Lord Wharton of Yarm
Main Page: Lord Wharton of Yarm (Conservative - Life peer)Oral Answers to Questions
Lord Wharton of Yarm Excerpts
Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP)
4. What progress has been made on discussions on a Tayside region city deal.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (James Wharton)
Discussions on a Tayside city deal are going well. The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland met Dundee City Council on 16 May to further those discussions. More work is being done but we welcome what has been done so far.
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh
A Tayside region city deal will be great for people across Tayside and for my constituents in South Perthshire. Will he set out the timescale agreed for finalising the deal, and, more importantly, whether the UK Government expect that they will be the majority funder of the project or, as is the case in Aberdeen, they expect the Scottish Government to underwrite the majority of the investment?
James Wharton
I do not wish to pre-empt the conclusion of the discussions that are underway. As I said, the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland met Dundee City Council on 16 May. He is meeting the leaders of Scottish cities again on 8 June. I hope the deal can be concluded quickly, with agreement, as it will benefit not only all those who live there, but the UK economy as whole.
Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
5. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of planned reductions in social rents and housing benefit support on supported housing.
Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
7. What progress has been made on the Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city regional deal.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (James Wharton)
Discussions continue positively on a city deal for Edinburgh and south-east Scotland. Officials have had a number of meetings and progress is being made, and Members across the House hope that an agreement can be reached so that something can be delivered that will benefit the hon. Lady’s constituents and our economy as a whole.
Deidre Brock
I have heard that one local authority involved in the Edinburgh city region deal, West Lothian Council, has distanced itself from the development of the deal and now appears to be intending to step away altogether. How will the Minister encourage it back into the ring on that deal?
James Wharton
The processes are by agreement, but we hope that all local authorities look to see the positives in what can be delivered, and the difference that can be made to the local economy, when city deals are agreed. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary at the Scotland Office will meet the leaders of Scottish cities on 8 June. I will draw his attention to the hon. Lady’s comments in the hope that he can bear them in mind and perhaps overcome some of the obstacles.
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)
10. If he will take steps to increase the number of civil servants of his Department based in Coventry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (James Wharton)
There are currently no plans for the Department to open new government offices in Coventry, but we welcome the significant economic growth the city has enjoyed and we welcome the £89.4 million investment that the Warwickshire and Coventry growth deal is delivering for the local economy. We want Coventry—in particular, its private sector—to continue to grow. The contribution of businesses in Coventry is quite incredible. I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s question in focusing attention on the good work that has been done.
Mr Cunningham
I thank the Minister for that answer, but surely he agrees that in having elected mayors for the regions it should follow that the civil servants are dispersed to areas like Coventry? Friargate would be a good site.
James Wharton
I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s enthusiasm, but at present there is no intention to relocate existing offices of this Department to Coventry. In April 2010, 3,382 people were claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Coventry. We welcome the fact that, thanks to the Government’s long-term economic plan, that number has fallen to 1,284. We want that trend to continue. The hon. Gentleman is quite right: as we devolve power to local areas, giving more responsibility to local economies and the people in them, we would like rebalancing to take place.
Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
11. What assessment his Department has made of the effect of enterprise zones on rates of employment.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (James Wharton)
Enterprise zones have made a significant contribution to growing our economy. Those announced in 2012 have contributed to more than 620 businesses and to nearly 24,000 jobs. Nearly £2.5 billion has been invested in those enterprise zones to support our economy and create employment for our constituents.
Graham Evans
Daresbury enterprise zone in Weaver Vale employs thousands of people, including 500 scientists working on cutting edge technologies such as big data. With nine enterprise zones in north-west England, does my hon. Friend agree that this highlights the Government’s commitment to closing the north-south divide and rebalancing the economy by building a fantastic northern powerhouse?
James Wharton
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We saw in the autumn statement a doubling of enterprise zones in the north of England and investment in the northern powerhouse. He has been a passionate advocate for this enterprise zone in particular and has impressed on me its importance and contribution to our economy. I hope that I might visit it soon with him to see at first hand what he is delivering for his constituents, working with this Government, as we stick to our long-term economic plan.
Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)
24. Unemployment in my constituency has nudged upwards in the last year. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the enterprise zone at Warton provides valuable opportunities to people in Fylde?
James Wharton
I welcome my hon. Friend’s question; he is a passionate advocate for his constituency and the enterprise zones that lie within it. I have visited Samlesbury but not yet Warton—perhaps my namesake enterprise zone is due a visit shortly, and I would be delighted if he were to welcome my joining him in attending it. We will offer what support is needed to ensure that enterprise zones are successful, create jobs and drive forward our economy. I am always happy to talk to him about the particular needs in his constituency.
Mr Speaker
I am sure its residents will feel excitement and anticipation in equal measure.
Mr Steve Reed (Croydon North) (Lab)
Will the Minister give a commitment that no enterprise zone or council will lose funding as a result of the localisation of business rates?
James Wharton
I am surprised at the hon. Gentleman’s question. He knows as well as I do that local government has been asking for many years for the localisation of business rates, which will give real incentives to drive local growth. He also understands that enterprise zones already sit differently within the business rates regime from local authorities, which we will have to take into account as we develop the system.
Mr Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)
13. What assessment his Department has made of the level of support for local enterprise partnerships from growth deals .