Commons Chamber

Tuesday 2nd September 2025

(began 5 hours, 4 minutes ago)

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None Portrait Speaker's Statement Mr Speaker
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Order, Order, order. Order, order. The Order, order. The clerk Order, order. The clerk will
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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)
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Question number one.
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None Portrait Q2. What assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Sudan. (905355)
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Question number two. Can I just begin by acknowledging
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None Portrait Q3. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure humanitarian aid can reach people in Gaza. (905356)
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Question number three, Mr Speaker.
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None Portrait Q4. What discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the Chagos Islands. (905357)
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Number four. The Diego Garcia military base is
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Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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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

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

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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

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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
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None Portrait Q8. What steps he is taking to support a ceasefire in Gaza. (905362)
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Question number eight.

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With your permission, I will
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None Portrait Topical questions: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
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We now come to Topicals.

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Question number one.
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: Insolvency of Speciality Steel UK LTD
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Now comes the statement from Minister Sarah Jones.

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

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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
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Gareth Davies Portrait Gareth Davies MP (Grantham and Bourne, Conservative)
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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...

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

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

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

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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...



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operational... Order, please, it is not
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Sarah Jones Portrait Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)
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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
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Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)
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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?

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I thank the honourable lady for
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Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
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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

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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
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Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
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has taken 12 minutes, I will extend the time allowed for both shadows to six and three.

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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.

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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
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Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
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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.

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Can I thank my honourable friend
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Lisa Smart Portrait Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
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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

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

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I thank the honourable lady, and to pick up on some of the things that she asked, specifically, and
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None Portrait Presentation of Bills
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Sentencing Bill. Reading Second Reading what day? Tomorrow.

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Tomorrow.

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Tomorrow. Vehicle Registration Marks (Misuse

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

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

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us to the Ten Minute Rule Motion. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I
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None Portrait Ten Minute Rule Motion: Babies and Infants (Allergy Guidance)
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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
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Becky Gittins Portrait Becky Gittins MP (Clwyd East, Labour)
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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

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cases, prevent allergic disease. The question is that the

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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?

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

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

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Second reading, what they?

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

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

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Empowerment Bill second reading. Recent amendment in the name of the official opposition has been selected. Minister to move the
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None Portrait Legislation: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Second reading
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selected. Minister to move the second reading. Angela Rayner.
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Angela Rayner Portrait Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)
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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.

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In her attempt to drive, will she

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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?

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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.

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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

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

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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

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

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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.



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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...

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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.



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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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?

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devolve that decision? Madame Deputy Speaker, any new

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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.

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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safety. I thank the Secretary of State

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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

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

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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.

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

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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

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

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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.



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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

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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

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

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20 answer why they keep getting

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

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

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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)
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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?

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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

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

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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.

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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?

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

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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.

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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.

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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
15:36
Paul Foster Portrait Mr Paul Foster MP (South Ribble, Labour)
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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

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the poll question. The original question was the

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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.

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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)
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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.

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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

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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?

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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

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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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area. I'm grateful have a giving way.

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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.

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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
15:53
Alison Taylor Portrait Alison Taylor MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Labour)
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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.

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Thank you. Thank you. This Bill is supposed

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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
16:02
Peter Fortune Portrait Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)
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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.

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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 )
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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
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