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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 25 Jan 2021
Council Tax: Government’s Proposed Increase

"I was once a member of Penwith District Council, a council renowned for keeping council tax low and the quality of service delivery high. That came to an end with Labour’s local government reorganisation programme, forcing Cornwall Council on the good people of the Duchy. Since then, we have seen …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

View all Derek Thomas (Con - St Ives) contributions to the debate on: Council Tax: Government’s Proposed Increase
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Dec 2020
Planning for the Future

"I stand to carry on the conversation that we have just had with my hon. Friend the Member for North Cornwall (Scott Mann). I thank the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) for securing this important debate and the Minister for all he does and for his willingness to …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Dec 2020
Planning for the Future

"I was asking the Minister to consider a way to enable local authorities to ensure that local people have access to the homes once they are built. I will now look at other models that enable working families to get on the property ladder, not forgetting what I said earlier …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

View all Derek Thomas (Con - St Ives) contributions to the debate on: Planning for the Future
Written Question
Planning Permission
Thursday 22nd October 2020

Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on (a) ensuring contractors are not able to start work on site without evidence of a planning approval notice and (b) seeking consent from all landowners affected by the application to be given before starting work.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

Local planning authorities have a range of planning enforcement powers to address unauthorised development, including where development has commenced in breach of appropriate planning permission, for example, before the discharge of pre-commencement conditions. It is the case that the grant of planning permission has no effect on the ownership of the land, and that obtaining planning permission does not automatically mean a development can go ahead. In particular, development cannot proceed without the agreement of the relevant owners.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

"I have listened to days of this debate and to many constituents, and while I started off feeling quite concerned and nervous, I am more certain today of the need for the Bill than I have been up until now. It would be foolhardy to make no provision if a …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

"What I am clear about, which is why I said at the beginning I was more nervous until we got to this part of the debate, is that there is very little risk that we will breach any international law or even that this Act will be needed. I am …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

View all Derek Thomas (Con - St Ives) contributions to the debate on: United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 10 Jun 2020
Horizon: Sub-Postmaster Convictions

"I hope that all the time taken to wish you a happy birthday has not delayed any celebration you might have planned for later, Mr Speaker.

I want to raise a case that is one of many. Susan Knight was a postmistress of 32 years who was dragged before magistrates …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 03 Mar 2020
Housing and Planning

"I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Neil O'Brien) for securing this debate and for its importance, since no one in this Chamber or elsewhere would deny the need to ensure that we get the right kind of housing for the people who need it most.

While we …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

View all Derek Thomas (Con - St Ives) contributions to the debate on: Housing and Planning
Written Question
Building Regulations
Monday 24th February 2020

Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the (a) potential merits of making local authorities economically liable for negligence in the exercise of their building control functions and (b) effectiveness of the exercise by those authorities of those functions.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

As part of our reforms to building safety, we are establishing a new Building Safety Regulator which will provide enhanced oversight of the building safety regulatory system.

Building work is subject to building control either by the local authority or a private approved inspector. It is the responsibility of the building control body to take all reasonable steps to assess compliance. However, building control is a spot checking process at certain points during the building work.

A compliance certificate issued by a local authorities building control team is not an absolute guarantee of compliance and in no way removes the responsibility of compliance from the builder or installer.

If it is considered that the local authority building control team did not carry out its function properly or was negligent in the exercise of its building control functions, a complaint could be made to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), the website for which is https://www.lgo.org.uk/.

The LGSCO is a free and impartial service to the general public, which is independent of the Government. Considering that it investigates complaints about local governments along with other authorities and organisations, it is paramount that its decisions cannot be influenced by the Government. As always, it is also possible to apply to the High Court for a judicial review to challenge an Ombudsman’s decision should it be considered to be legally flawed.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 26 Jun 2019
EU Structural Funds: Least Developed Regions

"I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in this interesting and important debate. The six Cornish MPs went to the Treasury some time ago to set out why it was so important to address the issue properly. It is absolutely right that when we get the consultation, we …..."
Derek Thomas - View Speech

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