Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Jun 2021
Planning System Reforms: Wild Belt Designation
"I thank my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho) for her excellent proposal to promote and increase nature biodiversity. We know that this is important and have heard that from across the room. However the proposals for planning reform shape up, it is absolutely imperative that we …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 27 May 2021
Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Robertson. It is also an honour to speak in the debate called by the excellent Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Philip Dunne), and I am delighted to support him here today.
…..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 19 May 2021
Post Office Update
"Just a few weeks ago, I asked about this at Prime Minister’s questions, so I thank the Government for listening and I welcome the statutory footing. Justice and peace of mind is one thing, but adequate compensation for the victims is another. Fujitsu must not be let off the hook. …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 23rd March 2021
Asked by:
Duncan Baker (Conservative - North Norfolk)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) cash and (b) percentage change was in the Band D precept for the Greater London Authority in (i) real and (ii) cash terms between (A) 2009-10 and 2016-17 and (B) 2017-18 and 2020-21.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Greater London Authority precept charged in the 32 London boroughs decreased by £33.82 (10.9%) between 2009-10 and 2016-17; a real terms (CPI) decrease of £71.81 (23.2%). Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, it increased by £52.05 (18.6%); a real terms (CPI) increase of £31.10 (13.2%).
Written Question
Tuesday 16th March 2021
Asked by:
Duncan Baker (Conservative - North Norfolk)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of council tax in the (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2010-11 financial years by local authority area.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Based on the latest OBR forecasts, the average council tax bill in England in 2021/22 would be 1.7% lower in real terms (RPI) than in 2010/11.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 10 Feb 2021
Local Government Finance (England)
"For those of us who have come up through the ranks of local government, we know only too well that local councils decide on local increases to council tax. There are parameters to work within to protect tax payers, but I welcome the fact that local councils make local decisions …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 28 Jan 2021
Holocaust Memorial Day 2021
"North Norfolk is a peaceful constituency of farming, beautiful coastline and, of course, the Norfolk broads. Life generally moves slowly, with a broads ranger quietly reminding a speeding boat that 5 mph is well over the 4 mph limit, and to be more careful in future.
Had I been the …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 9th November 2020
Asked by:
Duncan Baker (Conservative - North Norfolk)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps his Department has taken to support renters; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a (a) compulsory and (b) permanent ban on rental increases in (i) private, (ii) public and (iii) shared ownership housing after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has no plans to ban rent increases and we have put in place an unprecedented package of support to protect renters during this period.
We have legislated to increase notice periods to 6 months in all but the most serious circumstances and bailiffs have been asked not to enforce evictions across England whilst the new, toughened national restrictions apply from 5 November. The only exceptions to this will be the most egregious cases, including cases of illegal occupation, fraud, where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing and where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant. We also intend to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-Covid rent arrears and will provide more detail in due course.
Together with the pause on evictions starting in December, this means that evictions will not be enforced in England until 11 January at the earliest, except in the most serious circumstances.
These measures build on the Government’s major economic package of support to help renters continue to meet their housing costs, including the Chancellor’s recent announcement to extend the Job Retention Scheme to March 2021 .
We have also strengthened the welfare safety-net with an over £9 billion boost to the welfare system, which includes an extra £1 billion to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they cover the lowest 30 per cent of market rents. For renters who require additional support, there is also an existing £180 million of Government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments made available this year, an increase of £40 million from last year, which is for councils to distribute to support renters needing additional help.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 30 Sep 2020
Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No. 2) Bill
"This is a sensible Bill, given the pandemic, and one that I fully support. Basing revaluations on property values at 1 April 2021 rather than 1 April 2019 reflects far better the impact of covid-19 on property values and those businesses that pay business rates. I am pleased that the …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 03 Sep 2020
Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill
"Bills such as the one before us today may not always be the most high-profile, or garner the most attention, but they make a real difference in our communities up and down the land. Those of us who have “come up through the ranks” by sitting on local councils—in my …..."Duncan Baker - View Speech
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