. So I'd like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister to meet with myself and my honourable friend, the Member for Sheffield Hallam, as well as our local council leaders, to discuss the impact this will have on our communities and their trust in local governance. And more importantly, to ensure that devolution works for
16:16
Charlotte Cane Portrait Charlotte Cane MP (Ely and East Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
I draw members attention to my registered interest as a sitting councillor on East Cambridgeshire District. We can all agree that power should be devolved as close to communities as possible. Because they know what is best for their area far better than anyone else. Strong and empowered parish, city and principal councils, accountable to residents, help our democracy and take better decisions for the communities they serve stop --. Sadly, this Bill does not deliver that, while the governments intention of devolution by default is commendable, this Bill represents centralisation by choice.

Instead of genuine decentralisation of powers to communities, the Bill we are debating today empowers regional mayors at the expense of local councils and the Secretary of State. Local councillors have expressed concerns, such as the uncertainty this has caused at a time when councils are trying to set the budget admits the wider crisis in local government funding, and fears that bigger authorities, particularly in rural communities, will lead to weaker connections with the areas they serve. This Bill has caused considerable uncertainty locally because it also comes at the time when Integrated Care Boards are being changed...

Relationships with key care partners been doubly unsettled. Local councillors in my constituency are also concerned this Bill has been hastily drafted. Meaning it does not fix some obvious anomalies in our existing boundaries. Such as what some people have called the Newmarket bite. The town of Newmarket is almost completely surrounded by my constituency. Many of my residents look to Newmarket for some of their services and many in Newmarket look to Cambridgeshire for some of their services. Newmarket and the surrounding villages should have had the opportunity to choose between a Cambridgeshire-based unitary or a Suffolk-based unitary.

I am particularly concerned about the bill's provision to enable mayors of strategic authorities to appoint seven unelected commissioners to deliver specific policy areas. We already have an established system for this very purpose. In most councils we have an administration of elected councillors in which the leader of the council chooses a small group to form their cabinet. And in other councils we have committees that are responsible for oversight of policy areas. I am also, like a previous speaker, very worried about the government's plans to impose a leader on cabinet model on these authorities.

East Cambridgeshire District has kept the committee system because this is what our residents tell us that they want. You cannot have a minister telling us we cannot run ourselves the way our local community wants. Appointing commissioners rides roughshod over the parish system of democratically elected councils by allowing mayors to nominate unelected commissioners to lead on policies. How can the public oldies commissioners to account if not at the ballot box? Who will scrutinise their judgement calls? How can we improve the transparency of their decision-making at a political level? This Bill is a missed opportunity to meaningfully decentralise power to our communities and make a fundamental shift in where power lies in this country.

The government is claiming to make devolution the default, they have introduced centralisation. These proposals weaken existing systems of accountability and even in areas of the Bill where progress is made, such as electoral reform, it tinkers at the edges. We urgently need a system where every vote counts so we need proportional representation. True devolution comes as a result of grassroots... Rooted in communities. Top-down attempt at devolution, such as this bill, sadly end in being well wide of the mark.

People in my constituency do not want to be. In two unitary authority -- forced into unitary authority, at one into big to understand local leaders and at the other end too small to cover the areas where they were, spend leisure time and receive healthcare. They do not want decisions to be taken by appointed commissioners rather than elected councillors. They would value real devolution and a proper say in the changes which they want. I urge the government to reconsider this Bill, so it delivers the devolution in England which people want.

want.
16:21
Andy MacNae Portrait Andy MacNae MP (Rossendale and Darwen, Labour)
-
-
I enormously welcome the... Of this bill. It is a thoroughly rare this bill. It is a thoroughly rare thing for a government of this to actively give up power this government does understand it will deliver the economy that it works everyone, with a new way of governing that shifts power away from Westminster once and for all. At the heart this Bill is about putting power back in the hands of communities, recognising that by those who know the communities best and a filly accountable for the consequences of those decisions.

The somewhere like Lancashire, to address the fundamental issues that has practice along, my honourable friend from South Ribble explained the dysfunctional nature of Lancashire very eloquently. To recap, we have 12 district, two unitary, county council, police and crime Commissioner. This sort of confusing two tier structure hollowed out by austerity, with little accountability with the remote fragmented decision-making sits in stark contrast with the clarity of leadership and Anja Sonstevold resources we see in our neighbouring city regions. We have had to watch Manchester, Liverpool and West Yorkshire forge ahead while we are stuck in the slow length.

This lived reality is the status quo that the benches opposite, the shadow Secretary of State who is no longer in the space, have sought to defend and maintain. This Bill gives the chance to change all of that. It is a chance to take back control and power are communities, Charles Reba local government making more effective and saving money that can be reinvested in local services. The chance to bring resources that can turbocharge growth and deliver our potential. So I urge Lancashire leaders to work together with a sense of urgency to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There is an additional challenge. Even with clear determination from local leaders there will be at least two years until Lancashire has a and a restructured combined authority. -- Has a Mayor. It will take much longer to we have the capacity that is already in place in the likes of Liverpool and Manchester. In that time the city regions will move further ahead, whilst the risk is that Lancashire will fall further behind. The new Lancashire growth plan shows there is a bright future for Lancashire if we have the tools to create it.

12 transformational projects that will be game changers for us. The inspirational transport infrastructure, world-class innovation zone. Overall the proposed project pipeline has the potential to attract over 20 billion of investment to our county. As things stand these are just bold ideas and possibilities. To taken to the stage where they are fully worked and investable proposals, will take the capacity Lakshan along the has. In contrast to a neighbouring city regions which to use devolved resources for full business cases and business project is already ready for the green light.

We have seen the results of this with infrastructure pipeline projects being located within strategic mayoral authorities. This stark contrast between the investment in established mere authorities and those like Lancashire, just starting the devolution process, risks embedding inequality within our region. Places like Lancashire cannot wait until the devolved authorities are in place. Just not in a quality taking root we need support now to ensure we can progress our transformational projects and deliver on our growth potential. The recent green book review by the fortunately recognised issue and help to identify some ways of adjusting it, including expanding the better business case program, progressing the National Wealth Fund partnership program and...

From central government to the region. This is exactly what he needed Lancashire so we can start to deliver on our growth plan with projects taking place in instruction pipeline. Whilst I strongly welcome this Bill and call again on councils to come together to seize the opportunity it offers, I do ask the Government to welcome Lancashire MPs and local leaders to ensure we receive the support to catch up with our neighbours and play our full and rightful role in delivering growth and prosperity for all our communities.
16:25
Wendy Morton Portrait Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
-
-
Democracy matters. Accountability matters. But I'm afraid this Bill strips away both. At the heart of this, Government's attempted reforms lies and democratic deficit. Can committees lose their powers, councillors scrutinise but they cannot decide. Local councils are diminished and in their place, and Mayor is handed sweeping powers over planning, housing, infrastructure and even overdevelopment orders. This is not devolution downwards to communities, it is centralisation. Let us be absolutely clear, in the West Midlands the Labour mayor has shown time and again that his focus is on Birmingham, not community such as mine.

And this Bill will entrench that imbalance. It gives a licence to concrete over the green belt and drive a coach and horses through local democracy and it leaves the elected member of Parliament with no formal way of holding him to account, even asking or questioning his decisions. Government say this Bill empowers local communities that they have cut away the very funding that made neighbourhood planning possible. Munipur planning program supported by the National Association of Local Councils helped more than 2000 communities right neighbourhood plans, yet Ministers have scrapped it.

At a time when they seek to railroad development across communities.... Was right when they say this move by the Government week and severity of democracy that should be strengthened. It is not empowerment, it is a contradiction. And my constituents know exactly what that means. It is all too often treated as a dumping ground for housing

**** Possible New Speaker ****

numbers desired elsewhere. I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Does she agree with me that this devolution proposal put forward by the Government is an urban-based model that cannot be urban-based model that cannot be applied to rural areas without fundamentally distorting the character of that area?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

character of that area? My honourable friend absolutely hits the nail on the head here. His community is not dissimilar to mine. community is not dissimilar to mine. community is not dissimilar to mine. On the edge of a large urban area, the West Midlands, Birmingham, and yet we are not deeply rural but we are at real risk here being subsumed are at real risk here being subsumed into the suburbs of the Walsall or Birmingham, with no say in the matter. And like I said, my constituents know what this means.

constituents know what this means. They feel we have communities that They feel we have communities that are being done to, not work with. And we have seen what happens when contradictory housing targets are imposed from above. Take the Black imposed from above. Take the Black Country plan. It was meant to be a model of strategic planning. But it collapsed. The plan fell apart because residents across the Black because residents across the Black Country rightly lost confidence, it was plain wrong. And this Bill was plain wrong.

And this Bill repeats the same mistake. Powers to push development through riding roughshod over local objections and concreting over our communities green spaces. Just look at the imbalance. We have Birmingham's housing targets falling whilst Walsall's are rising by 27%. My constituency is told to take the strain, while the second city offload its numbers. It is not devolution, it is displacement. And it will only deepen distrust. Take some of the roads and lanes, the list of speculative planning applications across my constituency goes on and on and on.

And all of this before the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and even this legislation have been enacted. If this government was serious about empowerment, they will put a brownfield first duty into the reforms, they chose not to. The West Midlands has hundreds of hectares of derelict land that could be brought back to use. And there is funding that this already. The brownfield housing fund, the national competitive fun, the brownfield infrastructure and land fund but there is no requirement for the mayor to use these funds first before he launches into our precious green belt and our green wedges.

And without a statutory brownfield first duty, we note that developers always go for the easy option first. Take the Birch Lane proposal in Aldridge, hundreds of homes on greenbelt land rebranded now as grey belt. That is precisely the kind of inappropriate development this Bill will make harder to resist. The local consultee's weekend and mayoral powers strengthen. This government is not building communities, it is dividing them. And what about infrastructure? My constituents were promised Aldridge train station, as many here know I talk a lot about that, funding was secured, the business case me, yet the Labour mayor diverted the money elsewhere.

If he cannot deliver on those commitments, why should this House be handing him more commitments? There are also serious questions to answer about what exactly is grey belt. Because regulation suggests it could be used to redefine a greenbelt site with building on three sides. This should allow all of us Mike alarm all of us in this place. Because we are now at serious risk of being subsumed within a greater Birmingham and a greater Walsall. Do not get me wrong, we need houses.

The let's give it some thought and let's put them in the right place and let's not lose our identity or our communities. Because of government diktat. Because this is what it is. This Government is making a complete mockery of what we call greenbelt and green wedges which were there to protect communities from urban is brought. And all this at a time when Birmingham Council cannot even empty their bins. The me his wishes hands of it, the Deputy Premier and is the does not seem interested.

This Bill is not devolution, it is not empowerment, it is quite simply a developing stream and a neighbourhood nightmare and I will neighbourhood nightmare and I will

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Having served as a town councillor and deputy Mayor before election to this House, I witnessed election to this House, I witnessed first hand the need for reform to first hand the need for reform to our systems., parish, councils have been plagued by inefficiency and been plagued by inefficiency and toothless standards for long and that's why I support the reform of the audit system outlined in the the audit system outlined in the bill. My experiences and those given to me by others over the years have
16:32
Sadik Al-Hassan Portrait Sadik Al-Hassan MP (North Somerset, Labour)
-
-
to me by others over the years have underscored the need for an overhaul for transparency, accountability and local government structures. The government commitment to reforming the local audit system is both timely and essential. The bill prioritises the establishment of a more coherent and reliable audit framework which will undoubtedly build trust within communities and foster a more robust democratic process. By addressing the systemic challenges, we are sending a clear message that councils must be accountable and that the integrity of the operations of Parliament.

Furthermore, the reforms represent a significant step towards greater devolution, empowering councils to take decisive action to look to the unique needs of local. I believe it's crucial to introduce greater accountability for a compliance scoring system that clearly indicates to the public further elected representatives are undertaking best practice and demonstrating financial competence with their money. Parameters should be set nationally to assure transparency and efficiency and we should focus on minimum standards for councillors, ensuring there are proper consequences when standards are bridged.

This would restore confidence in local democracy and help to alleviate the recruitment and retention of town and parish clerks nationally who are impartial and objective legal advisers, past with ensuring councils act lawfully. I'm sure many colleagues will know about totally unacceptable behaviours that some town and parish clerks are subjected to and are enabled by the lack of effective records against the perpetrators. The ongoing loss of highly trained and experienced experts is a great loss to the sector and the recruit and crisis heads the number willing to stand for council as many face the same unacceptable behaviour.

We need the same legislation for councillors is an important first step. Professional legislation fees should be paid for by councils based on the number of councils, are loving the Baikal of estate function to be carried out effectively. We cannot continue the current slide towards empty council changes across towns and villages. There are declining standards and poor standards of behaviour and conduct. The local measures that came into force under the Coalition government abolished the standards Board for England and since then Paris to suspend councillors who breach the standards have been repealed and there is no recourse against poor conduct.

There is no recourse for poor standards of behaviour. This led to that of the city has allowed pockets of another good behaviour to persist unchallenged, undermining the very essence of local government. We must take this opportunity to affect new systems and processes and foster a new model of accountable politics at the local and very local level. I've seen how unacceptable behaviours can go entirely unchecked and erode trust. The bill represents the chance to have a higher standard and ensure appropriate people serve communities and be cut out the right in some councils.

If town and parish councils are to play a larger role, which brings the benefit of greater ownership to local communities, it's essential that all councils are held to the same high standards. I wish to point out that are very many local councils across the country which do a fabulous job and some great ones in my constituency. They are governed by people extremely well and govern communities but the men they are risking creating disparity.

This represents the foundation which are built upon to do better and establish proper standards at the local level of democracy and ensure we have appropriate people serving our communities. communities.
16:37
Joe Robertson Portrait Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East, Conservative)
-
-
Like I am sure all members in this place, I support the principle of devolution and empowerment. The two words on the face of the bill. This bill is about centralisation and disempowerment. For the Isle of Wight, it is about fusing our island with Hampshire where 93% of the combined population will live in the mainland of Hampshire with only 7% on the island, under a combined mere authority. -- mayor. There is no empowerment.

Island people will not get a say. The last time this bill was crystallised under the previous Labour government, islanders were given ISA through a local -- were given the seam through a referendum, said no, and the decision was respected. The government does not respect my constituents enough to ask them if they are happy to be fused with a much larger county fridge sits across the water. It is centralising because my local authority will lose some powers. It will lose powers over strategic will lose powers over strategic will lose powers over strategic planning so that I -- a mayor who represents voters in Hampshire can allocate housing on the island and if you want to be re-elected, there will be responsive to the much larger cohort of voters in Hampshire.

There are three particularly offensive things about this bill that the government is imposing on my constituents. Our police authority is called Hampshire and Isle Of Wight, so Is Our Health health authority and fire and rescue. The vast majority of organisations that operate across the two counties are named after our two counties, Hampshire and Isle of Wight. This government is going to call the combined authority Hampshire and Solent, removing our name, potentially, from all the organisations that the Mayor will have, removing our name from police, fire and rescue, health commissioning, and who knows what in the future.

That will be done without anyone having a say on the Isle of Wight. The second offensive thing about this proposal for my constituency is the powers that gives the Mayor over transport and the fact it has Solent in the title but there will be no powers for the biggest transport issue facing residents, crossing the Solent Ferry and the MAyor will get no power over them, the only key transport provider in the UK and this government that is prepared to nationalise railways, extend the arm of government and put more money in roads is not prepared to do anything about my constituents being left at the mercy of foreign-owned companies.

It has used some warm words and I acknowledge that and the Minister has visited the island but this is the opportunity to deliver on the words and put our in the hands of the Mayor for transport. Finally, importantly, on ring-fenced funding, because it would be fused with Hampshire, the Mayor would be able to spend money across a single homogenous zone with no special provision to ensure ring fenced funding for the Isle of Wight that cannot be raided for Hampshire.

The local ICBs already reading money from our hospice to spend it on Hampshire hospices. On the key transport issue, on the consultation

**** Possible New Speaker ****

of my constituents, the F word, ferries, was not mentioned once. On 5 March this year, the Prime
16:42
Perran Moon Portrait Perran Moon MP (Camborne and Redruth, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

On 5 March this year, the Prime Minister stood at the dispatch box Minister stood at the dispatch box and said, "We do recognise Cornish studies, not just the proud history and language of culture but the future." Since then, we have not delivered on giving as the increase funding been sitting for centuries and today is a significant milestone. With the commitment of the Prime Minister to Cornish national minority status clearly we are from, I support a bill that delivers tangible devolution to Cornwall but I would like to explore clarifications on the implications of the bill on the people of Cornwall.

The land that you call Cornwall, we Cornwall, we have Cornwall, we have a Cornwall, we have a local Cornwall, we have a local lymph Cornwall, we have a local lymph but you also have an infinite which means that we are people of difference. Rake up to modern times, you could has continued to one of the distinct territory of coral, treating us in unique and exceptional ways. Our constitutional status is perhaps most clearly outlined in a newspaper article by House of Lords researcher who stated that the whole territorial interest in Dominion of the Crown Inn and over the county of Cornwall is vested in the Duke of Cornwall and so caudal is a separate kingdom.

He continued by saying that he knows that Cornish people have been shouting about this for a long time but they are right. Is the recognition of the distinct history of coral and the unique and exceptional constitutional settlement which we enjoy to the present day. In recent times, Cornwall has been the first rural area outside Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, to gain a devolution settlement for transport, education, renewable energy, and more recently, I got education, Cornish distinctiveness and language.

Some of the benefits offered in the devolution bill, within the mere authority, coral already enjoys. I'm often asked, as a Cornishman, do I consider myself English? Alongside hundreds of Cornish men and women, I am often mocked for my reply. Let me be clear, I am Cornish, not English, but I freely admit that some of my best friends are English. To those at home, those who have been little, a to be loud and proud because it is all key to consider yourself Cornish all key to consider yourself Cornish and British.

-- It is OK. Cornish identity and minority status is often conflicted but it could be considered belittling. It's not about identity but illegally binding national minority status, formally agreed by the Council of Europe 10 years ago and must be accepted and celebrated and upheld.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am grateful to my honourable friend for giving way. In previous friend for giving way. In previous parliaments, I led a campaign to secure the recognition of the Cornish language and people. Does he agree that this is not an issue of isolationism? It's not about cutting isolationism? It's not about cutting ourselves off cutting ourselves in to still abutting the presidency and to still abutting the presidency and having the identity properly identified and respected so it can identified and respected so it can draw, rather than be repressed? Surely devolution is about enabling places, rather than controlling them, which is what I fear the bill them, which is what I fear the bill

**** Possible New Speaker ****

them, which is what I fear the bill For centuries we have in a safe

**** Possible New Speaker ****

For centuries we have in a safe harbour, a port in the storm pupils all over the world, we are an inclusive society. Let me get straight to the nub of the issue. The Council of Europe framework prevention on minority status makes it very clear, otic in 16 of the Convention, the party shall refrain Convention, the party shall refrain from measures that alter the proportions of the population in areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities and are aimed at restricting the rights and freedoms from the principles enshrined by the present framework Convention.

In 2016 when passing comment on the then government plans for redrawing boundaries, the Council of Europe advisory committee on the framework and highlighted that article 16 prohibits restrict thing the enjoyment of the rights of the framework Convention in connection with the redrawing of borders. In relation to the Bill currently drafted, Cornwall is prevented from accessing the highest level of devolution because to do so would require us to compromise our national minority status. During the course of this Bill I will work with the Government to ensure this Bill is passed that respects Cornish national minority status and delivers an historic devolution arrangement that fulfils our manifesto commitment.

The devolution arrangement that provides for the economic development support we need to unleash the Cornish Celtic Tiger. The devolution arrangement that gives us the funding and resources to deal with our crumbling housing crisis. A devolution deal that celebrate Cornish national minority status. This is a responsibility that weighs not just upon the mind, for us this is not just about unction or local government, it goes way, way deeper into our souls. A centuries-old desire for increased autonomy and self-governance in our place on this multinational island.

I urge Ministers together let's grasp this once in a generation opportunity.
16:48
Ian Sollom Portrait Ian Sollom MP (St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
When the Government gets something right it is important to acknowledge it and the community right to buy provisions in this Bill do I think represent the kind of genuine empowerment constituents need. So I would like to acknowledge that. In my constituency, I have a village community desperate to buy their local pub. An asset of community Value that has been up for sale for some time. They have raised the asking price that they have community support, but the owner simply refuses to sell to them.

And under the current system, they have no right of purchase, no right of refusal. And though they have raised the money, more time to organise that complex legal and financial arrangement required for community ownership would have been appreciated. So that new community right to buy provision in the Bill is welcome. But as the Bill gets community empowerment right in one policy area, it misses the opportunity to do so in many others. And I would like to draw a particular contrast with one, the schools architecture in the bill.

The Bill creates new skills responsibilities for strategic authorities without clarifying how they will coordinate with Skills England's national role and of the new body or the existing employer led local skills improvement plans. Get a system where Skills England sets national priorities, LSIPs identify local employer needs and strategic authorities deliver adult education funding. But the Bill has no clear mechanisms for ensuring that those layers align or avoid costly duplication. That fragmentation is compounded by the separation of adult skills from the broader skills and education ecosystem.

The Bill devolves responsibility for adult education to strategic authorities but leave 16 to 19 education with the central government. And provides no clear role at all for universities in local economic development. And that is despite the education secretary herself calling for universities to make a stronger contribution to economic growth through closer alignment to skills needs and economic growth plans. How can we develop coherent local skill strategies when we artificially separate the pipeline that feeds skilled employment? The funding arrangements are also concerning.

Strategic authorities will hold the adult skills budget but only have joint ownership of the LSIPs and should guide their spending parities. It is difficult to see how democratically accountable bodies can be responsible for outcomes when they lack control over the full planning process. -- Spending priorities. Karen LSIP boundaries do not align with the proposed strategic authority boundaries. -- Current LSIP boundaries. The Bill provides no mechanism for resolving conflicts or a timeline for achieving the geographical coherence that effective planning requires.

And possibly most troubling is the absence of any performance framework linking those different institutional layers. Strategic authorities must produce local growth plans but there is no requirement for those to align with LSIPs or Skills England workforce forecasting. We risk read different bodies in each area producing conflicting skills priorities with no clear coordination mechanism, a recipe for confusion, waste and ultimately failure to address the skill shortages our economy desperately needs to resolve. I wanted to draw a contrast, so here it is.

On community assets, this Bill trusts local people and provides clear and enforceable rights. On skills though, one of the most critical of challenges facing our economy, it created -- creates its institutional... Lacks transparency or clear lines of responsivity. I do hope the Government will go away, think again and come back with a more coherent approach that actually delivers the local responsiveness on skills that communities and our economy so desperately need. Thank you. desperately need. Thank you.
16:53
Emma Foody Portrait Emma Foody MP (Cramlington and Killingworth, Labour )
-
-
The UK is one of the most centrally run countries in the world will stop the decades Whitehall has made every major decision on growth and investment while the communities impacted were too often an afterthought. It has left communities poor and trapped, playing again they can never win. And the regions like mine, physically the furthest away in England, it has meant we felt removed from decisions and decision-making and this Bill is a chance to change that failure. In the north-east, during her first year, our mayor Ken Guinness has launched important local projects including tackling child poverty and bringing buses back into public control.

-- Ken Maginnis. She is unable to tackle some of the big economic challenges will face because she does not have the power to change them. This Bill makes it easier for the mayor to decide how local money is spent, putting the pen in local hands to write our own priorities, so our priorities come first, rather than agreed list made years ago with Whitehall. Allowing the mayor to create a growth plan showing where investment is needed most and so Westminster can follow that lead.

The north-east growth plan sets out priorities so we can then work with this government to deliver the projects identified. By creating these local growth plans the government can see the share priorities in things like advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital innovation. Regions are able to create a list of projects ready for investment because we know where the blockages are in our area because we live with them every single day. And of course one such priority which politicians, businesses and communities have identified for our region is the case of the roundabout in my agency, something which I have spoken about many times in this place.

-- In my constituency. It has already been identified as a protein because upgrading it would not only address the misery it causes for local people every day but will also unlock investment in manufacturing, clean energy, housing and supporting business growth. Alongside changes in the community local playspace business case we can ensure we approach these priorities with a cross departmental led approach. The two long departmental silos have prevented a cross government approach but now we can ensure with the like of local government, transport, business and energy can work with local leaders to deliver priorities.

It is not just mayoral powers we benefit from, I am absolutely thrilled to see in this Bill steps to protect communities and community sport for the future. This Bill takes heavily from one I introduced in May, creating a change to safeguard sporting assets of community value. This would automatically protect football clubs, leisure centres and other sports facilities by giving local communities the first chance to buy them if they go up for sale.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Just briefly, if you explain about the sporting and the economic and social interest, do you believe that also environmental interest should be taken into account, to allow councils... Communities also

**** Possible New Speaker ****

claim on other different types of funds that also protect the environment? My honourable friend makes a

**** Possible New Speaker ****

My honourable friend makes a really interesting point and I think we should look at what communities prioritise and make considerations prioritise and make considerations as to what they value. But going back to sporting assets particularly, there are over 6,000 particularly, there are over 6,000 sports grounds in England alone. To protect them under the current protect them under the current system is complex, it is buried in redtape and made far too difficult. And has meant that fewer than 100 And has meant that fewer than 100 sports facilities are protected community assets across the country.

community assets across the country. Meaning that almost 99% of sports facilities across the country are not currently preserved from developers trying to buy up land. We developers trying to buy up land. We want to give people the authority to make decisions about their own areas. This summer I was absolutely areas. This summer I was absolutely delighted to visit so many facilities in my constituency.... Cricket club, as well as working with the likes of a football club with the likes of a football club and many more.

These clubs and facilities are at the heart of our communities, not just providing support but community activities, running holiday clubs and being a welcoming community space. For many other villages and towns across the constituency they are the lifeblood. So I'm delighted that this Government is protecting these vital pillars in the community that are so important to local people. For too long Whitehall has left communities and regions like mine trapped and poorer because decisions were not taken with them in mind. This government is changing that with a bigger shift in power out of Westminster to the north-east and my communities.

It will push growth, raise living standards and deliver services for local people. It is about giving power to those who know our communities best. I'm delighted that this Labour government is putting our regions, our communities and our neighbourhoods first.
16:58
Ben Maguire Portrait Ben Maguire MP (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
I rise to make the case for Curnow or Cornwall and its unique status within this United Kingdom. My constituents have been crystal clear with me, Cornwall must never be forcibly joined with Devon or merged into any wider regional authority. But that is not to say Cornwall wants to go it alone, it is not about separatism at all, this is about respecting our distinct status in history. Cornwall has proudly partnered with other UK regions for decades. It has a proud unique language, culture, history and crucially national minority status.

Which was granted over a decade ago. We were afforded the same status as our Celtic brothers and sisters in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. And so the people of Cornwall deserve a devolution deal that recognises this. This status is not just symbolic, it creates a duty on public authorities to promote equality for the Cornish people, to support our culture, language and identity. And specifically to avoid any assimilationist policies. Under the UK's Equality Act and the Public Sector Equality Duty, Ministers and local authorities alike must consider the impact of their decisions, including in this bill, on the Cornish people.

If they fail to do so can their actions can be challenged in the courts using an array of legal claims including judicial reviews and Equality Act claim and Human Rights Act article 14 differential treatment claim. Therefore these rights carry real legal and political weight. To disregard or dilute formal status in this Bill would be insulting, this Bill would be insulting, unlawful and dangerous. I am alarmed at the proposed powers contained within this Bill which would grant the Secretary of State power to force combined authorities without local people's consent.

Devolution in Essen should be giving power to the communities, the regions and the Cos it aims to empower, not to an mayor, the Secretary of State or an unelected Commissioner. The Prime Minister told me in response to my PMQ last November he believes those with skin in the game know what is best for their communities and the Secretary of State has repeated that herself today, I agree with both of them, decision should be made or Cornwall and in Cornwall by a fully elected Cornish assembly, not in Plymouth, not in Bristol and not in Westminster.

But by those from within the Duchy who understand our unique way of life. Unique economic and social challenges we face, whether the immense challenges of finding rural transport, dealing with the unfair and unequal investment in our schools over decades, the plight of our farmers and fishers who seem to be left out in the cold government after government or the enormous liberation of second homes and holiday let, which lock local people out of our housing market generation out of our housing market generation In my office, I proudly display a portrait which illustrates the spirit of resistance.

People had taxis forced upon them from the government in London. Even history and strength of feeling, if the and strength of feeling, if the Secretary of State were to impose a Mayor of Devon,, it would affect the minority status and there may be a minority status and there may be a There is limited funding, powers, control, and we are fighting for a bespoke devolution bill that should have measures in place to allow such a bill to take place.

We must work together for the good of Cornwall, one and all, to make this happen. I call on the government to fully respect the national minority status of Cornwall and create a Minister for Cornwall that could sit in the Wales cup back office. It could commit to a devolution deal which respects the historic identity of coral by excluding from agreements

**** Possible New Speaker ****

with other regions. I will pass, Madam Deputy
17:03
Noah Law Portrait Noah Law MP (St Austell and Newquay, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

Speaker. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Few matters have come up in my interest as much as the question of Cornish devolution. For decades, if not centuries, people in Cornwall have spoken about having greater say over decisions which shape their lives, founded in are more than 1000-year-old national identity. That is why this bill has been watched with keen anticipation and, in some quarters, concerned. My conclusion is this, far from being the bulldozer that many feared, the bill leaves the position of Connell intact and formalises a single foundation status and a single geography, I hope, once and for all and, crucially, does not strip away any of the strategic powers that Cornwall already exercises.

Recognition of national minority status is firmly acknowledged in this place and as one of the largest this place and as one of the largest unitary authorities by geographic footprint, we will keep many of the functions that are being looked at functions that are being looked at

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Does he agree the historic context must be part of the decision?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I agree with my honourable friend. I should add, on top of the many examples he has given already many examples he has given already of the constitutional status, and of the constitutional status, and aside from Westminster, in 2033, the leader of the council was given permission to attend meetings with permission to attend meetings with the British Irish Council, much like the British Irish Council, much like the other nations and the Channel Islands. There was the historic collaboration agreement, reflecting collaboration agreement, reflecting the shared culture of the Celtic nations.

Perhaps more importantly in nations. Perhaps more importantly in this space, the report of 1973, the this space, the report of 1973, the Royal commission acknowledged that the creation of Cornwall in 1337 established a special relationship established a special relationship between Cornwall and the Crown with use that all appropriate occasions with serve to illustrate the special with serve to illustrate the special relationship and the integrity of Cornwall and what the Cornish are not what is recognition of the fact...

Sorry, what we want is recognition of the fact we have a separate identity and that traditional boundaries should be respected. While the letter of the bill itself does not necessarily offer the level of devolution many have called for, I have no doubt it will be welcome in other cities and regions across England but Cornwall is different and it is a remote coastal community with a functional economic geography. Call it what you will. It is very good ground, if nothing else, as many will know from summer holidays.

Above all, cornrow as a pro part of the UK with a distinct identity, resurgent language, desire to be heard after centuries of dismissal and we are ready to ship future and the rest of the kingdom in a way that helps across all nations and regions. I welcome the new powers such as the community rated by in the bill. That is a measure that will put power back into local hands and give people in my constituency who are people in my constituency who are looking at public assets the chance to ensure that they remain in public hands and continue to serve local needs.

Finally,... I will give way on that point.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

He makes a strong case for Cornwall and what he should be doing, he is urging his colleagues in government to welcome amendments in government to welcome amendments to this bill which strengthen the ability of Cornwall to be able to ability of Cornwall to be able to achieve the unique and special achieve the unique and special status which we believe needs to be enshrined in this act of Parliament ultimately as well, of course, as

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the historic record. I agree with the honourable

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I agree with the honourable gentleman and its import that the national minority status of Connell national minority status of Connell is respected by the bill. Not only that, the powers and investment required to meet the distinctive required to meet the distinctive required to meet the distinctive needs of Cornwall, if not enshrined in the text, must be considered as part of the devolution process. part of the devolution process. Finally, I think we should acknowledge that file the bill acknowledge that file the bill streamlines devolution architecture in Cornwall, the mayoral model will in Cornwall, the mayoral model will not suit everywhere in the country and there are other effective ways to deliver devolved functions.

We need a plan for Cornwall that equips us with the powers we require for housing skills and industry angles to meet the challenges that we face. The truth is that the statutory framework set out in the bill is not in my mind the central issue at stake. What matters is that secure a settlement for Cornwall that recognises the unique circumstances and protects our ability to make strategic decisions and gives communities the tools to drive on.
17:09
Rebecca Paul Portrait Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)
-
-
-- Strive on. I would like to draw your attention to my register of interests. All of the issues I will raise today are the minds of my constituents. I want to emphasise the importance of ensuring that borrowers that had been managed well are not left footing the bill for other councils that have been less prudent finances. We have a commendably strong record of financial improvements and so can the Secretary of State reassure my constituents protections will be put in place to safeguard community assets like the Harlequin Theatre, community centres, leisure centres.

I am right to emphasise how important the theatre is to the people of Redhill and beyond. It has been close for over two years and residents and community groups, notably the Halle -- Harlequin Support Group, had been campaigning for its reopening. With the help of a tenacious local council, has been from the £4.5 billion required for repairs will be allocated. -- £4.5 million. I raised this today because my constituents would appreciate hearing from the secretary of state and ministers that the local government organisation will not hamper projects like this that have been agreed but will take some time.

I want to make the point that the reorganisation is not the only challenge faced by the council. It has had housing targets more than doubled by the government at a time of great uncertainty and transition. A recipe for disaster. My main focus is on the future of the Civic mural -- mayoral team. The importance placed on this team can be seen in the chamber office and the mace which is in use today. The government has been clear the intention is to provide a consistent model for the restructuring of local government across England.

What is less clear, and I hope we could have clarity here, is what this means areas like mine Privy Council has civic leadership in the form of a civic leadership in the form of a Mayors, the rule is different. Mayors, the rule is different. We had Eddie Hughes, a hard-working public servant. In the last civic year alone, the mere has responded to over 350 engagement requests and posted 25 tours for schools and community groups and overseen events attended by nearly 1500 people, not including the thousands more who attended the Sunday.

The position of the Mayor is important and the attendance at an event brings extra sparkle to events. Areas have been supported with grants this year. A single funding workshop led by the team of the Mayor unlock more than £50,000 for charities and through sustained community engagement, it has collected employers with job seekers, donors with good causes and skills with mentors, championing the Armed Forces and offering practical help to residents in crisis. I hope we agree on the importance of a borough Mayor and look at how it can be achieved in practical terms in this bill.

this bill.
17:14
Andrew Cooper Portrait Andrew Cooper MP (Mid Cheshire, Labour)
-
-
It is a pleasure to speak today on what may prove to be one of the most impactful and transformative pieces of legislation in this Parliament. The bill represents a significant shift in local government. It sets out a clear ambition to move power out of Westminster into the hands of local leaders who know their communities best. For areas like Cheshire and Warrington, this has the potential to give us the tools to unlock our full potential and deliver real, tangible benefits for communities.

A transport alone, the opportunity to longer talk about the decline in services but providing new routes, the opportunity to longer hear about campaigning for a bridge or a railway but to say we have a plan to deliver. On skills, instead of talking about the 92% drop in adult education starters that is in my area between 2015-20 we can talk about fixing it. It's important to recognise is not without risk with respect to police services. The bill gives power to the Home Secretary to redraw policing boundaries to match the combined authority.

There is no consensus in Cheshire that the police should be reorganised to exclude another part of the region and such a move would be explicitly bad for Holton and could damage the viability of the police. I hope it summing up the Minister can reassure us that I feel consultation will take place before the Cheshire police is reorganised. -- a full. Turning to privileges adult education, the new duty placed on strategic authorities for appropriate facilities for the training of idols of 19 is a welcome step.

In the focus I have run with technology businesses across Cheshire and the wider north-west, there is a clear divide between areas with the Mayor and without and some businesses do not feel there is a good understanding of your needs or a plan to deliver on it and the combined authority presents not only an opportunity to fix this but to think strategically about taking advantage of projects like High Net which will require miles of hydrogen pipeline and the people with the skills to build it.

It does not address post-16 education. Local authorities had the ability to provide provisions to meet the needs of people over compulsory school age in the area but like the power to deliver this or that it is organised. It is a real challenge in my constituency in particular fits, following the review in 2016 to post-16 education in Cheshire and Warrington, has left gaps in provision and there are discrepancies in the level. There is an opportunity for the authority to deliver better outcomes for people in my constituency but did the power to do so and so I urge ministers to work with colleagues in the Department of education to use mayors to tackle entrenched inequality and ensure every young person, regardless of background has access to high-quality education and training to prepare them for the future.

In conclusion, the bill is not just a handover of power but a partnership between central government and local communities, which re-elected leader Sandy people that they serve. It is a chance for the people of Cheshire and Warrington to lead by example and show what empowered communities can achieve when given the freedom to achieve when given the freedom to
17:18
Marie Goldman Portrait Marie Goldman MP (Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
I wanted to start by saying that like many Honourable members across the chamber I also used to be a counsellor I'm aware I was deputy leader this is counter for five years and an opposition member of Essex County Council. I have seen first-hand the work that local councils do and I know they do it in very difficult circumstances and the circumstances have got harder and harder within the dwindling runs they are having to work with an increased demand on their services.

There are seven services which despite very best efforts of both council leaders across the country and of course council officers who are often the unsung heroes of local government, there is a housing crisis. There is a crisis in special educational needs. There is a crisis in adult social care. And we do not seem to have a plan to fix any of those. And yet we seem to be rushing ahead with local government reorganisation and devolution which seems to me to be a little bit like putting the cart before the horse.

What is the best way to fix educational needs, the best way to fix adult social care or the best way to deliver the housing we need is a different form of local government. Why are these things not part of the mix, why have we not got a plan to fix these really important issues first before reorganising local government and trapping ourselves into a corner before we do that? I am in favour of devolution. I think that it is right to have power closer to the people that that our effect so I want local communities to be empowered.

But this Bill does not do that. In fact, this Bill does the exact opposite of devolution. The reason it does that is not because it does indeed devolve powers about transport and skills, which are good things, and there are other things in the Bill which are good, but it is because of the local government reorganisation that goes with it. Let me take Essex for example. I took about Essex because one, represent a constituency chamfered right in the heart of Essex and to because I used to BNS is county councillor but also because Essex is in the first wave of reorganisation.

-- Are used to be an Essex county council. It will not benefit from the scrapping of first past the post, so my local constituents would not get the benefit from truly getting their vote represented. But also in Essex there are several proposals, there is a proposal to replace Essex County Council plus the district with either three unitary's, four unitary's or five unities. So replacing all of those district councils and we are talking if you include the other unit trees there is 15 in total, plus Essex County Council and replacing them with possibly three unitary's would be the exact opposite of devolution, it we taking power awaken the people, removing it and taking it further away, making the councillors and representatives that represent the people further away...



**** Possible New Speaker ****

So, I'm delighted to hear honourable ladies speech, that she honourable ladies speech, that she and I are both Essex MPs. And I agree with her that we should not be creating these huge unitary creating these huge unitary authorities because local councils are truly in touch with local communities and local needs. communities and local needs. However, I ask her, does she agree with me that as Hegering is also with me that as Hegering is also part of Essex, we should be part of that discussion as well? -- As that discussion as well? -- As Hegering.

And if my borrower wants to be part of an Essex unitary authority, such as central Essex authority, such as central Essex that would include Chelmsford, which agreed me that my constituent should have the right to make that decision

**** Possible New Speaker ****

in a democracy? I thank the honourable gentlemen

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank the honourable gentlemen for his intervention and absolutely... My problem with this is it feels rushed and when there are more people that want to are more people that want to contribute to the discussion and constituency want to be represented and what have local government reorganised in a way where they have reorganised in a way where they have been able to contribute to it, absolutely, that really would be democracy and I think what we are democracy and I think what we are seeing right now is rushed and not a proper representation of democracy.

But the three unitary model is not the only model that is being proposed, that is being proposed by proposed, that is being proposed by the county council. The model that actually has the most support from the local district is 9/15 as the five unitary model and that is certainly something that I support as if we have to go ahead with local government reorganisation and surely it should be the one that keeps

**** Possible New Speaker ****

power closer to people. If honourable lady could clarify, she therefore supporting my view she therefore supporting my view that if the people of Hegering chose to have an Essex unitary authority to have an Essex unitary authority that she would support that if that was their democratically chosen wish?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

wish? I think we are in danger about getting into the weeds about exactly how it be really organised like reorganised, we talk about how the size of the unitary authorities that size of the unitary authorities that would be created, if we went down the three unitary model in Essex, it would in silly create three of the would in silly create three of the top five biggest unitary authorities in the country. -- It would in the country. -- It would instantly create.

We are creating enormous councils which have considerably less connection with considerably less connection with the local communities they are serving. It is opposite of devolution and I worry a lot about devolution and I worry a lot about the loss of identity that could lead the loss of identity that could lead to. A lot of the talk is also about savings. The Deputy Prime Minister savings. The Deputy Prime Minister did talk a bit about saving in reorganisation but there is very little evidence to support this little evidence to support this using real-world data.

Models that consultancies have produced in the past were based on modelling but they were not using real-world data. A real-world data is being used to have a look at Essex says that local government reorganisation in Essex is only expected to save £105 million across the whole of Essex after five years. If the five unitary model is chosen. If the three unitary model is chosen, then we will end up with £49 million less and that is after five years, this is a huge undertaking, a lot of resources going into it for very little and we still do not have a plan for special educational needs, we still do not have a planned adult social care and all the things I have mentioned.

And the really important point is that in Essex we have, in greater Essex, we have Suruc and direct has a very, very big debt problem. -- We have Suruc. About £8 million of unsecured debt at the moment. There's no model of local government reorganisation, no model of devolution, even keeping the existing structure, there's no model for Essex in greater Essex that would be financially sustainable without central government stepping in and providing funds to cover that debt. It simply does not work, the maths does not work and looking directly at the Minister because we need a solution for that.

And there will be much more unity in Essex will have to move forward if we can work out how to deal with that debt and it cannot be that other local resident, like my constituent in Chelmsford, should we have to shoulder the blame for something they did not bring about in the first place. I wanted to say very quickly something about Essex County Council elections that were cancelled last May. And whether they will go ahead or not, we have no idea if they'll go ahead next me or not it seemed a bit strange if they did go ahead but equally we want democracy.

Can the government provide clarity about what happened there? And to finish, whites first past the post being scrapped for the mayoral elections but not all local government election? -- Why is first past the post being scrapped. past the post being scrapped.
17:25
Alice Macdonald Portrait Alice Macdonald MP (Norwich North, Labour )
-
-
I cannot say devolution is a topic that comes up very often on the doorstep but the issues this Bill is designed to address certainly do. Too much power exercised by people far away, too little say in shaping places we live little say in shaping places we live and too much confusion over where to go when you have a problem or an issue that needs resolving. These are issues my constituents have raised with me time and time again. Devolution and the measures set out in this Bill will tackle these challenges.

Returning power to local people, empowering communities and parrying growth in areas of the country like mine in Norfolk. In Norfolk devolution means opportunity. It means opportunity and investment in new industries and bolstering existing set strengths -- strengths. It means connectivity, and looking better and sustainable transport which is essential in rural counties like ours. Devolution means enhancing Norfolk and Norwich's reputation and reach and amplifying our voices, our contribution and impact nationally. I welcome this Bill and the fact that Norfolk is part of the devolution priority program.

Current proposals will see an elected mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk alongside the establishment of a combined authority but to take full advantage of this opportunity we must get the structures below that rate. That is why local government reorganisation and the tool set out in this Bill to deliver it are so vital. It is a once in a generation chance to provide more efficient public services and the overlap of councils to deliver better value for money. I am pleased to back proposals supported by 6/7 Norfolk district.

Create three unitary authorities. In Norfolk there would be a greater knowledge unitary with extended boundaries and two unitary authorities broadly covering eastern and western parts of Norfolk. I grew up in Norfolk, I moved there when I was three, I know how essential it is that what is delivered is rooted in place and identity and I believe this proposal will reflect Norfolk and what is needed. Specific boundaries need to be shaped with the support of community engagement but this is the shape I believe our county needs.

That we can unlock the full potential of knowledge. Already a key city in our region and for our country, its economy has grown by 64% since 2010. But we can do so much more to unlock our full potential as a city of great innovation, culture and prosperity. Driving growth across East Anglia and beyond. And as the need for affordable and sustainable housing grows, the establishment of a greater initial authority will offer more effective mechanism for addressing housing demand in our city.

Devolution and effective reorganisation will be a game changer for Norwich and Norfolk only if we get it right and I feel that some of the other options on the table simply not work. The proposal back by the Conservative Norfolk County Council. A single county council in Norfolk, I believe that is too big. It's footprint will cover thousands of Straub Miles -- square miles. Similarly, a model of two unitary authorities failed to recognise the unique growth opportunities I've setup we have in Norwich.

Whilst we may disagree on the models, it is important there is healthy debate on the subject and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the councillors at all levels who do so much for our communities every single day and have also contributed so far to the discussions. It is vital as these proposals develop that we work collaboratively across parties, listening to our residents to get the very best for our communities. And following on from that point can I also asked the Minister to underline that this Bill will not affect town and parish councils and will recognise the vital role they play.

We have many of these in Norwich North... And they all play important parts in our neighbourhoods. I want to take this opportunity to thank, as Labour and co-operative MP, to thank the Co-op party and all its members all the campaigning they have done to deliver so many measures in this bill, including the community right to buy. I recognise this process may not be easy but if we get it right the benefits will be huge, for the constituents we serve and the places

**** Possible New Speaker ****

we represent. As colleagues can see looking around, there are two many speakers being accommodated by the time this debate has then at 7 PM, after the debate has then at 7 PM, after the next speaker the speaking limit will be three minutes and you can calculate the numbers, not calculate the numbers, not everybody's going to get in even on three minutes, so the next speaker and then three minutes.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The current devolution plans in this Bill I feel put politics before people. The government is pressing people. The government is pressing ahead with this Bill before the ahead with this Bill before the independent adult social care review it has published in 2028 and I believe to reorganise local believe to reorganise local government without first addressing the problem in case the cart before the horse. Effective reform can be done in isolation. Local Government Association has been clear in its view that devolution must be aligned with health, police, fire and Integrated Care Board structures, the councils get central to delivery, accountability and collaboration at every level.

Local collaboration at every level. Local consent should be a priority at the devolution process. Any change in governance must be done with the governance must be done with the full consent of the people that are affected. This Bill allows the Secretary of State to impose new Secretary of State to impose new government structures including strategic authorities and regional mayors without local agreement. That strips local people of their voice and runs counter to the principle of devolution. Local democracy is
17:31
Bradley Thomas Portrait Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)
-
-
really being eroded by housing targets being forced onto communities where local objections communities where local objections are routinely brushed aside. Residents will powerless in shaping the future of their towns and the future of their towns and villages and trusting government is draining away rapidly. This Bill will deepen that resentment because while Ministers promised devolution while Ministers promised devolution what communities actually received is less whilst being treated as little more as an extension of major little more as an extension of major little more as an extension of major Birmingham is seen as housing Birmingham is seen as housing targets cut meanwhile, in my constituency, targets have soared by constituency, targets have soared by a staggering 85%.

This is not sensible, it is an attempt to sensible, it is an attempt to urbanised rural areas. In her opening remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister said at the moment too much Minister said at the moment too much power is in the hands of the few and it should be in the hands of the it should be in the hands of the many. Let local people have more of a safe. If our current councils are to be sidelined, in Worcestershire, to be sidelined, in Worcestershire, it should be sure for a single counsel to come into existence can deliver value for money, provide the best services and keep decision- making local.

What we cannot accept is Worcestershire becoming an extension of Birmingham in the name of devolution. The proposals are modelled on city experiences, Worcestershire is not the same as Birmingham, Manchester or any other big city. We have different needs, challenges and priorities. Forcing a city template onto rural areas strips await their voices and sacrifices the fabric of rural life. Residents are treated as an afterthought, counties shaped like Worcestershire are proud of their traditions, if this Bill is to touch our communities, it should recognise their needs.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, I refer members to my

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, I refer members to my register of interest. The fight to rebuild trust in politics must begin rebuild trust in politics must begin in our communities, people want to feel proud of the place they call home. They want investment and the power to shape their future, that is power to shape their future, that is why I welcome second reading of this Bill. This is an ambitious Bill an important step in our devolution revolution, representing one of the greatest transfers of power in a generation.

It is the first Bill in history to include the word history to include the word empowerment in its title. For too long, devolution has meant power long, devolution has meant power being shifted between Whitehall and councils without making meaningful councils without making meaningful contact with local people. This Bill offers a meaningful step forward, offers a meaningful step forward, giving communities the tools to take ownership of the spaces that matter most and I welcome the introduction of community right to buy. In practice, this means that when assets come to the market, assets come to the market, communities get first dibs.

Where we have lost local assets such as this, have lost local assets such as this, it is not just a loss of service, but a further erosion of trust in local democracy. I am in no doubt that giving communities a stronger voice in local decision-making helps to restore trust in politics. In my constituency, there is a fine example of what happens when the people take the reins. They become an anchor for regeneration, The Mill supports jobs, culture and well- being.

Across the country, people have seen a beloved community spaces forced to close their doors, thousands of community centres, youth clubs, libraries, pubs and leisure centres have closed. Labour is rebuilding fabric of our communities, giving local people the power to buy community spaces means that more assets are owned and shared by the people who use them. We are helping to communities to unleash passion and creativity that exists in every community. Many members in this House have pointed to GM as a blueprint, Greater Manchester shows what is possible, since 2015, we have built 85,000 homes, launched the Bee Network and supported over 100,000 residents into work, and I have been a strong advocate for devolution for many years, my work as a local councillor reinforced my belief in giving power to local authorities and the communities they represent.

We must seize this opportunity to put power back where it belongs, and build a future where the and Abbott and communities across the country feel empowered and proud where they call home.
17:36
Lewis Cocking Portrait Lewis Cocking MP (Broxbourne, Conservative)
-
-
We have been told that the government plan for local government will improve local services and save money. It is increasingly clear that this Bill fails to deliver on these points, instead, it is a top-down change from Westminster that will abolish effective local councils and district local people of their ability to have a say on local issues. In my constituency, I have two district as well as Hertfordshire County Council and under this plan, they will be abolished and replaced with new councils.

I strongly oppose Hertfordshire County Council forming a single unitary council covering 1.2 million people and I'm pleased to see that this has been ruled out. However, the new unitary councils will be larger than the district can we have currently. Many members will share my experience that large local authorities are less efficient, deliver worse services. The biggest council in the country, Birmingham, has over one million people and I doubt that anyone would call that efficient. Whilst no council is perfect, I believe they work best when they are closest to the people that they service.

On top of this, I have serious doubts that these plans will save any money. There is no way that the efficiencies cover the extra cost of spending of these bloated authorities. The process of legal decision is expensive and disruptive and I am yet to see it improve the finances that have been through reorganisation. Indeed, there are many places that will be worse off due to reorganisation, responsible Conservative councils like Broxbourne, which have counts within budget and kept council tax low, will be forced to merge with debt-ridden neighbouring councils.

Where this has happened, I know that councils have only gone out to set out delivery services based on the old district boundaries anyway. The efficiencies the government have expected have not emerged. I believe that the reason why the government is going down this path to create a big new council is because of the failure to make progress on their target of a building 1.5 million new homes, the government are getting desperate, rather than building houses where they are needed in London, rather than building them where there is appropriate infrastructure, they are instead abolishing local councils, in order to force through huge, arbitrary housing target in all of the wrong places on precious greenbelt throughout the UK.

 throughout the UK.
17:39
Euan Stainbank Portrait Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)
-
-
Delivering a more representative system locally as well as one that empowers local government is necessary. Given the long-term frustration with decision-making, it is perceived to be dictated by those in Westminster. We know from experience that devolution works best when it is rooted in economic regeneration. We would agree with the honourable member who is no longer in his seat, he said Scotland is a cautionary tale. Local leaders can also make more effectively deployed policy leaders in the national interest, such as trans- port policies of Liverpool and Manchester who have delivered essential services when our Scottish Government had the eye off the ball.

When local leaders have been able to take charge of strategies and regeneration, we see confidence return to the communities. Reflecting on Scotland, they are persistently ignored and constrained. I am still waiting on the tax abolition I had about. If we ask our constituents to invest trust in local leaders, I do think that we must take a microscope to the health of our democratic structures nationally. We keep hearing from folk on the doorstep, did not think

**** Possible New Speaker ****

it changes anything. With the removal of first past the post, is it time we give local the post, is it time we give local government the option of dropping first past the post, as I do in first past the post, as I do in Wales? Is it also not time for a national commission on electoral reform?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

reform? The point I was about to get to. I was elected as a Local Authority I was elected as a Local Authority councillor in 2022. It did work, there are many people who would not have gone to a different political party or have necessarily come to party or have necessarily come to speak to enable representative but to have that diverse representation, to have that diverse representation, it is worth looking at that. This is why the provisions in the Bill are why the provisions in the Bill are welcome and why...

We should welcome and why... We should consider a national provision on electoral reform. A national electoral reform. A national conversation about how we should be elected in modern Britain and build consensus and the way forward. Different voting systems are used Different voting systems are used across the country, for example in Scotland and Northern Ireland for Scotland and Northern Ireland for councils and may your elections in England. Any change in a voting system would solve the degree of disengagement. It could allow people to see their views reflected in institutions that represent them, like we saw.

To continue to rely on a system where nearly 2/3 of people want change risks crystallising this disillusionment. The government are moving to strengthen trust at a local level by engaging in a serious exercise about how we can go a long way to renew it on a national level.
17:42
Sarah Dyke Portrait Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
A pleasure to speak on this important piece of the decision, I declare my interest as a vice president of the LGA, the intention is to support further devolution, something Liberal Democrat are in favour of. This Bill fails to properly do so and only reinforces the overly centralised approach taken by the last government. Alongside contiguous neighbours, Somerset was ready to move forward with devolution over six months ago when it was part of the joint Wessex bid.

The government chose not to include it in devolution program despite the proposal matching the growth and economic objectives set out in the white paper and encompassing a population of nearly 2 million people. The deal would have provided greater powers to communities struggling under national policies and given rural can use confidence that their voices can be heard. This Bill fails to deal with the ongoing and if increasing financial crisis faced by councils across the country. Despite these challenges, the Liberal Democrat in Somerset have been getting on with the job of fixing council finances, after the wild mismanagement of the previous Conservative administration.

Just yesterday, the council published a new 20 year problems -- strategy aiming to build a thriving, fair and green Somerset economy, leading the way on a low-carb and energy aerospace and defence. This Bill makes no reference to the unique nature of rural can use, for example, Somerset population is old and ageing faster than the national average which will increase the amount of care needed. As the chair of the rural services APPG, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the additional financial challenges that rural authorities like Somerset face.

Over half of the budget goes towards adult and children's care, there is a shortage of social care providers who will be impacted by the rise of the employer and like so many local authorities, the pressure on delivering SEN provision is increasing. This Bill does nothing to stabilise the financial footing, it fails to even mention rural communities at all. We must also acknowledge that rural communities are often at the forefront of environmental issues, such as flooding. Last month, areas in Somerset were informed that the environment agency would cease reset maintenance work within the next six months.

I am deeply concerned this would put Somerset at increasing and unacceptable risk of flooding and environmental harm. How will the government intend to implement all of this in devolution, given the existing authorities the responsible for the reinforcement and enforcement and regulation? enforcement and regulation?
17:45
Olivia Blake Portrait Olivia Blake MP (Sheffield Hallam, Labour)
-
-
I welcome this Bill and commend my right honourable friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, for her leadership in bringing it forward. Decisions about our community have been made far from the people they affect, putting trust back into local leaders, strengthening councils and ensuring that communities have a say in the future, this is a profound shift that this Bill signals. It provides a foundation for a new set of money for England, the return of the supplementary vote system is welcome and is a key feature of this important Bill and I associate myself with the views of my honourable friend on the wider honourable friend on the wider Bill has particular emphasis on the bed working.

By recognising the importance of them. Equally important are the measures to strengthen the community right to buy. It empowers residents to take ownership of the places that matter to them most, ensuring they can be preserved and improved for future generations. I pay tribute to the deputy promised for her clarity in the purpose and driving these changes. She understands that local government is not an obstacle to progress but the engine of it. But if this bill is about empowerment, we must ensure it does not however inadvertently undermine the principle of local choice.

Since the announcement of the bill, I've had tens of emails and over 100 letters. In May 2021, the people of Sheffield went to the polls in a citywide referendum and voted to decisively move to a model committee system of government. Replacing the old cabinet model that was a clear democratic decision for Tippett was also guaranteed in law for at least 10 years with the principle that any further change could only be made by referendum, get the current provisions in the bill would overturn that choice.

They would force Sheffield back into a government model that its citizens have explicitly rejected. That cannot be right. It would break faith with local voters, undermined the spirit of empowerment that runs through this bill and send the wrong message about how seriously we take democratic decisions. If this legislation is to achieve its full potential, then councils that avoid chosen to have a committee system by a referendum should be allowed to obtain it, just as with May R models, and no local leaders agree with me on this and I appreciate that ministers will be meeting with local leaders.

This is a bold bill and one that we should be proud of, and I'm proud to support. O'Reilly enshrines the principles, and I just hope we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater on the issues of allowing local councils to maintain their chosen model.
17:48
Nick Timothy Portrait Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)
-
-
Thank you. The government talks about devolution. That's not what's going on with this bill, nor with local government reform. The power has not been handed down by central government but sucked up from district councils to unitaries and councils to males, her from distant towns and cities. In West Suffolk we face are Suffolk and Norfolk mayoralty, probably from Norwich and the new unitary council structure, either one from its which or three councils. -- Ipswich for top Cambridge is more important than Norwich or Ipswich given the map, but there is little in the proposals to help us exploit the economic opportunities presented by better transport.

Of course cautions what the tax burden and questions are fundamental to given the state of the public finances any savings made through local government might be snaffled by the Treasury. Services provided by district councils might be cut to services like adult social, funded by the county council. Council debt are Suffolk stands £1.1 billion, but there is huge variation between the councils. In Ipswich, tap a person is nearly £1800. In West Suffolk it is less than £50. There is a similar story with tenants.

Ipswich charges the highest council tax in the country, to equalise tax across a single unitary council would mean massive tax rises the people living in West Suffolk. Tax cuts for people in Ipswich which would maintain services unavailable to my constituents or at worse with both combinations. Suffolk County -- there councils have different proposals but ultimately it will be vital that decides. Those advocating a particular model for the clear answers we in West Suffolk need and deserve. First, will all the money mean people pay more in council tax? Do we end up paying more for services we don't get? Will be getting greater say in their planning process? Town and parish councils have greater powers over things like road safety and speed limits? For, where we get an absolute guarantee that there will be no merger between Suffolk and Norfolk police forces? This whole process is too rushed and completely unsatisfactory.

It was wrong to postpone mayoral elections this year. The proposed reforms have not been thought through. The consequences are not clear. There may be some upsides to perform, may even be some upsides in principle to unitary councils but unless we get a convincing answer, I will oppose not just this bill but the changes to local government in Suffolk.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

This devolution debate is a continuation of the devolution continuation of the devolution process. This bill will allow as to amount resources at a regional level amount resources at a regional level and use them to best serve the needs of our communities. It provides the framework for cohesive strategic planning across Sussex. The housing and services that we need. and services that we need. Generating good employment and the freedom to travel easily. Done right it is an opportunity for greater democratic engagement and democratic engagement and participation.

So to look at a couple of issues that have been doing the rounds in this conversation in Sussex, festival conversation in Sussex, festival planning and transport. Businesses in Worthing West and across Sussex are currently gridlocked by failing are currently gridlocked by failing East West travel routes and public transport that is too often unaffordable, unreliable or absent unaffordable, unreliable or absent outside of our town centres. A regional transport authority with legal responsibility for buses, trains and active travel will be trains and active travel will be able to leverage investment and design services that actually meet design services that actually meet the needs of our communities.

We want travel planning that connects people and businesses and enables people and businesses and enables ecotourism to flourish in our beautiful South Downs and lets residents move across Sussex without relying on a crumbling 20th-century system built around cars and no longer serving us. The housing infrastructure, with this bill we can align housing, planning and infrastructure finally to deliver the right homes in the right places across the region. In my constituency of Worthing West almost one in four residents are now aged 65 or above and yet much of our housing stock is not fit for old age.

And the shortage of suitable homes limits are ability to attract working age people to the area along with seven other areas we face dire lack of rented and social affordable housing. Only at a regional level can we plan housing that meets our needs now and into the future. Homes that are accessible for our older population, affordable for young families and supported by infrastructure to create thriving mixed communities, networked and easily accessible across Sussex. Finally want to focus on the new duty on health inequalities.

I really welcome the bills in my constituency and across Sussex. The Chief Medical Officers 2021 report was clear, coastal areas of a persistent coastal access of ill- health, even after accounting for age and deprivation and rural areas also face hidden deprivation that regional averages failed to capture. Fuel poverty and inadequate access to care. These are lives cut short and opportunities denied. This bill will compel leaders in Sussex to consider health in every policy. Transport, housing and skills, embedding public health in all decisions, and that is something I

**** Possible New Speaker ****

think we can learn from the international level to. Thank you. This brand, this bill brands itself as devolution by brands itself as devolution by default but in practice can be seen as centralisation by stealth. Real as centralisation by stealth. Real devolution shifts power out of Westminster and Whitehall to the people in local communities stop this bill risks doing the opposite. Clause 4 residents lets ministers draw and redraw local maps in order
17:54
17:55
17:55
17:56
James MacCleary Portrait James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
pushes boundaries to absorb Newhaven, Kingston and nearby villages in my constituency. This would be a disaster. Newhaven is a distinct port town 10 miles from distinct port town 10 miles from Brighton. Kingston, Romford, north- eastern rural communities in the eastern rural communities in the South Downs National Park. I've written already to the Minister on this subject. They are not Brighton neighbourhoods and they don't want neighbourhoods and they don't want decisions made for them at Hove town hall. The governance is at once pays.

He Sussex proposal supported by the county council and all five district boroughs keeps the committee boundary intact and let's see Sussex move forward together. Items Proposal risks delay and confusion not least by proposing to cut across the boundaries of two county decisions and pulmonary constituency. They don't even consider the Westward expansion by the urban area Brighton Hove naturally continues and go straight into cutting up East Sussex. So here is the test for the bill overall. Doesn't move power and resources to people and places or pull more strings into the secretary of state's hands? Does it strengthen scrutiny or sidestep it? Does it fix the finances or dodge them? And the moment on all these counts it does fall short.

And I have the mister will be able to explain some of the answers to those challenges. Devolution should feel like power in your hands, not something done to

**** Possible New Speaker ****

you. Thank you. Our politics is not
17:57
Josh Simons Portrait Josh Simons MP (Makerfield, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. Our politics is not working. Too many people feel be do here has little relevance to their lives. They feel their vote is less a source of power, a decision about our common future and more an expression. The only way they have to demonstrate how bad the status quo has become. So after my constituents in Makerfield, we can ask them who was in charge of this? Or do I hold responsible for fixing it? And so often it is shockingly hard to know.

Or even sometimes to find out. Our state and political system have become so centralised, so confused with so many competing boundaries of responsibility the power slips through the cracks and evades the grass of elected politicians. The fix that we must go back to first principles, and motivating this bill is a fundamental principle. In our democracy, sovereignty flows up from the people to Parliament, not down from Parliament to the people. Because the people are sovereign, the way we govern ourselves, our constitution is not the unique property of us in this chamber.

It is something that all of us alone as citizens, represented as well as representatives. And this matters because it changes how we should think about this bill. The control this bill aims to give people is not new and it's not something this place has the unique authority to give or withhold. Its aim is to restore a kind of local control that has for too long been gradually eroded. The motivating principle is that through voting people should be able to change our political system.

The write request powers enshrine this principle in law enabling strategic authorities to be ambitious in requesting the powers that people who live in those areas need to thrive. And at our mayor in the town say Robson in Wigan, Andy Ben will be ambitious in using that power. Technical education, tourist taxes, employment support and as this bill develops a hope will also consider a responsibility to treat those requests with the seriousness they deserve. There is a shining example of how this works for top Greater Manchester is the fastest growing local economy in the UK.

Double the UK rate. And yet we also have an example of how power can train from elected officials in county licensing were local people cannot hold to account the authorities and police forces responsible for their safety. This bill is part of a broader agenda that I strongly support. Restoring power to people chosen by the public instead of independent agencies, experts or bodies of rights and treaties. To my mind, when our politics is not working, we politicians have a responsibility to think boldly about how to make it work better.

We need us nothing less than a moment of constitutional change, a fresh and creative thinking about how to perform a system, and that's what I hope this bill begins to do.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. Bringing decision- making closer to local people, making closer to local people, making it more accountable and more reflective of local needs is a laudable aim, but that's not what laudable aim, but that's not what this bill does, rather than bringing decision-making closer to hard- working local people, this bill working local people, this bill instead cements the damaging present system of oversized unitary system of oversized unitary authorities and dubious useful minorities. If we want our communities to have responsive local communities to have responsive local government with easily accessible leaders that deliver on the desires leaders that deliver on the desires of residents and are accountable at the ballot box we should not be pushing for larger boundaries of local government.

If anything,

**** Possible New Speaker ****

local government. If anything, In Scotland, we have so-called devolution, the reality is, the devolution, the reality is, the Scottish Government are centralising more and more power. Does he share my concerns that this Bill my concerns that this Bill potentially makes that risk.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

potentially makes that risk. I do, the people across Keighley and Ilkley have long known the
18:01
Robbie Moore Portrait Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)
-
-
and Ilkley have long known the dangers to smaller communities when these amalgamations occur, in 1974, they are well remembered councils were abolished and absorbed into a larger Bradford Council. One of the largest in the country, a population of the size of 565,000. The average size of a unitary authority is about 250,000 people. Since then, Bradford Council has consistently prioritised its namesake, extracting a higher council tax and costs from outlying areas like my constituency and the neighbouring constituency of Shipley and funnelling them into city centre project of no benefit to the people

**** Possible New Speaker ****

who paid for them. My honourable friend is making excellent points, the best example of when they started was in 1965 of when they started was in 1965 when Greater London was created and ever since then, areas like Romford ever since then, areas like Romford have been paying money into central London and losing our local control, London and losing our local control, local identity and local democracy, costing us an absolute fortune, it is a lot of red tape, a lot of bureaucracy, the wrong direction to go in.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

go in. I absolutely agree, that is why this is a Bill not about liquid moxie, it is about taking the power moxie, it is about taking the power decision away from local people and whether council tax should be spent, that is why I am advocating the government to stop this Bill from progressing, Bradford Council is made up by 90 councillors with Bradford itself having a great Bradford itself having a great number of councillors on the council than Keighley and Ilkley combined, than Keighley and Ilkley combined, it is completely airbrushing out the distantly different needs, desires distantly different needs, desires and priorities of areas like mine across Keighley and Ilkley, that is why I will advocate continuously for why I will advocate continuously for us in Keighley, Ilkley, and indeed the Shipley constituency, to have our own authority outside that of Bradford larger unitary authority.

Arguably, they have been a greater challenge, when a constituent has an issue, you and other members of this House will no that they have... They should not have any difficulty contacting us parliamentarians, what they should not do, our constituency offices are on the High Street, our emails are open, we have deep connections to the local communities, we are familiar with the businesses and the people who make up the communities we represent. But may Ortiz operate over regions with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of residents in them.

If a constituent tries to contact them, the correspondence will never across the desk, the male regions are too large for one person to represent the community level. Aggregating decision-making at the strategic authority level makes the same mistake, if a community wants to make an objection, they were no longer objected to the local council but a strategic authority, a body not tied by history or sediment... Sentiment, or even geographical area, but instead a direction that has been sent forward by this has been sent forward by this government.

If we are serious about devolution, we would follow the lessons of that in Keighley and Ilkley and those that may have experienced, making local government work at a community level, we would not empower administrative monstrosities, we would empower parish, town and smaller, more regional councils, that is why I will continue to advocate for my area to be taken out of the Bradford unitary authority, creating our own unitary authority. I would advocate reversing the local government that were made in the 1970s, not double down on them, this Bill is a wolf in a sheep's clothing and it should not

**** Possible New Speaker ****

be supported. I draw attention to make register of interest, I have always been a of interest, I have always been a of interest, I have always been a vocal advocate for devolution and reorganisation, I got to witness the joy and hope I want every community joy and hope I want every community to feel as I worked in Greater Manchester during the establishment of the first devolved Ural. I have had debates with people of all had debates with people of all political persuasions.

Particularly when a sense of place and time is so when a sense of place and time is so important to most of us. The prospect of what we know to be our place changing can be life altering place changing can be life altering but we are brought along, we can start to see the opportunity. I want to focus my comments on the most local level, one that I believe should be used more effectively, should be used more effectively, town and parish councils, my constituency is perished with constituency is perished with parishes whilst more suburban areas are not perished but have active are not perished but have active community groups.

I do see the strength of both formal and informal leadership, in clause 58, this Bill creates a requirement for local creates a requirement for local authorities to create neighbourhood governance structures and, in a statement this House, it was suggested that these can be called neighbourhood area committees. I'm concerned the Bill does not appreciate the role that they currently play and how the accountability of these potential area committees does not seem to be enshrined, to cover a couple of concerns, one is that when these are led by ward councillors, they are political in their nature whereas parish councillors are not.

We need to consider the ramifications. Second, how do we ensure every area is advocated for by representatives. How do we protect areas whose ward councillors are not active? This this removes the ability for involved residents to form groups outside of this? We all know of councillors who stand for political reasons and not try things through. Whilst parish and town councils only cover 36% of the population, they cover some 90% of the geographical area, whilst some means this distinction means they are not significant in the government, we should note this is a disservice to land we live on.

As politicians and all residents in a democracy, we are just as responsible for the land around us and some of the biggest roles of parish and town councils are around planning environment and ensuring local areas are managed ensuring local areas are managed well. Whilst this section of the bill might seem like a small section, for me, it is important section, for me, it is important that if we are not paying attention to the conversations happening in the pub or the community centre and the people who understand the local area better than everyone, we will struggle to understand what people struggle to understand what people want and need, let me be clear, this Bill is monumental, but let's build on the existing structures, especially as town and parish especially as town and parish councils cover 90% of our great country...
18:08
Siân Berry Portrait Siân Berry MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green Party)
-
-
There are ideas in this Bill that devolved powers that we can support, a layer of strategic government with funding and fundraising powers could empower areas of the country like Sussex to improve daily life for citizens and strengthen democracy. It is worrying that the process of doing this so far, the ways in which decisions are moving forward and the reorganising of local government have not listened to people who want to maintain district and borough councils, not properly engaged Local Power Plan -- local people.

If this is done without consent, this will not be democratic or empowering. Clause 57 is currently unfair, grandfathering in existing arrangements for local councils but not processing any committee systems, even those chosen recently. On a fair voting, the Bill is inadequate, for the elected new mayor's, the Bill specifies a voting system that is better than first past the post, this should be used next year in Sussex, as members have pointed out, for the new authorities, there is a genuine chance to have a fairer voting system for councils as well.

The Bill is dangerously light on the democratic scrutiny of new Combined Authority is. There should be transparency duties on Mayo's to disclose lobbying meetings. They will also be able to appoint commissioners for different areas, these will be powerful positions and likely to be well remunerated that the Bill appears to be silent on any standards of accountability, transparency or conduct for these people, and they all come under the advisory committee of business appointments as other people do. There are big missed chances in the Bill, for poverty and inequality and climate and nature, healthy air, the impact of transport and housing on this particularly.

In terms of the determinants on health defined in the Bill, prosperity is mentioned but not poverty or inequality. Nor is the chance to improve health by cleaning up filthy air pollution. Why not? Greens will be arguing for these goals and duties to be put in place and more, firmly and clearly in the Bill and for them to be method powers, funding and the ability to raise and use investment for homes, transport, education, justice, social justice, public health and all these other things, to close the gap that has grown under successive governments.

This Bill could help deliver great but it will take many big changes, much work and listening to good ideas from this part of the House for the government to achieve it. government to achieve it.
18:11
Bayo Alaba Portrait Mr Bayo Alaba MP (Southend East and Rochford, Labour)
-
-
Thank you, can I also welcome the shadow Secretary of state to his new role. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill presents a great opportunity for greater Essex, this Bill is about giving local people the right to make decisions about the place they call home. It is about empowering our communities. Community does not just happen, when I was growing up, we had youth clubs, football teams, thriving heritage buildings, we had a strong sense of community, over the past 14 years, any of these institutions have been forced to close, devolution has brought so many opportunities to areas that have seen more devolved power, families in Watford and Essex deserve the same level of opportunity.

I will just make a bit of progress... Widening devolution is a chance to reverse this trend, it introduces a new community right to buy, giving committee groups affordable -- formal right of first refusal to purchase community assets and extensive time period to 12 months for communities to raise funds and negotiate a purchase price. It protects grassroots sports facilities as assets of Committee Valley, which they are, it ends up would only rent review clauses, this will allow rent to increase and decrease based on the current market rate.

This will prevent vacant shops and help regenerate High Street. It provides measures for accountability to ensure that males from all parties deliver the infrastructure that communities need. The Essex economy has been held back by power stored in Westminster, if greater Essex had the same levels of productivity as the south-east, our local communities would be 70% bigger. It is time to unlock this economic potential for greater Essex and carve out its own industrial strategy and become the economic powerhouse that I know it can be.
18:14
Manuela Perteghella Portrait Manuela Perteghella MP (Stratford-on-Avon, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
Madam Speaker, devolution should mean giving power back to people in communities, decisions to be taken as close as possible to those that effect, but this deal imposes a top-down model from Whitehall with sweeping new powers for the Secretary of State, males and the unelected commissioners rather than real empowerment of residents, my own constituency is an example of why these matter, our needs are very different from the urban north, we face unique challenges such as a reliable public transport which leaves local evidence with poor access to services, our fire and rescue services be reduced, that is why I supported a two unit every council solution.

Respecting the local densities. Further, we must not that the role of parish and town councils in communities like mine. From neighbourhood development plans, to supporting local groups, looking after village halls, are village greens and recreation grounds, they do extending work. Many stand ready to deliver more for their communities. Councils are already stretched to breaking point, with deficits running into billions, for those authorities already facing difficulty, devolution without proper funding is little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Unless ministers face up to the scale of the challenge and provide sustainable resources, it will not succeed. Whilst bringing back the supplementary route is a move in the right direction, the government has missed every opportunity to restore trust in politics. If the government recognise that first past the post is not fit for your elections, wife of Parliamentary elections? Finally, I welcome the strengthening of the community right to buy scheme which will safeguard local assets, particularly in rural areas, whilst protecting much loved asset and community hubs such as pubs.

The government must go further on these, especially when assets are kept empty and derelict by landlords. In conclusion, this Bill could have been the moment to show the national government is willing to put power in the hands of communities, instead, by centralising rather than devolving, the government have let

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I refer members to my Register of

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I refer members to my Register of Interests, my 18 year on the town council and also serve as a director council and also serve as a director council and also serve as a director on the committee, a community benefit society in my hometown. I've said in the town Council, the said in the town Council, the district council and the county council, all three tiers of local government so can understand why I have a keen interest in this bill. have a keen interest in this bill.

My background in community led me to get involved in politics in the first place and the clauses in this bill specifically around community empowerment are very exciting and empowerment are very exciting and long overdue. Where I was raised of seeing the impact of community power seeing the impact of community power first hand. When my former school first hand. When my former school closed in 2013, we were devastated. Part of the emotions that come from losing a school of more than 60 losing a school of more than 60 years but also the physical building that had been home to so many community groups and other community groups and other organisations.

It was for many so organisations. It was for many so much more than just a school. As a committee be set about working to save the buildings, some 85,000 ft of former secondary school and 12 acres of land, no easy undertaking. There were few the thought of a work that on Saturday this weekend just gone, myself and hundreds of local residents celebrated the 10th birthday of the school. Over 10 years we witness local people take responsibility for the site, turning it into a thriving community hub of more than 60 organisations, charities, statutory bodies, small businesses, now creates jobs, supports Amazon acts as a vital anchor for the community with an annual turnover of £500,000.

None of that would have been possible without trust in local people. In relation to strategic authorities, I wonder if the Minister in his summing up could speak to our concerns about opportunities for rural communities. Strategic authorities drawn Metro, large urban areas, but for me with free night market towns in my constituency and market towns in my constituency and 72 villages -- three market towns, whilst individually their economic potential be small in comparison, collectively our Royal -- rural communities of so much potential and communities of so much potential and could significant the support the government's growth agenda they need support.

How those rural committees linking and obtain their support as part of devolution and how they work with the strategic authorities is with the strategic authorities is key, and I hope the Minister can highlight how rural areas will fit highlight how rural areas will fit in. I want now in my constituency to have as much focus as Norwich. I want Egbert to be on the page when we are talking about Ipswich as we are talking about Ipswich as well. I particular welcome community Right to Buy, give local people the Right to Buy, give local people the strong say that they need on community issues.

Sadly for Timmy community projects, getting good ideas off the drawing board is still far too difficult and I hope these priorities and others can support projects like the Charles Barra centre now under the excellent management of Nicola Allen and supported by a fantastic team.
18:19
18:20
Mike Reader Portrait Mike Reader MP (Northampton South, Labour)
-
-
Thank you. I can't understand how you could speak against this bill. There is a real opportunity here to decently different. In our local communities. And as a place that has been running and a unitary system five years now after the Conservatives bankrupted our county council, no one has a vasectomy I wish we had more councils and councillors. People want similar city, and this is what this bill delivers. It also delivers accountability, and my honourable friend them in the North Somerset talked about personal accountability of councillors as well.

An area where the for her conservative leader had to stand down because of domestic abuse chances -- charges and now we have a counsellor up in court for abuse charges, I would say more accountability of our local councillors and politicians is very very important. Also as the builder drives growth and when I speak to investors who want to come to the growth code or they've had the chance to talk about the opportunities in our region, there is no single voice I can speak to but I go to West Yorkshire and find a mayor that I can speak to South Yorkshire, anywhere around the country where there is an authority, I find some championing growth potentially in the south Midlands region, we are struggling for...

They may well come to London. We are struggling for a single voice speaking out for the area. And this is what devolution delivers for us. It actually also saves costs. I'm sure all the members have read the detailed analysis of the library things but PBC themselves estimate between 50 and 7,000 million pounds a year for taxpayers, so why you would vote against something that is going to reduce people's tax bill, I think is absolutely bananas. But there are some great local benefits here.

I won't talk about evolution because the Minister knows my very strong views on the local issues I face. One thing that will slip through here that I won't let slip through his e-scooter licensing. We've had a long-running trial of e-scooters in Northampton. Everything amount people complained to me the scooters for top the ability of local authorities to better control the licensing agreements and hold the scooter companies to account to make sure they are in the right place, really important.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thanking for giving way, and we also have proliferation of e- scooters and e-bikes in London. And scooters and e-bikes in London. And the last and Conservative government absolutely failed to take any action absolutely failed to take any action against that. So he agree with me that it will also make a huge difference for Londoners that TfL will now have the power to hold those companies to account and clear

**** Possible New Speaker ****

those companies to account and clear the payments. Couldn't agree more. I can't

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Couldn't agree more. I can't imagine how you deal with the myriad companies working across London, just having one Northampton is a just having one Northampton is a challenge. They are a good company nonetheless. Local ownership is central to this bill as well. The community Right to Buy is untested. People talked about pups but actually for a number of different community organisations you have come see me in the past year, the Nigerian community Association, the Nigerian community Association, the Albanian cultural Association, a local Ukrainian school, or looking to take on local derelict properties and turn them into great community hubs, give them more powers to take on those community assets and create great places in Northampton.

And this bill protects more businesses, this bill protects more businesses, whether you are a retail in the town whether you are a retail in the town centre, one of the shopping centres, the only rent reviews means shopowners have more security and shopowners have more security and more protection under this government. So overall I am very excited about moving power out of Whitehall and into local communities, and I honestly having listened to the debate for three hours can understand how you could possibly vote against this.
18:24
Wera Hobhouse Portrait Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)
-
-
It might surprise the honourable member for Northampton South but my constituents in Bath want good local councillors, particularly Liberal Democrat councillors. We are working hard. We believe passionately the power belongs in local communities, not concentrated in Whitehall and while we welcome the drive further devolution this bill risk sidelining local councils with yet more authority handed to regional mayors and my counsel knows all too well the frustrations of having a regional mayor that is not listened to all the local authorities represent.

For years my Bar Council for example want to do bring buses under local control.we were stuck with the Labour mayor that refuse to with the Labour mayor that refuse to listen and instead spent millions on a birthday bath vanity project rather than delivering the changes my constituents were crying out for. This bill makes provision to enable mayors of strategic authorities to nominate up to seven unelected commissioners to deliver policy, accountable only to the mayor first of these unelected officials add an additional layer of unaccountable bureaucracy which committees down one and councils don't need.

Real devolution means local communities at the heart of decision-making, working collaboratively with the mayor and clauses 21 and 22 do not even clarify on which relevant local matters mayors must convene with local partners. Surely that cannot be right. Also absent from the bill is giving local authorities visitors levy powers full to my Bar Council has long been at the coating for the visitor levy. We are proud of the role we play in supporting visitor economy but the system needs to be fair and recognise the cost as well as the benefits of such high levels of tourism, city the passage of this bill the government should include these powers at local authority level to safeguard our huge and hugely important tourism industry.

Also missing from this bill is the introduction of the public accounts committee to oversee the mayor strategic authority, accountable much like the Public Accounts Committee do in government expenditure. Robust local scrutiny would reduce independence and upwards accountability to central upwards accountability to central government and would be a real scrutiny arrangement, and if the government does support the principle of local public accounts committees, then this bill should provide this timescale the invitation. We Liberal Democrats support the aims of this bill, particularly full short of the real devolution.

What we have is a bill that misunderstands the whole point of devolution, namely decision- making from the bottom up, not the top down.
18:27
Darren Paffey Portrait Darren Paffey MP (Southampton Itchen, Labour)
-
-
I really welcome this pivotal bill. When I was deputy leader of Southampton City Council, I saw first-hand how decisions made by local people were absolutely transformative for the community. What I also saw was after the 14 long years of Conservative government, we were held back by a broken system that turned councils into constant competition with our neighbours and forced to put our begging bowl alpha crumbs from Whitehall's table. It ends with this bill and I would really welcome the change it represents for top measures set out today.

And welcome the Southampton along with other councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are part of the devolution parity program, allowing us to take advantage of these programs from political promise, but the process does matter. So we have to get this right. What I'm interested in is improving the life chances my constituents. So my message to all local council leaders, including E Southampton is to be clear what we want to do with these powers. I notice the Police and Crime Commissioner now running to be mayor for Hampshire said her priorities are closing hotels for asylum seekers and stopping upsetting Tory district councils by the housing system.

It's disappointingly narrower than what I think this moment requires. So there are three basic tests to make it worth it. First, it improves employment and skills prospects, critically for those most marginalised from the labour market. Secondly progresses investment and integration of our transport network. Specifically local public transport which is well-connected and affordable. Thirdly it galvanises housebuilding so the working people can afford to live and work locally. This is especially vital in the south where housing demand is acute, and I'm afraid NIMBY Tory and LibDem led councillors are failing to deliver for local people.

As an aside, I also welcome the return for a more representative supplementary vote. I appreciate the local government reorganisation is a separate process, but in Hampshire our local leaders are being asked to endorse new council areas alongside mayor authorities. I support the proposal backed by 12 out of the 15 councils in Hampshire across all parties to establish five unitary authorities across the area, and have signed a joint letter to that. I would urge the Minister's do not simply take the easy option and stitch together pre-existing organisations that

**** Possible New Speaker ****

actually... I think in for giving way and as somebody who is also a representative of a constituency in representative of a constituency in this area, I agree with him myself as well, and when we are looking at boundary changes, potentially within boundary changes, potentially within those councils and that letter we sent, would it not make more sense that we are part of the process as opposed to an add-on at the end?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

opposed to an add-on at the end? I thank her for her point and absolutely boundary changes must be looked at, sympathetically by looked at, sympathetically by ministers, and I hope to get that reassurance in their comments. Because what we stand to gain in the short-term by simply a quick and easy decision actually we will lose in the long-term if councils find in the long-term if councils find themselves saddled with nonsensical boundaries. Two other quick boundaries. Two other quick requests, I would simply make around the mayoral candidate, giving the mayoral candidate, giving Mayoral Council is the statutory footing and belief would be a powerful forum for central government to meet devolved government and iron out policy issues and secondly, I ask whether the Minister would set out what the government's ambitions and timescale are around local public accounts committees, a lot of colleagues have talked about restoring trust in politics, to think openness particularly around public monies I am really pleased to see this Labour government fulfilling another manifesto commitment and ringing real change for our communities real change for our communities
18:31
Iqbal Mohamed Portrait Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)
-
-
I have cut down my speech into three minutes, I am a supporter of devolved powers, in West Yorkshire, we have a Combined Authority and we benefit from the West Yorkshire mayor in the transport. However, my community, having been part of the Combined Authority is not clear on exactly where the responsibility start with the council and how they are working together. I do stand here with concerns, instead of empowering communities, local ward councillors and actors who represent our communities, in Kirklees we do have a cabinet system.

Eight councillors, they sit and make major decisions that impact every resident and constituent in my constituency. Moving to a mandated cabinet system across the country is shortsighted, undemocratic, and the scrimmage free. It places sweeping powers in the hands of elected makers and appointed commissioners. This is not genuine devolution, the second issue is a lack of funding and financial transparency. There is a little detail on sustainable funding, strategic authorities depend heavily on precepts, levies or counsel contributions, risking instability.

On transparency, whilst the creation of a Local Audit Office is welcome, this measure attempts to patch a broken audit system where hundreds of authorities still face an audited and, without facing weaknesses like procurement practices, lack of transparency and unequal distribution of spend across wards. Community voices too often are marginalised, this Bill does not prevent councils from letting vital community buildings from being left in disrepair and then deciding to close these buildings because they'd not have the funds to repair or run them.

In conclusion. This Bill is not really devolution, it is a shift of power from local councils to centrally influenced Mayers in an opaque financial model. The bill must be updated to restore genuine local leadership, guarantee long- term funding, ensure procurement and practices remain accountable and in bed local government with proper funding, citizen engagement and planning and influence. Anki. planning and influence. Anki.
18:34
Jonathan Brash Portrait Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)
-
-
English devolution is a mess. It is a postcode patchwork of opaque systems, varying powers and unclear lines of accountability. That is not just historic failure, it is profoundly dangerous because when the public cannot navigate their democracy, when they do not know who holds the pain on planning, transport, housing, they disengage. Accountability is lost, and in that vacuum, politicians can get away with everything. I want to give the House a clear example, in Hartlepool, they have imposed a development corporation.

They did so with very little consultation, certainly not with the public. Planning powers were stripped from the council and were supposedly to be exercised by an appointed board. We fought hard to secure democratic representation on the board, of its 14 members, only for hold elected office and only one is there because they have elected office. In any event, the mayor quickly outsourced the majority of these powers to a private company based in Manchester. People who have never walked our streets are making the majority of decisions about shaping them.

I will give way.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Does he agree with me that the development corporations need to be brought under the remit of the new Local Audit Office proposed in this Bill, placing the powers beyond reasonable doubt.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I agree that greater powers are required to hold corporations to account and that might be one way of account and that might be one way of doing it. It was not just planning powers, publicly owned assets are being transferred from the council being transferred from the council and other public bodies and when Labour councillors demanded that if those assets were not developed or the corporations were windup, they would be returned to public would be returned to public ownership, that demand was refused.

ownership, that demand was refused. This includes the Civic Centre. When we asked whether the council could resist this, the advice was stark, resist this, the advice was stark, we could not, there was no veto, it we could not, there was no veto, it could not be done, it could not be stopped by the council. Just down the road, in Middlesbrough, when the the road, in Middlesbrough, when the council voted against a corporation, it was imposed on the town anyway. it was imposed on the town anyway.

Let me be clear, I'm not opposed to the principle of the corporations, I the principle of the corporations, I was willing to support this one in the spirit of cross-party cooperation. The outcome has become confused, zero accountability and residents are left unclear about who to turn to, especially as more and more HMOs pop-up across our town centre, thereby an unelected, unaccountable company. This is not power in the hands of the people, devolution were supposed to mean decisions made close to communities but often the reality is that it is the opposite, power hoarded, pushed further away from the neighbourhoods they are supposed to empower, that is why I support we are right here campaign so that power flows to the people.

It is championed by the community Leader, Sasha bedding, and it is the way forward and I hope the ministers are listening. We must ensure accountability for Mayers, they can beat the vehicle for delivering for the public but the power itself can only lie in one place, with the people.
18:38
David Simmonds Portrait David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)
-
-
Which brings us to the Front Benches, David Simmonds.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, it has been a wide-ranging debate and I would like to thank my and I would like to thank my colleagues for Bromley, the Isle of Wight East, Reigate, Bromsgrove, Wight East, Reigate, Bromsgrove, Keighley and Ilkley. For the contributions that they have made. All of which have highlighted starkly, on all the range of issues starkly, on all the range of issues that they and others have covered, the wholesale inadequacy of this Bill, for the scale of the Bill, for the scale of the challenges that our country and communities face.

There are big issues facing local government. Local government deals with some of Local government deals with some of the most difficult tasks that we ask any part of the public services to face, we know today the cost of face, we know today the cost of social care is rapidly growing to consume a greater share of the available resources, since this government took office, there has government took office, there has been a collapse in the delivery of new housing, down 17% in the country new housing, down 17% in the country as a whole, 66% drop by large social as a whole, 66% drop by large social landlords and India can't, here in London, as we have seen today, the unions have voted to extend their strikes until March 2026.

People of our second city are left with waste and uncollected, populations of rats...

**** Possible New Speaker ****

As a constituency MP neighbouring

**** Possible New Speaker ****

As a constituency MP neighbouring Birmingham, we see all too often the impact of the strikes, does my right honourable friend agree with me, honourable friend agree with me, this is shocking, it is the one thing that residents expect from thing that residents expect from their local councils, which is a regular collection of their waste... Household way garden waste and recycling. Birmingham City Council recycling. Birmingham City Council

**** Possible New Speaker ****

is failing their residents. I thank my honourable friend for highlighting that, she has been a highlighting that, she has been a champion for the voice of those affected by it and whilst I understand ministers have come to the Dispatch Box and said they must the Dispatch Box and said they must wash their hands of it, the union said today, there was no point negotiating with the council because negotiating with the council because it lacks the authority to resolve the issue that the government needs to roll up its sleeves and get to roll up its sleeves and get involved.

Whilst our second city struggles with the challenges, what struggles with the challenges, what we have stepping forward is a piece of legislation which is about of legislation which is about tinkering with structures. Not merely tinkering with structures but, as we a week ago, an entirely uncosted plan. This department has not undertaken any assessment of its own, of the cost benefit of the measures contained within this legislation. That comes against a backdrop when we know that the decisions of this government make the financial situation of our country more perilous by the day.

In the first figments of this financial year alone, this government borrowed £60 billion more than it raised in Texas. £60 billion. Borrowing costs have hit a 27-year high, a level only seen in the early days of the last Labour government in 1998. What this Bill does contain is the opening of a door to a host of tax- raising powers. As we go through the pages and pages of new powers for ministers and the Secretary of State, to direct local authorities in one way or another, to instruct communities to accept this or that, what we see as a suspect of local authorities already left £1 billion worse off by the rise in National Insurance Contribution's, facing waxing out parking charges, huge increases in borrowing, big rises in business rates.

That £60 billion black hole that this government has created in this financial year alone already is going to need to be bridged somehow. In a few weeks time, a few months time, the Chancellor will be back to tell us, but I think we can see a clue already, it is local communities and local authorities that will be the route by which these costs are made, even at parish council level, when we read what this has to say about neighbourhood governance, the threat is clear, those parishes, the smallest unit of local government, with presetting powers, will be one of the local kitties that the government expect to read.

In order to finance the consequences of their economic mismanagement. When we think of the advice that Sir Humphrey famously gave, it was always best to dispose of the difficult bit in the title of the Bill because it less harm their in the text, we can see that what this Bill does, when it talks about devolution is it involves the local level the responsibility for tax rises, the responsibility for, we have to ask, can you tell the House, how many libraries will close? To pay for this Bill.

How many projects will be set aside? How many more communities... How many more communities, like shoes be referred to, will lose the regular recycling and collections in order to pay for it? How high will Council Tax go, what is the limit they will set? What is the maximum parking charge or parking fine that ministers think is reasonable for councils to go to. What level of costs were local businesses have to face, when we debated the business rates bill that sits behind many of the financial elements of this, the Minister said they wanted to tax Amazon but the taxing local High Street stores, £6.5 thousand extra for local pubs alone.

That was before the £60 billion this government has borrowed. I am going to finish with a direct plea to the Minister because I have a great deal of respect. He led his party in local government, he was their champion, and for many years, he was one of them to and he earned a huge degree of respect in this House. At the government's favoured population level, the new unitary authorities, this Bill abolishes at the stroke of a bureaucrat pen 90%...

90% of all of the councillors in England's shires. 90% of the voices of those local communities, people like Chris Whitbread, who stood up for his community against this government over the bell hotel in Epping. The people who have been the voices of their communities, on migrant hotels, protecting the greenbelt, air quality, people who stood up for their local communities on issues like the grooming gangs. Which we heard about early on. This Bill could have been transformational. To step up that voice of communities.

I am sorry the Minister lost his battle to let the communities keep their voices, he still has time to change course, support our recent amendment, start again, build a cross-party consensus on the future of local government. Do not let this be the funeral for local democracy be the funeral for local democracy
18:47
Jim McMahon Portrait Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )
-
-
Thank you. I'd like to thank honourable members from across the House for their contributions in today's important debate? I think just the sheer number of members who want to speak really to speak to how important these issues are, and the passion and the enthusiasm shown by members of this House shows that their care for their communities is absolutely clear. As is their desire to see local economies thrive and that the benefits of growth to be felt by every community across the country.

This is a generational shift in power that will see community empowerment enshrined in law and local leaders and mayors with skin in the game trusted to get on and do the job that they've been elected to do in any relation of equals with central government built in a shared commitment to people and place, mutual respect and cooperation. The English empowerment bill does exactly what it says. A top to bottom redistribution of power in this country. Putting decision-making in the hands of our towns and communities and delivering real change for working people in the places they go home, bringing growth, opportunity and empowering local leaders and mayors to make the right decisions alongside their local communities.

As my right honourable friend adeptly promised said at the start of this debate, this is a landmark bill that will help us build a modern state based on a fairer stronger partnership between central and local government because for too long, power and opportunity has been centralised in Westminster and Whitehall, holding back growth across the country and deny millions of people the opportunity to realise the potential they have within them. Our new approach to devolution and to empowerment begins the work of fixing that. Our power regions with devolution by default and the right to request new powers and resources and freedoms.

And measures to fix local government and its fracture audit regime to sustainable structures of governance, and it gives real power to communities through the community right to buy local assets, rooted in our high streets, neighbourhoods and our sporting grounds. And it gives a greater say in local issues with frontline ward councillors giving the respect, power and tools they need to make a difference in their communities through neighbourhood working arrangements in every council across the country because when we said this was a top to bottom transfer of power, we meant it.

Before I address the main issues raised in the debate, first have to turn to the recent amendment tabled by the right honourable member third Braintree. And also maybe touch on some other responses from the shadow Minister too. Anybody think they hadn't been in government for 14 years. Absolutely smashing local government to the core. Anybody would believe that councils weren't falling over like dominoes coming past on their watch. Anybody would believe the fragmented deal by deal backroom negotiations devolution is without so far wasn't taking place in their watch over 14 years.

But let's forget the past and look to the future. The reason the payment raises concerns about local government reorganisation and we know from numbers across the powers this is an important issue and across the House for claims the bill means higher bills for local residents, but I can sure the House that these concerns are misplaced and frankly your position make the opposition know that. The bill would not affect the existing process for the areas undergoing organisation. They have bonded to the invitation to reorganise, demonstrating the absolute had a choice.

It was an invitation for 21 councils counties have responded to. Demonstrating without a doubt demonstrating the communities and they responded in Shows they are capable of leading a community is, convening local public services to deliver better outcomes for local residents. This process is separate from the bill. In fact the devolution priority program areas of LGI will be submitting their final LGI will be submitting their final Before this bill even gets out of committee, local government reorganisation will have final proposals for the 21 counties currently in the two-tier area.

So the idea that this is the bill that is bring an end to the two-tier system is for the birds. The tonnes gets Royal assent, the work would be done, the consultations will be taking place and that will be well under way. But of course they know that because they use exactly the same process of reorganisation so many times, reducing the number of councils and ending the two tier system one counties across the country. Now to their credit, ending the two tier system is a proven model because once local reorganisation has taken place in the area, and I haven't heard anyone calling realistically for a return to the old system, does mean that there are savings that can be made for this world of difference, no savings we are taking in central government to local councils, but what absolutely does do is freedom to move up in down the two tier system with a real pressures are being phased and adult social SEND in particular, where they don't take action after 14 years of inaction, the system quite frankly awful over and we will not allow it for life on our watch however that the inheritance might be for the winner because we let the Clack ground work for it.

They were the architects of the current system. This bill also gives ambitious planning system for mayors to unlock housing in the structure, working alongside Palminteri's and local councillors powers to intervene in major strategic planning applications and grant mayor developed. So they can unlock much-needed housing infrastructure to get Britain building once again. There, the opposition claims that this bill introduces a new precept and will raise bills for working people. I would remind the eye right honourable member that mayoral precept has been in law since 2017.

In fact it was Conservative government who brought it into law. Giving all mayors the power to introduce a precept, so will not take lectures from the party opposite on those powers. But I would say this because I believe in devolution that pound for pound I do believe that local people for the local councils and the local mayors and their combined authorities see the benefit of the investment in a real way in our neighbourhoods, communities and towns in a way that actually in large parts of governance but spending, they don't get that in a tangible way.

So the accountability that then comes in with it is important for the amendment tabled by conservatives claims the skill fails to empower local people. As this House is heard, this is far from the case, a generational change from Whitehall, with the tools needed at local level to get things going through the community right to buy, neighbourhood governance, so we would urge all colleagues to vote against the reasoned amendments when we get to that stage in a few moments.

Now this bill sees the From from at hoc deal and replacing it clear, where they can access it and under what conditions. Our new system of conferring functions on classes of strategic authority allow our coming in for devolution by default and to streamline those functions. So all parts of England can be really clear about what powers they can access. On the issue of supplementary vote raised by members, the government has no elections in England... The government believes that while the First Past the Post system has its place, we believe the ex vivo is the right thing to do for those executive positions or an individual holster executive power and the mandate from local people is really important..

On local authority government, this government has been clear that we will fix the foundations of local government and will create a system that is fair and low... It's a way of simpler fine local government alongside our intentions to strengthen the role of frontline ward councillors, this will provide the tools to act on the local issues that people believe are important. By abolishing the committee system, will sympathise local authority government arrangements and assure that all councils operate an effective form of governance but I hear of cetaceans from members in Sheffield and other places and meetings will take place to discuss that further.

This will provide clarity and category for local people and importantly mean the direct line of democratic accountability is strong. We have accepted the continuation of elected Council mayor's and Newman's going forward. The bill has set a clear ambition for all local authorities to hardwire community engagement and neighbourhood working into the government. Here the because the town and parish councils and share the belief and their commitment to the local level, but if all we have our town and parish councils that are locally operating that have a principle of no neighbourhood governance, we will miss the opportunity to hardwire localism into councils and have to have that hardwired silica people really do feel empowered, and that's the any difference.

It's completely compatible with town and parish councils working in partnership and where they do work, the working Unison of the local community and we want to see this going forward. On the matter of assets of community value, which quite rightly has taken a significant amount of attention here today, we have asked that committee spaces such as pumps, cultural venues and places of worship are the life of our communities. Bring people together, foster a sense of pride and support local economies.

The 14 years with the party opposite so a total dismantling of the social infrastructure. People will be far too familiar with High Street boarded-up one-to-one. The places once defined a local place company stripped away by 14 lost years. Yet too many of those critical assets are being lost, leading to soulless high streets and less thriving local communities. This is not because of communities. They don't have the power tools. We start the work to bring back strong communities and due in no small part of the significant campaign work of the co-operative movement and the MPs here in this House who have made the case clearly that in the end, case clearly that in the end, ownership matters.

And so we will give communities the tools and the real power to take on the assets that they love it's the right thing to do, and quite frankly the previous government on all these issues could have done far more, but what are we here over the course of this debate? It was you were going too far as a power grab. On the same hand you are not going far enough and could have done more. The truth is this is a generational shift in power that will see a breakup of the strong Westminster and Whitehall strong Westminster and Whitehall power holding across communities in this country.

It will be done with local communities not to them, and to be clear, whether it's about our approach to their funding and repairing the foundations, our approach to local government reorganisation or even devolution, this has all been done in genuine partnership with local leaders where they are working together, and what I find astonishing, and there was a night and day difference here is the almost soulless response from the frontbench opposite that cries all frontbench opposite that cries all these measures and actually holds out some local councillors leading the charge at local level, and I just say to this, the leadership that's been shown, even by conservative council leaders has the frontbench across absolutely to shame.

And I just say this, I don't how many visits run the country the frontbench do but I believe that there local groups and steps do not value at all the interpretation that's been given from the frontbench, but it's about elections or devolution of reorganisation. So we are not asking you to be as good as the government but at least as good as your own councillors and stand with them instead of against them. And I urge all members in second reading to support this landmark bill.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order. The original question was that the Bill be now read a second time. Since when an amendment has time. Since when an amendment has been proposed as on the order paper. The question is that the amendment The question is that the amendment be made. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, The The question The question is The question is that The question is that the The question is that the amendment be made.

As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The tellers for the ayes are Harriet Cross and Jerome Mayhew. The tellers for the noes, Keir Mather

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Crude Crude oil!
19:12
None Portrait Division
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order, Order, order.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order, order. The Ayes to the right, 167, the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Noes to left, 367. The Ayes to the right, 167, the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The Ayes to the right, 167, the Noes to the left, 367, the Noes have it, the Noes of it. Unlock! The question is that the Bill be now read a second time. As many are of read a second time. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye", and of the contrary, "No". Division, clear the Colleagues Colleagues should Colleagues should be Colleagues should be seated Colleagues should be seated if Colleagues should be seated if they only are the benches.

The question is on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." Tellers for the ayes are Gen Kitchen and Kier

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order Order order.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Order order.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The ayes to the right, 365. The

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The ayes to the right, 365. The

**** Possible New Speaker ****

The ayes to the right, 365. The noes to the left, 164. So the ayes noes to the left, 164. So the ayes Programme motion to be move Programme motion to be move formally. The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it. Money resolution to be move have it. Money resolution to be move formally.

The question is as on the Order Paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it. Ways and Means resolution to be move formally? The question is
19:29
None Portrait Remaining Orders of the Day
-

to be move formally? The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it. I will move on to the next bit of business if ministers want to leave the chamber, they can do so now. With the leave of the House, I will take the next set of business in a group. Motion number six regulatory reform commission number seven housing, motion number eight housing, motion number nine, prisons, mission and the 10 local government, motion number 11 Hovercraft.

Minister to move? The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it. We now go on to public petitions. Petitions are Christopher Chope.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It's a pleasure to be able to

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It's a pleasure to be able to present this petition which has been organised by Mr and Mrs Mackenzie Kirk of Burton in Christchurch who along with thousands of other local residents have been campaigning for residents have been campaigning for the reopening of Burton is only GP surgery, which prior to its closure surgery, which prior to its closure in August last year has served the people of Burton for over 40 years. With local encouragement another GP With local encouragement another GP practice bought the premises earlier practice bought the premises earlier this year and everyone assumed that their application to reopen the branch surgery would be a formality.

branch surgery would be a formality. But in April, Dawsons integrated care board rejected that application, and we now need the government to overrule the unelected
19:31
19:32
None Portrait Adjournment: Large scale solar development in Newark constituency
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

The question is that this House

**** Possible New Speaker ****

do now adjourn. Large-scale solar development in the Newark constituency. Thank you, can I begin by

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, can I begin by thanking you and, through Mr Speaker, for granting me this
19:32
Robert Jenrick Portrait Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Newark, Conservative)
-
-
Speaker, for granting me this debate. It is unusual to allocate Adjournment debate to members of the Shadow Cabinet but on this occasion, I wanted to raise this important matter on the behalf of my constituents, I have written to the Secretary of State on a number of occasions asking for a meeting but he declined to do so. I want to speak about the three proposed solar farms in my constituency, the one of project, and the steeples of renewable scheme.

Taken together, these projects would be of continental scale, between them, they would cover at least 10,000 acres of land, making them the largest solar installation in Europe. To put that into perspective, my constituency is a large and rural one, which stretches nearly 60 miles from north to south, at least nine% of its land mass would be turned into a single complex. An industrial farm like glass, metal fencing, substations and battery storage. This is not just about Newark, across the Trent Valley, the impact is immense, on my constituency, nine%, in the constituency of my honourable friend, seven%, in the constituency of my honourable friend, the member for Gainsborough, five%.

It is a concentration of a vast burden on one small corner of England's countryside.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Jim Shannon, on solar in the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Newark constituency. This is an issue across the whole

**** Possible New Speaker ****

This is an issue across the whole of the United Kingdom. It affects us all, these large-scale plans will all, these large-scale plans will definitely affect... I understand the need for renewable energy, but the need for renewable energy, but our farmers and their needs should come first, does the honourable gentleman agree, when it comes to ensuring we have food security, the same must apply across the whole of the UK. I seek the honourable the UK. I seek the honourable member, I have some 60 years of experience putting flags up, happy to help.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

My honourable friend is always welcome to come up the ladder with welcome to come up the ladder with me, I will pay him a visit to fix me, I will pay him a visit to fix the flags. He is right to say that these projects affect the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, many of them, all three of those I am of them, all three of those I am raising today, are treated as nationally significant projects. nationally significant projects.

That means the final decision will land not with local communities, not with district or county councils, but squarely on the desks of ministers in Whitehall. It is right that debates like this occur and elected members such as myself have the opportunity to raise the arguments with the Minister before they ultimately make these crucial decisions. Let me make one point crystal-clear, this is not about NIMBY is. As the former housing Secretary, I heard time and again, members of this House begin speeches with those words.

In invariably, they would go on to make a point that was, at its heart, but can I say, in my 11 years in Parliament, I do not recall the racing in this House a campaign against a housing development in my constituency, not once. Newark has accepted thousands of new homes and estates, I supported those developments, we also accepted our share of energy projects, we host small-scale through the plants, we supposed battery storage and we have absorbed significant disruption from new energy projects such as the West Burton fusion project.

This is not a constituency that resists change. It is not a part of the country which is immune to energy project. The entire history of North Nottinghamshire has been one of energy generation. It is in the blood of my constituents. My constituents are pragmatic people, they are reasonable, patriotically, they want to share part of the nations burden in reaching the energy needs, as they have done for generations. But what is being proposed is on an extraordinary scale. It is disproportionate, damaging and it cannot be justified.

This has become a David and Goliath struggle, on one side, small villages, sometimes not even parish councils but parish meetings, habits, where neighbours have had to mobilise to join forces to get their views heard. On the other side, international companies with very deep pockets, PR machines and armies of consultants. I want to pay tribute here, in the House, to those parish councils, parish meetings and campaign groups, who fought with such courage and determination. They had to master planning law, pore over technical surveys and produce community responses, all with minimal resources.

Contrast that with the developers. I have found them, at times, aggressive, loose with the facts and willing to submit surveys that are absurd. It is a David and Goliath situation, why are we opposing this? First, I have never known an issue to around such opposition in my constituents, I have surveyed residents, 90% say no. The community is speaking with one voice. Let me say why, first, the solar panels are represented as clean and green, as we all know, in this House, the reality is murkier, most panels sold in the UK today contain materials in China, often from regions such as Xinjiang, where there is compelling evidence of forced labour.

Britain should take a lead against exploitation, not collude with it in our supply chains. Secondly, there are dangers from flooding and fire. These projects require fast battery storage installation and around the world we have seen that those batteries can unite catastrophic fires can occur, sometimes releasing toxic smoke which is challenging to extinguish. Several such fires have already occurred in Britain. In 20 Valley, -- Trent Valley, the risks are greater. They pose very serious dangers to life and property.

Thirdly, even if you support solar, it should obviously be on rooftops and brownfield land first, across Britain, there are 600,000 acres of south facing roof tops, warehouses, supermarkets, car parks, yet they largely stand empty. Why are we sacrificing some of our finest farmland when these spaces are unused?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Communities are affected the same, productive land creates good agricultural outcomes and it means agricultural outcomes and it means good rural economies, £4000 below good rural economies, £4000 below the Welsh average, building new solar have an impact on that. Did solar have an impact on that. Did you agree with me that the government should reject any project and have an economic impact

**** Possible New Speaker ****

assessment on these developments. She makes an important point, we

**** Possible New Speaker ****

She makes an important point, we should think about the impact on rural's and a large project will rural's and a large project will have a profound impact on rural communities to go about the point I was making, why are we not using every incentive possible to make sure these are placed on warehouses, factories, rather than on beautiful and important countryside, it makes and important countryside, it makes no sense. The impact on the no sense. The impact on the countryside itself, these are some of the finest landscapes, they will be scarred for generations, some families with solar farms will find them metres from the gardens, imagine walking your dog, not a long hedgerow, but between 3.5 metre high metal fences, bristling with CCTV.

Imagine going for a run, flanked for males, not by British countryside but walls. That is not ruling, it is not what my constituents cherish. Fifth, there is going to be a massive impact on rural life, I believe in housebuilding but if you encircle villages with solar farms, it will make it nearly impossible to have organic growth for housing. In the years to come. Just at a time when our country needs new housing

**** Possible New Speaker ****

in these rural can. With your permission, I would

**** Possible New Speaker ****

With your permission, I would like to... And over of rules 4chan like to... And over of rules 4chan in Ministers, this issue in Newark, my right honourable friend has made an important point about the impact on the local economy and the option for farming and new housing. Does my honourable friend feel the government has got the right balance in his push for net zero, if 10% of

**** Possible New Speaker ****

the land is being covered in one thing, that limits lots of opportunities, doesn't it? My honourable friend makes an

**** Possible New Speaker ****

My honourable friend makes an important point, even if you want to important point, even if you want to pursue net zero, there has to be a pursue net zero, there has to be a balance struck. This is not being pursued in a proportionate and sensible way. It is alienating sensible way. It is alienating people, thousands of people in my constituency, many of whom are care passionately about the issue but passionately about the issue but they do not want to see the countryside destroyed and the quality-of-life room.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

I had a similar situation in my constituency, the home to guy Fox's House, it risks being encircled by a developer. People on the ground are pragmatic, the issue is when it comes down to planning rules, if you try to get emergency vehicles through, to get these rural committees, it is not possible. Does he agree, there needs to be a more commonsense approach to how we tackle these issues. I think he makes an important point. Imagine the disruption, even just for a couple of years of constructing 10,000 acres with a solar farm in small rural areas, it is going to be immense.

Food security, the land I am speaking about is not scrubbed and, it is one of the most versatile land in England. Taken out of production, for 25 years, that is reckless. A 2023 report Welsh Government found that solar farms risk causing soil compaction and permanent damage, reducing yields long after they are gone. In Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire, 99 99.1% of solar installations already sit on our best farmland. Developers soil tests downgrade land quality but those are surveys they commissioned themselves.

Once farmland is lost, we become dependent on them lost to a close and, from countries where we have no control. This undermines not just food security but national security. food security but national security.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Is a pleasure to come in on the side of David better -- David versus Goliath because it serves my right honourable friend -- is here whether the 10,000 acres at his new constituency has had proposed could actually be replaced by 5,000 acres actually be replaced by 5,000 acres of floating solar on the reservoirs of this country? In my own constituency of Spelthorne, I have constituency of Spelthorne, I have 2,000 acres of raised reservoirs, all closed sites for you can't see all closed sites for you can't see the top of them.

They are twice as efficient as land-based systems and reduce evaporation by 70%. But that

**** Possible New Speaker ****

reduce evaporation by 70%. But that not be a better way of striking a balance than plastering them all over the place? He makes a good point I know he

**** Possible New Speaker ****

He makes a good point I know he spoken about this before. Let's do exactly that. Let's have floating wind farms. If there is the appetite wind farms. If there is the appetite for them. Let's have floating solar panels rather. It's of solar panels on our factories and warehouses, above our multi-storey. On homes frankly. But let's not destroy the countryside for a generation or countryside for a generation or countryside for a generation or I should know my register interest as a landowner and I should also acknowledge my own Member of Parliament who was speaking at the moment.

I will make a helpful moment. I will make a helpful contribution in a moment, but I wonder what his views are on landowner choice in this speaker is actually one of the solar applications that he is referencing as a single landowner who has made the choice because he lives a long way away to put land forward for this purpose. So how does that fit into some of the arguments he is making is presumably a free-market

**** Possible New Speaker ****

economist? Are not clear from the honourable

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Are not clear from the honourable gentleman's comments that he supports or opposes the vast number supports or opposes the vast number That, That, to That, to me, That, to me, is That, to me, is a That, to me, is a grave That, to me, is a grave mistake. That, to me, is a grave mistake. Let me close by making final points, first, the key motive impact, as I said, this is not about a small area, this is about almost 2% -- 10% of the entire landmass of my constituency being covered in solar panels, if these applications are knotted through, more will follow...

Where does this end? Do we have a situation in five, 10, 15 years, where 20%, where one third of the countryside is covered in solar panels$$JOIN : -- that does not seem possible to me. My constituents are sick to death, we have got to ensure their concerns are heard and the key Projects covering 10,000 acres. They amount to land that could support more than 73,000 she, produce 72 million loaves of bread or produce 72 72 million Weetabix.

That's reproduction on a massive scale. Every solar farm will beget more. A new substation external applications, then come the battery storage plans. Soon the commutative effect is devastating. So this is why my constituents oppose these three schemes with such passion. This is why I'm here this evening to ask the Minister to give these applications due consideration when the band on her desk or that of the Secretary of State in time. My appreciation may be limited in what you can say today because of the planning process, but to put herself in due course in the shoes of my constituents, to think how she would feel if a 3.5 m solar panel was built next to her House, if the village that she loved was ruined, and how she feels for the future of our country if our food security is our country if our food security is being sacrificed.

Thank you.
19:51
Kerry McCarthy Portrait Kerry McCarthy MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) (Bristol East, Labour)
-
-
I call the Minister. congratulating the right honourable gentleman for securing a debate on an issue on behalf of his constituents? As he has acknowledged, I am limited in what I can say about specific projects within the planning system. Before I move on to the try to address some of the details that he has mentioned in his speech, can explain why cell is so important our energy security, to lower bills and climate action? Over three years on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we still remain at the mercy of fluctuations of international fossil fuel markets.

Wholesale gas markets remain high, some 5% higher than before Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And the simple fact is the only way to get energy bills down for good is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. And that's why one of the government's missions is to achieve Clean Power 2030, and so is the cheapest and most easily deployable renewable energy source. It's right at the heart of that mission. Our Clean Power Action Plan published last December set out their 45 to 47 GW of solar power will be required by 2030.

That's up from around 19 present. Thankfully we have a vast experience of the solar sector ready to play at pace and scale and is one of the first things we did on getting into government last year was to consent several major solar projects stuck in the intro. Solar is overwhelmingly popular with the British public. Our recent public attitude survey found that solar energy is supported by 86% of the public, and that figure has never dropped below 80%. However, I agree with the right honourable gentleman that we want to keep support for solar this height, then it must be rolled out in a way that provides communities with a say and the They do host clean power projects will stop the means protecting local communities and ensuring that only the right projects are getting the green light from the planning system.

All projects are subject to a rigorous planning process in which the views and interests of local communities are considered. And that includes things that the potential impact on biodiversity, the local economy, visual amenity, protected landscapes and land use. Secondly, it's absolute descent of the committees feel involved in the decision-making around these projects. Developers of projects larger than 50 MW, which qualify as nationally significant infrastructure must complete considerable community engagement before any decision is taken. And to remind the honourable gentleman we are about to return control of these projects by doubling these.

The project of all sizes, the level and quality of community engagement by developers is taken into account decision-makers. The right honourable gentleman expressed concern about the use of agricultural land. Planning guidance makes clear that whenever possible developers should utilise brownfield, industrial contaminated or previously developed land. Whether deferment of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, lower quality land should be preferred to higher quality land can put a figure support we don't overstate the amount of land that is used for solar developers.

In the solar program published in June we set out our expectation that even in the most ambitious scenarios, only up to 0.4% of UK land would be devoted to solar. That's assuming you were significantly less than the land currently covered by golf courses, double, to the issue of clustering concentration in a moment. Imagine food security for so we don't accept there is a trade-off between solar deployment and food security. In fact achieve client advice to the National farmers Union stated recently that there is no threat to national food security form solar.

Imagine by diverse that there are certainly evidence that solar can improve biodiversity when it's installed on agricultural land was appealed by sheep. Sheep grazing under solar panels. Projects were smaller than 50 MW at the moment on biodiversity net gain of required increase biodiversity by 10% and we are considering the possibility of extending to nationally significant projects too. I dunno please read the recent study by the RSPB and Cape University found the solar farms in East Anglia have up to three times more birds than surrounding arable farmland.

When local communities to their countries as he said a great service by hosting the solar farms, it's important they enjoy a share of these benefits. We proposed a recent working paper that should be mandatory for developers to provide community benefit funds. And this working paper will set a call for evidence seeking views on facilitating shared ownership and whether the government should consider expanding shared ownership, and we are currently working together framework right. In the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

meantime,... Very quickly. I thank her. I've worked in an

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I thank her. I've worked in an edgy -- energy industry and I was a edgy -- energy industry and I was a proponent of local area energy plans which empower communities to plan the energy needs. I think one of the the energy needs. I think one of the big issues that constituents have is it feels very reactive based on what landowners choose to do. It would be far more empowering to encourage communities to look at the land within their local authority, or a bigger area and to actually bigger area and to actually proactively plan just as we do with housing.

I wonder whether she would consider thinking about how she

**** Possible New Speaker ****

consider thinking about how she could work with other departments to encourage local area energy plans to have a statutory basis. I'm pretty sure he has raised

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I'm pretty sure he has raised that question before if I'm right. that question before if I'm right. And I remind my honourable friend the Minister for energy to engage with him further on it. On clustering, this is coming to the real of the right honourable gentleman speech. Some communities feel that what they are being asked feel that what they are being asked to host is excessive. And I have a few responses on this. Firstly the few responses on this.

Firstly the planning system does include provisions to assess cumulative provisions to assess cumulative impacts under such circumstances for tips that should be part of the process. Secondly, we will be changing the way we allocate energy infrastructure around the country. So what happened today is developers are being incentivised to build projects where there is spare great capacity and in industrial areas like the Midlands, that's why there is the attraction and that can lead to clustering. But we are now going to be taking a completely different approach the one we inherited from his government.

With commissioned a strategic spatial energy plan that will set out a strategy for how new infrastructure should be spread across the country. And by investing in Electricity Networks Commissioner agreed we can ensure that the it's will go the projects are rather than the other way round. And finally we are... I wish I had time to answer all the other points about storage and safety and happy to do so in writing but I do want to focus for a moment on what we do to accelerate solar deployment on rooftops.

As the standards will have rooftop solar fitted. Who'll allow most to proceed without an application for planning permission and have conducted a call for evidence for adding solar panel -- canopies and car parks was GB Energy as pudding said on 200 schools and NHS sites to bring down hills and build more local clean power and we will be next month launching our ambitious Warm Homes Plan, 13.2 billion available to support people with the upfront cost of installing green technology, rooftop solar as well as insulating their homes and so on.

So we unleashing rooftop revolution. We think rooftop is very important part of that, but just the scale of the challenge facing us to get clean power by 2030, to ramp up renewables means the ground mounted solar has to be part of as welcome and float and the government to support floating solar. So to sum up, we do take the honourable gentlemen's concerns very seriously. We want to take people with us on our clean power mission, and that only works if we do that.

So we are putting measures in place to get the planning process right, to ensure that communities benefit from posting clean energy and to support the strategic spread protects across the country, including in urban areas through rooftop revolution. I'm glad that the British people agree with us that solar is a vital part of our future energy mix but we can't be complacent about retaining that support. So grateful for the right honourable gentleman for giving me the opportunity to set out in brief at least what our position is, and he will appreciate why I can't be too specific about some of the points he raises.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

The question is this House do now adjourn. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it com the ayes
11:00
None Portrait Private Business
-

20:06
11:01
20:31
This debate has concluded
Return to start of debate - Return to top of page