Winter Floods

Debate between Mark Pritchard and Lord Pickles

Thursday 6th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend does not need to rely on me; the Prime Minister said so loud and clear yesterday.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

The floods have caused huge anxiety not only in south-west England but in some parts of Shropshire. Does the Secretary of State agree that one way to mitigate future flooding is to ensure that new home development is not excessive, and also bears in mind the physical infrastructure such as drainage in local towns and villages?

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend is perhaps one of the cleverest people to lobby a Minister. I got the message.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pritchard and Lord Pickles

Monday 21st October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

I am embarrassed that my Chief Whip is present when I want to compliment the hon. Gentleman and say that he is almost a lone voice for sanity on this matter. These clearly considerable sums of money, notwithstanding the increased responsibility, are entirely wrong and I would expect the decision to be taken to a full council for a recorded vote. Let the people decide who is most sensible in running their council.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

As the Secretary of State will know, Britain’s common bird population is in decline. Will he agree to meet Britain’s new home builders to try to get them to build provisions for wildlife into future designs, thereby restoring Britain’s bird population?

[Mr Pickles]

I have had a number of meetings, as recently as last week, with various wildlife groups to discuss how to build into development an understanding of the needs of wildlife. My hon. Friend makes a very reasonable point about the bird population, which, outside my day job, I enthusiastically follow.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pritchard and Lord Pickles

Monday 4th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

One would think that the Labour party had not been committed to doing precisely this when it was in government, and that it was not prepared to make such sensible decisions. A few moments ago the Under-Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr Foster), clearly demonstrated the number of houses that have more than two bedrooms empty and rightly pointed out that exactly the same arrangements existed for the private sector under the Labour Government. We are introducing uniformity between the private and public sectors.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

On the important issue of social cohesion, does the Secretary of State agree that there is no room in any community in the United Kingdom for sharia law-controlled zones?

[Mr Pickles]

Of course sharia law should not have control, but it is important for us to recognise the significant number of Muslim organisations that have rightly condemned the patrols in question. We need neighbours to feel that they can walk the British streets safely no matter what their background or sexual orientation.