Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kris Hopkins and Alison Seabeck

Monday 15th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Kris Hopkins]

As I have said, we will make an announcement in due course. It is important to reiterate that local authorities, which know the challenges facing their communities, have the opportunity to make choices and set the priorities they think are appropriate.

[Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab)]

The loss of the welfare assistance fund has left many families fleeing domestic abuse in the south-west—in particular, women and children—facing considerable hardship, as local authorities find it difficult to find the funds to support such relationship breakdown. Is the Minister satisfied that enough is being done nationally to understand the needs at local level? Will he explain why the south-west seems to have had the greatest losses?

[Kris Hopkins]

If there is a particular issue with domestic violence, the hon. Lady is more than welcome to write to me. The Government recognise that dealing with domestic violence is extremely important. Additional money has been put in place to support that provision.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kris Hopkins and Alison Seabeck

Monday 10th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Kris Hopkins]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his work to promote Deal high street, which has been a tremendous success. Most recently, Deal topped the polls as Britain’s best coastal town as voted for by readers of The Daily Telegraph. The instinct of the Labour party is to tax businesses, ours is to encourage and grow local businesses by offering tax breaks.

[Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab)]

Will the Minister explain who sets the business rates?

[Kris Hopkins]

Local authorities have been given the opportunity to shape their tax base.

Housing Supply

Debate between Kris Hopkins and Alison Seabeck

Wednesday 9th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins)]

It is a pleasure to stand here and have the opportunity to talk about a vital part of our economy—this country’s housing industry. The industry is growing in strength and confidence. More homes have been built since 2007—a 31% increase in new homes in the last year alone. Planning consents have reached 216,000 in the last year.

[Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab)]

On a point of clarification, will the Minister explain the basis of the figures he has just provided to show that more homes have been built since 2007? What is the source of that information?

[Kris Hopkins]

What we do is add up all the numbers of houses that have been built; and more have been built since 2007. As I said, planning consents have now reached 216,000, and the top 10 building companies are at their maximum capacity and are planning to grow a further 15% in the next year.