Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Hurley and Miatta Fahnbulleh

Monday 13th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of devolution on economic growth.

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

Devolution to strong local leaders who understand the economic opportunities and challenges in their patch has clear economic benefits: it can drive higher productivity, boost local economies and put more money in people’s pockets. For example, Greater Manchester, which is further along in its devolution journey, has one of the UK’s fastest growing local economies.

[Patrick Hurley]

I am pleased to see that the Government are pressing ahead with their commitment to implement new strategic authorities. May I press the Minister to consider how those new strategic authorities can grow their local economies by providing support for things like community businesses and social enterprises in town centres, helping to regenerate and renovate the neglected high streets we see across the country?

[Miatta Fahnbulleh]

My hon. Friend is completely right to highlight that. There is a huge opportunity for strategic authorities to support community businesses, co-operatives and social enterprises to help regenerate and revitalise our town centres and build community wealth. We are already seeing that across the country: we see it in Liverpool city region, where significant investment is going into community businesses. We are keen to build on this opportunity and to unlock it across the country.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Hurley and Miatta Fahnbulleh

Tuesday 4th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Miatta Fahnbulleh]

We have a manifesto commitment to reduce energy bills by £300. We are doing everything we can. We have a legacy of record high energy bills. We are running at clean power because we think that is the route to delivering lower energy costs. We are upgrading people’s homes because we know that is the route to delivering homes that are warmer and cleaner to run. We are doing everything we can. The Conservative party oversaw a crisis for households, so before its Members start lecturing us on what we should do, they should be hanging their heads in shame.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

4. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on opportunities for industry under the national wealth fund.