Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Monday 9th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Another cerebral intellectual, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods.

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State tell the House what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Augar post-18 education review?

ONS Decisions: Student Loans

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Ah, the key there was a reference to the ONS. It would be helpful if colleagues would frame their questions with reference to the Office for National Statistics, because that is the gravamen of the matter.

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

The fact that the ONS has said that student loans will push up the UK’s deficit undoubtedly provides an incentive to reduce fees, but that could create a huge problem for university funding. I hope the Government will take stock and introduce a new system of student finance that does not rely on loans, massive student debt or punitive interest rates, but gives our universities the stable funding they need to thrive.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Thursday 18th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

If I can encourage the hon. Member for City of Durham (Dr Blackman-Woods) to overcome any unnecessary shyness, and in light of the fact that we are not likely to reach question 13, I would say to her that her question is very similar to this question, so perhaps she would like to make her point now.

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

13. I was hoping we would get to question 7, but thank you very much, Mr Speaker. In July this year, the National Audit Office produced a report that was very critical of DEFRA’s oversight of the scheme, which sends half of all our mostly plastic recycling material abroad, mainly to China. With China indicating that it intends to stop the importation of solid and plastic waste, what is DEFRA going to do? How is it going to massively reduce plastic waste in this country, and when will we see the resources and waste strategy?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Wednesday 4th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Blackman-Woods]

Save the Children has warned that not only are powerful storms affecting the Rohingya refugee camps, but such storms are likely to become more frequent. What are the Government doing to ensure that global action is taken to address flooding issues? [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

I understand the sense of anticipation. I just remind the House that we are discussing the plight of Rohingya refugees, whom we owe some empathy and respect.

Points of Order

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 27th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation whether the person specification for the board members of the Office for Students had been checked properly and if we could be assured it met the requirements of the code for public appointments. He did not address that issue, so I wonder whether you could give any advice as to how we can take it forward.

[Mr Speaker]

That is not a point of order for the Chair. Whether it momentarily slipped the Minister’s mind or for some other reason he chose to focus his remarks elsewhere, I do not know. The Minister is welcome to come to the Dispatch Box if he wishes, but he is not under any obligation to do so.

Student Loans Company

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Monday 20th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am looking at all these very academic colleagues, and of course my eye immediately focuses on Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods.

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I hope the Minister appreciates that the problems at the SLC go beyond the actions, or lack of them, of the previous chief executive. The Jenkins report pointed to “bad behaviour” among the whole of the executive leadership team. Will the Minister tell us what that bad behaviour is, how long he has known about it and what action is being taken to stop it?

Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 23rd February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I just point out that if Members continue in this way, and it is perfectly in order for them to do so, there will be some who will not get in? It is as simple as that. If everyone speaks for five minutes or more and takes interventions, a number of people will not get called to speak. It will be no good blaming the Chair; you will have to blame each other.

[Dr Blackman-Woods]

There is no way at all that we can say that the relationship between a person’s income and poverty is an arbitrary measure. I say to the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr Burrowes) that I have made it very clear, for the third time now, that Lords amendment 1 is about requiring an income-based measure alongside—not instead of—other measures.

We have heard many attacks on Labour’s record this afternoon. Labour reduced child poverty by almost 1 million. The independent assessment by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and others was that it was a remarkable achievement, certainly without historical precedent in the UK, and impressive compared with other countries too. Rather than deriding our record, perhaps the Conservative party should see what it can do to build on it.

I turn briefly to Lords amendments 8 and 9. I am sure that many Members have heard from a number of their constituents about them, and I wish to talk about someone who wrote to me yesterday. She sufferers from multiple sclerosis. She wrote:

“I’m writing to ask you to support the amended Bill and ensure Clauses 13 and 14 remain out of the Bill when it is debated in the House of Commons. If this benefit were reduced, it could have significant implications for people who have MS and other people living with a long-term condition, in some cases making their health worse and pushing them even further from employment. Having a long-term condition such as MS is expensive. It adds extra costs to finding employment or training that people who receive jobseeker’s allowance don’t experience. These costs include things like paying for taxis to get to and from interviews.

Lord Low’s review of the proposed reductions in ESA also found no evidence to support the Government’s argument that £30 was a disincentive to work, which has been given as a rationale for these Clauses. The report also highlighted the negative impact that this reduction would have for people with disabilities like MS . Keeping clauses 13 and 14 in the Bill doesn’t make sense.”

I could not put it any better. We have received a great deal of testimony from our constituents, along with the excellent review by Lord Low and Baronesses Grey-Thompson and Meacher, which the Government have simply ignored. I ask the Minister to think again and listen to the people who know something about the possible impact of this policy.

Housing and Planning Bill

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 12th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

I beg to move amendment 131, page 29, line 14, leave out clause 67.

This amendment, together with other amendments leaving out all the clauses in this chapter, would prevent vacant high value housing from being compulsory sold.

[Mr Speaker]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment 92, page 29, line 21, at end insert

‘that shall include—

(i) the repayment of capital debt on any high value properties sold

(ii) the cost of replacing any high value properties sold on a one for one basis within the same local authority.’

The amendment would ensure the replacement of property locally and it would also ensure appropriate deductions are included in legislation.

Amendment 51, page 29, line 21, at end insert—

‘(2A) The total payment required from all affected local authorities in any financial year shall not exceed the total grant paid in that year to private registered providers in respect of right to buy discounts.’

The amendment would avoid powers being used a general means of taxing councils and tenants for the benefit of the Exchequer.

Amendment 93, page 29, line 32, leave out from ‘regulations’ to ‘for’ and insert

‘require a local housing authority in England to define “high value” in its area’.

The amendment would enable local housing authorities to define high value property in line with local housing market conditions.

Amendment 94, page 29, line 33, at end insert

‘that will not apply to more than 10% of the total authority properties in the local housing authority area’.

The amendment would safeguard a proportion of local authority housing stock in high value areas.

Amendment 53, page 29, line 35, at end insert—

‘(10) Regulations under subsection (8) may not define a dwelling as “high value” if its sale value is less than the cost of rebuilding it and providing a replacement dwelling with the same number of bedrooms in the same local authority area.’

The amendment would ensure that the cost of replacement dwellings is not specified as one of the costs and deductions to be made as required by sub-section 67(2) and would allow for one-for-one local replacement.

Amendment 132, page 29, line 36, leave out clause 68.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 55, in clause 68, page 30, line 11, at end insert—

‘(5) Regulations under subsection (2)(b) shall specify that housing shall be excluded where it forms part of a housing regeneration scheme or consists of specialist housing or recently improved housing.

(6) In this section—

“housing regeneration scheme” means a programme of regeneration or development of an area which includes the provision or improvement of housing and for which finance may be available under section 126 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996;

“specialist housing” means any housing designed for or intended for occupation by older persons or persons needing care or support or persons with mental health problems or learning disabilities, or which has features which are designed to make it suitable for occupation by a physically disabled person, or which it is the practice of the landlord to let for occupation by persons with special needs;

“recently improved housing” means housing where there has been substantial works of repair or improvement carried out on the relevant dwelling or group of dwellings within the previous two years.’

The amendment would exclude certain types of property from inclusion in the high value homes determination.

Amendment 133, page 30, line 12, leave out clause 69.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 134, page 30, line 28, leave out clause 70.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 135, page 31, line 2, leave out clause 71.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 136, page 31, line 12, leave out clause 72.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Government amendment 112.

Amendment 137, page 31, line 20, leave out clause 73.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 138, page 31, line 28, leave out clause 74.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 139, page 32, line 2, leave out clause 75.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 140, page 32, line 16, leave out clause 76.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Amendment 141, page 32, line 28, leave out clause 77.

See explanatory statement for amendment 131.

Government amendments 130, 9 and 11.

Government new clause 59—Reverting to original rent levels.

Government new clause 60—Private providers: policies for high income social tenants.

Government new clause 61—HMRC information for private registered providers.

New clause 39—Living Rent Commission—

‘(1) The Secretary of State shall appoint a body, to be known as “the Living Rent Commission”, to discharge the functions conferred under this section.

(2) The Secretary of State shall refer to the Living Rent Commission to determine a definition of “affordability”, based on which it shall make recommendations on rent levels for all housing provided by local authorities and private registered providers in England, at a level of locality considered appropriate and practicable by the Commission.

(3) Before arriving at the recommendations to be included in the report produced under subsection (4), the Living Rent Commission shall consult—

(a) such organisations representative of providers of affordable housing as they think fit;

(b) such organisations representative of affordable housing occupants as they think fit; and

(c) if they think fit, any other body or person.

(4) The Living Rent Commission shall, after considering the matter referred to it under subsection (2), make a report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State which shall contain the Commission’s recommendations regarding affordable rents.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations implement the Commission’s recommendations on affordable rents for private registered providers and local authority provided housing.

(6) If, following the report of the Living Rent Commission under subsection (4) above, the Secretary of State decides—

(a) not to make any regulations implementing the Commission’s recommendation, or

(b) to make regulations which do not relate to a recommendation of the Commission,

the Secretary of State shall lay a report before each House of Parliament containing a statement of the reasons for the decision.

(7) The definitions determined and recommendations made under subsection (2) shall be reviewed annually by the Living Rent Commission.’

This new clause would set up a Living Rent Commission to define and determine affordable rents.

Amendment 144, page 33, line 12, leave out clause 79.

This amendment, together with amendments 145 to 153, would leave out Chapter 4 of Part 4.

Government amendment 113.

Amendment 95, in clause 79, page 33, line 15, at end insert—

‘(1A) Any regulations made by the Secretary of State under this section will not apply—

(a) to people aged over 65;

(b) to people who have a registered disability;

(c) to people on zero hours contracts;

(d) to people with seasonal contracts of employment;

(e) to households where one or more members is in receipt of ESA;

(f) where a household member is in receipt of care

(g) where a member of the household is a carer for another household member;

(h) to those living in supported housing; and

(i) to households in receipt of housing benefit.’

The amendment would establish exemptions from the application of high income rents system.

Amendment 57, page 33, line 19, at end insert—

‘(d) to be increased on a tapered system relating to income and level of rent charged.’

The amendment would introduce a taper scheme into the application of high income rents to prevent huge jumps in the rent level being charged with only modest increases in income.

Amendment 58, page 33, line 19, at end insert—

‘(d) to take into account the need to promote socially cohesive and mixed communities.’

The amendment would enable local authorities and social housing providers to take into account the need to promote and encourage a degree of diversity in their communities.

Amendment 59, page 33, line 19, at end insert—

‘(d) take into account local affordability.’

The amendment would establish that rent levels should reflect local affordability.

Amendment 60, page 33, line 22, at end insert—

‘(3A) The Secretary of State must make regulations to provide for the external valuation of high income rents.’

The amendment would establish that the application of a higher income rent should be subject to external valuation.

Amendment 96, page 33, line 22, at end insert—

‘(3A) Any regulations made by the Secretary of State under this section must include provisions for—

(a) a notice period of one year before the new rent becomes payable; and

(b) transitional protection and arrangements as the tenant moves to the higher rent.’

The amendment would make it appropriate for tenants deemed to have a high income to be given time and a degree of transitional protection to enable them to relocate to another property or increase their income further

Government amendment 114.

Amendment 61, page 33, line 27, at end insert—

‘(6) All provisions in this section shall only apply—

(a) for new tenancies commenced after 30 April 2017; and

(b) where the tenant has been provided with a new tenancy agreement.’

The amendment would establish that the high income rent regime would only apply to new tenants from April 2017 and where they have been given a new tenancy agreement.

Amendment 145, page 33, line 29, leave out clause 80.

See statement for amendment 144.

Amendment 97, in clause 80, page 33, line 30, at beginning insert ‘subject to subsection (1A)’.

See amendment 98.

Amendment 98, page 33, line 32, at end insert—

‘(1A) High income” must be set with reference to average incomes in the area with high incomes being defined by income falling in the top quartile of incomes in the area.’

The amendment would establish that high incomes will reflect the top quartile of income levels.

Amendment 62, page 33, line 32, at end insert—

‘(1A) For the purposes of this Chapter high income cannot be set at a level lower than median income.’

The amendment would establish that the high income level cannot be set a level lower than average/median salaries.

Government amendment 115.

Amendment 146, page 34, line 6, leave out clause 81.

See statement for amendment 144.

Government amendments 116 to 120.

Amendment 147, page 34, line 19, leave out clause 82.

See statement for amendment 144.

Government amendments 121 to 123.

Amendment 63, in clause 82, page 34, line 27, leave out subsection (c).

The amendment would establish that the creation of a public body to transfer information from the HMRC to a local authority or registered provider of social housing is not necessary.

Government amendments 124 to 126.

Amendment 148, page 35, line 15, leave out clause 83.

See statement for amendment 144.

Government amendments 127 and 128.

Amendment 149, page 35, line 28, leave out clause 84.

See statement for amendment 144.

Amendment 64, in clause 84. page 35, line 30, leave out ‘estimated’.

The amendment would establish that payments to the Secretary of State would not be made on an estimation of income receipts.

Amendment 65, page 35, line 38, leave out subsection (5).

The amendment would establish that it will not be possible for payments to be made to the Secretary of State based on assumptions that are not borne out by reality.

Amendment 150, page 36, line 1, leave out clause 85.

See statement for amendment 144.

Government amendment 129.

Amendment 152, page 36, line 31, leave out clause 87.

See statement for amendment 144.

Amendment 153, page 37, line 7, leave out clause 88.

See statement for amendment 144.

Amendment 142, page 37, line 20, leave out clause 89.

This amendment, together with amendment 143, would enable councils to be free to manage flexibly tenancies in a way that drives best value from stock whilst supporting strong local communities.

Amendment 143, page 37, line 32, leave out clause 90.

See statement for amendment 142.

Amendment 105, page 86, line 1, leave out schedule 4.

To remove this schedule from the Bill.

Amendment 106, page 99, line 20, leave out schedule 5.

To remove this schedule from the Bill.

Amendment 107, page 27, line 21, leave out clause 61.

This amendment would remove the ability of the Secretary of State to make grants with respect to Right to Buy discounts to private registered providers including housing associations.

Amendment 88, in clause 61, page 27, line 23, at end insert

‘with the exclusion of—

(a) supported housing for older people;

(b) supported housing units (including self-contained homes where floating support is provided for vulnerable people);

(c) key worker housing (which includes self-contained flats subject to nomination agreements with third parties);

(d) units that form part of major regeneration schemes planned or already under way;

(e) rural settlements;

(f) homes built for charitable purposes without Government grant and homes provided through S.106 agreements requiring stock to be kept as social housing in perpetuity;

(g) cooperative housing;

(h) ALMOS (arm’s length management organisations); and

(i) Alms houses.’

The amendment would exclude the listed categories of specialised housing from being subject to the Right to Buy provisions of the Bill.

Amendment 89, page 27, line 25, at end insert—

‘(2A) The conditions at subsection (2) must include a condition that money equivalent to the market value (disregarding any discount) of a dwelling sold under right to buy and to which the grant applies is spent by the private registered provider on the provision of affordable housing in the same local authority area or London, including at least one new home replacing that sold which is—

(a) of the same tenure,

(b) located in the same local authority area or London borough, and

(c) in accordance with assessed local housing need.’

The amendment would require housing associations offering the Right to Buy to their tenants in London and elsewhere to re-invest all the money received as a result of the sale in replacement affordable housing, including a guaranteed like-for-like home in the same local authority area or London borough.

Amendment 50, page 27, line 28, at end insert—

‘(4) Grants must not be payable on properties bought and turned into buy-to-let dwellings within ten years.”

The amendment would prevent property sold under Right to Buy from being converted into buy to let dwellings for a period of ten years.

Amendment 108, page 27, line 29, leave out clause 62.

This amendment would remove the ability of the Greater London Authority to make grants with respect to Right to Buy discounts to private registered providers including housing associations in London.

Government amendment 111.

Amendment 90, in clause 64, page 28, line 24, at end insert—

‘( ) The discount should remain in perpetuity’

The amendment would ensure that homes sold under the Right to Buy remain as discounted housing in perpetuity.

Amendment 91, page 28, line 24, at end insert—

‘( ) A dwelling must not be sold under the Right to Buy without the Housing Association having the ability to—

(a) verify the source of funding for purchase,

(b) establish who is occupying the property,

(c) check that the person/s seeking to purchase the property under Right to Buy has no interest in another property,

(d) has sufficient time to carry out checks for fraudulent activity, and

(e) be able to prepare reports on (a)-(d) for the Housing Association Board of Trustees to consider.’

The amendment would ensure that housing associations are able to carry out proper checks before proceeding with the Right to Buy offer.

Amendment 109, page 28, line 24, at end insert—

‘( ) A dwelling must not be sold under the Right to Buy without the Housing Association having first—

(a) identified the dwelling that will become the replacement for the dwelling sold, where—

(i) the replacement dwelling may be an existing dwelling or a planned new-build,

(ii) the tenure of the replacement property is presumed to be the same as that of the dwelling sold under Right to Buy, unless a different tenure can be justified on the basis of local needs, and

(iii) the replacement dwelling is located in the same local authority area as the dwelling sold; and

(b) communicated the replacement plan to the Regulator.’

This amendment would ensure that a home cannot be sold under Right to Buy until a suitable replacement home has first been found or planned.

[Dr Blackman-Woods]

It is a pity that we are dealing with the four most contentious aspects of the Bill in one two-hour session, and that the Government did not accept our alterations to the programme motion, which would have made it a bit more sensible.

I shall begin by considering the forced sale of high-value social housing, covered in chapter 2 of part 4 of the Bill. As the Government will be aware, we tabled a number of amendments to chapter 2 on a range of issues relating to the forced sale of such housing. Amendment 92 would ensure that the replacement of property locally with appropriate resourcing was included in legislation. Amendments 93 and 94 would give local authorities more agency over defining “high value” and would limit the number of houses sold in a particular area to 10% of the stock.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Monday 19th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I very much appreciate colleagues’ good wishes, but there is no need for them to be added to, because I think it will just delay proceedings. However, everybody’s good will is greatly appreciated.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

And mine, too.

As I am sure the Secretary of State is aware, The Durham free school got a notice to improve from the Education Funding Agency before Christmas, and today it was put into special measures. However, it is extremely difficult for me or anyone else to get information from the Education Funding Agency, so will she intervene to ensure that all information about this school, and the reasons why it has failed and is so badly managed, is put into the public domain?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 4th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

That is obviously the Wright effect, or the Hollobone effect, or possibly a virtuous combination of the two. Who knows? I will leave the House to muse on the matter.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

One of the many excellent things the Secretary of State inherited from the previous Labour Government was an outstanding Probation Service in County Durham, which is now at risk from the Government’s privatisation. Will he now pay attention to the many issues raised in the Select Committee on Justice’s report of 22 January, and scrap that botched privatisation?

Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

[Mr Speaker]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

New clause 6—Local powers to establish permitted development rights—

‘(1) Section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (3) after second “order”, insert “issued by the local planning authority”.

(3) After subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Where a local planning authority proposes to make an order under this section it shall first prepare—

(a) a draft of the order; and

(b) a statement of its reasons for making the order.

(3B) The statement of reasons shall contain—

(a) a description of the development which the order would permit; and

(b) a plan or statement identifying the land to which the order would relate.

(3C) Where a local planning authority has prepared a draft local development order, it shall consult, in accordance with regulations, persons whose interests it considers would be affected by the order.”.’.

New clause 7—Town and Country Planning Act 1990 pre-application case oversight—

‘Section 74 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (Directions etc. as to method of dealing with applications) is amended by the addition of the following paragraph at the end of subsection (1).

“(g) for requiring the local planning authority, in relation to a proposed application for planning permission for development of a type prescribed by the order, to oversee (including by the giving of advice and opinions) the preparations and consultation being made and carried out by the applicant in relation to the proposed application, requiring the applicant and any other person specified by the order to participate in the oversight arrangements made by the local planning authority, including by attendance at pre-application hearings conducted by or on behalf of the authority, and requiring the payment of fees by the applicant for the oversight arrangements for a maximum period to be set out in regulations.”.’.

New clause 8—Pre-application stage of major infrastructure regime—

‘Section 51 of the Planning Act 2008 (Advice for potential applicants and others) is amended by the addition at the end of the following subsection—

“(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also make provision for the oversight (including the giving of advice and opinions) by a person appointed by the Secretary of State of the preparations being made by an applicant in relation to a proposed application and the applicant’s compliance with the provisions of this Part and those having effect under it, and in doing so the regulations may require the applicant and any other person to participate in the oversight arrangements made by the person appointed by the Secretary of State, including by attendance at case management conferences, and the payment of fees by the applicant and for a maximum period to be set out in regulations.”.’.

New clause 9—Consents under Electricity Act 1989: powers of the Welsh Ministers—

‘(1) The Electricity Act 1989 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 36C insert—

“36D Consents under section 36 relating to generating stations in Wales

In relation to generating stations in Wales, sections 36 to 36C and Schedule 8 (so far as it relates to sections 36 to 36C) have effect as if references to the Secretary of State were references to the Welsh Ministers.”.’.

New clause 11—Infrastructure requirement—

‘(1) Section 39 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (sustainable development) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) The person or body must exercise the function with the objective of identifying that there is, or will be, sufficient infrastructure to support new development that is proposed in a development plan document, or in a subsequent revision to a development plan document.”.

(3) In subsection (3) omit “subsection (2)” and insert “subsections (2) and (2A)”.

(4) After subsection (3) insert—

“(4) In this section ‘infrastructure’ has the same meaning as in section 216 of the Planning Act 2008.”.’.

New clause 12—Cumulative effects of development consents on climate change—

‘(1) The Planning Act 2008 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 13 (legal challenges relating to national policy statements) insert—

“13A Cumulative effects

(1) The Secretary of State shall publish on 6 April each year a report setting out the cumulative effect of development consents granted under this Act on the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.

(2) A statement designated under section 5 must contain a statement to the effect that it is the Secretary of State’s view that the requirement of subsection (1) is ratified.”.’.

(3) In section 105 (decisions in cases where no national policy statement has effect), after subsection (2)(b), insert—

“(ba) the cumulative effect of development consents on the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change set out in the report published by the Secretary of State under section 13A;”.

(4) In section 105, at the end add—

“(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(ba), the reference to the report published by the Secretary of State under section 13A means the last report published under that section.”.’.

Amendment 42, page 1, line 2, leave out clause 1.

Government amendment 5.

Amendment 43, page 36, line 2, leave out schedule 1.

Amendment 49, in clause 8, page 10, line 31, leave out

‘economic growth in the United Kingdom’

and insert

‘sustainable development and economic growth in the United Kingdom through the Government’s broadband programme.’.

Government amendment 6.

Government new clause 3—Variation and replacement of pre-Planning Act 2008 consents.

Government amendments 7 to 21, 33 and 34.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods]

The Minister will know that some time was spent in Committee debating the true purpose of clause 1 and its inherent anti-localist, centralising agenda. We sought to test whether the Government had intended to produce a clause that would enable major planning discussions and decisions in designated authorities to be taken by the Secretary of State—usually by the Planning Inspectorate on his behalf—thus significantly reducing the influence that local people have on planning decisions affecting their area. Astonishingly, that did seem to be their intention. Their love affair with localism seems to have been short-lived.

A second major issue in Committee was the nature of the designation itself, whether the criteria to be used were fair and whether the Government should be going down the route of designation at all. If their purpose is really to improve decision making in local authorities, that does not appear to be the appropriate or sensible route.

We were somewhat hampered by the fact that the consultation document relating to the designation of failing planning authorities appeared only a very short time—in fact, less than an hour—before the Committee commenced discussion of clause 1. Since then, we have had the opportunity to consider the document in more detail. Unfortunately, the consultation document does not make happy reading, and I feel that I need to urge local authorities and others to respond to it by 17 January.

An authority’s track record of speed is to be measured over a two-year period, based on the percentage of major applications determined within statutory limits, and quality is to be measured by the percentage of decisions on major applications that are overturned on appeal. Both criteria have their problems, but overall the approach seems to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. As we know, application of the first will draw in only a handful of authorities—even then, we are not sure how many—and the second none at all.

The Minister knows there is no evidence base for the measures in the clause, and they could put additional pressures on local authorities to agree to applications that, on balance, they might have refused. We know that is the case because of what happened in Committee. The Minister was given alternative criteria for designation that were much more in line with the localist agenda, such as being designated for failure to make decisions in line with the local plan. Unsurprisingly, he refused to accept the amendment.

As we heard in Committee, however, it is much worse than that. The Government are consulting on criteria, but the clause allows the Secretary of State to alter them, seemingly on a whim. The Minister was vague in Committee on whether changes would occur only after a period of consultation, and I hope he will be able to give us more clarification today. The power-grabbing tendencies of the Secretary of State, as endorsed by the clause, were also a continual theme of our deliberations. At no stage have improvements been made, despite the Minister being given numerous opportunities to do so through our amendments, and that should be regretted.

I ask the House to excuse me, as I have a terrible cold.

Data Protection in the Areas of Police and Criminal Justice (EU Directive)

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 24th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would appreciate your ruling on the appropriateness of commencing this important debate on the national planning policy framework with only about half an hour of parliamentary time available. Surely this is shambolic organisation, mirroring the NPPF process itself. Would it be possible to have the debate rescheduled, bearing in mind the commitment given by the Minister in this House on 27 March to have a full parliamentary debate on the subject?

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order. The time available for this debate was always to be a function of the amount of time taken by earlier proceedings, and therefore what was left at the end. However, as the scheduling of business is a matter for the Government and as the Minister leading the debate is here, and no less a figure than the Deputy Leader of the House is in his place, it is open to, though not obligatory for, either of those distinguished hon. or right hon. Members to respond to the hon. Lady’s point of order, if either wishes to do so.

Points of Order

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Wednesday 7th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to Members for their points of order, and I note what the hon. Lady has just said, and what the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) said, about the possibility of something being offered to the House by way of a statement later in the day. I can offer no encouragement on that front. I simply make the following points. First, the House knows the importance I attach—the premium that I attach—to statements being made to the House, and to a proper judgment being made as to the merit of the case for scrutiny, there and then, of that statement; secondly, the Treasury Bench is heavily populated, and representatives of it will have heard the strength of feeling that has been expressed in the House this afternoon; and, finally, there are well established procedures for Members to raise the matter in the House tomorrow—procedures of which they will themselves be very well aware.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. What can be done to clarify the Government’s position on the national planning policy framework? Last night’s “Newsnight” programme reported a very clear understanding that no significant changes would be made to the document, despite vociferous campaigns being run by the National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the consultation process. If no changes are to be made, that will be a matter of great concern for many people, so have you been approached by the Government wanting to make a statement on the matter, and if not what can be done to allow the House to question Ministers on it?

[Mr Speaker]

I have not been so approached. The hon. Lady has at least started to provide a solution to the dilemma that she has identified, by airing her concerns in the House and by placing the matter on the record, and knowing her as I do I have a sense that her efforts will continue and accelerate in a variety of ways.

Business of the House (Thursday)

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Wednesday 8th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I sat assiduously through the earlier debate from 7 pm, hoping to raise issues on behalf of my constituents and the all-party parliamentary university group, but sadly I was prevented from doing so by the closure motion. I urge you to do as you usually do and seek to include as many Members as possible in tomorrow’s debate.

[Mr Speaker]

I shall do what I can in the circumstances. I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her application, on which I will not adjudicate.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Thursday 8th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry, but I must explain to the hon. Gentleman that the question specifically relates to the north-west and that although other parts of the country might share similar concerns, they are not relevant to this question. We all get used to these things; I have made these mistakes myself, I assure him.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

The Minister will know that businesses in the north-west are very concerned about the loss of investment that could result from the abolition of the Northwest Regional Development Agency. Will he answer a question that I asked a few weeks ago? Is the £1 billion of additional growth money from the regional growth fund in addition to or instead of money that has already been allocated to RDAs and local authorities for economic growth?

Points of Order

Debate between John Bercow and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 29th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

That is a useful contribution to the continuation of point of order exchanges.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that important announcements have been made today on the abolition of the regional development agencies and the setting up of new local government structures to replace them. May I implore you, sir, to use your good offices to press Ministers to make statements of that nature in the House first, so that they can be properly debated?

[Mr Speaker]

I can say to the hon. Lady that I am aware of concerns about this matter, and there will be an opportunity to explore it. On the procedural point that she raises, I am conscious of and looking into the matter. I hope that that is helpful.