Local Government Finance

Debate between Jake Berry and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 5th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

Well, I am not the organ grinder, as she has pointed out, so I must be the monkey. We have a broad team, and given that a lot of the claims made by the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish relate directly to the north of England, I think that as the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse I am the most appropriate Minister to respond to this debate.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend’s mandate extends to God’s own county of Hampshire, where we are very much looking forward to the fair funding review on the grounds that we get to spend £1,650 per person, but we look north to the local authorities that have been enumerated today that have an additional £500 per person. We spend—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Sir Desmond, you are usually very good and ask the shortest of questions and make the briefest of interventions. I do not know what has gone wrong but I am sure the Minister will have a grasp of what you were saying.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jake Berry and Desmond Swayne

Monday 17th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

I do not accept there is the causal link to which the hon. Lady refers. Local authorities have an obligation, which they should discharge, to house homeless individuals and to provide good-quality accommodation. If she believes her local authority is failing to do that. perhaps she could provide details and we could look into that further.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State revoke permission for Milford on Sea 1, in accordance with my written request?

[Jake Berry]

As my right hon. Friend is aware, the Department sits in a quasi-judicial position in relation to all planning applications. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the individual application to which he refers.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Further to my last, if a decision could be expedited, the developer is now on the site, so any compensation will escalate.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jake Berry)]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer to my previous question.