Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2014, Official Report, column 618W, on official visits, what domestic visits he has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

Ministers undertake regular visits to a wide variety of local authority areas in England, whilst balancing their Parliamentary work, internal Ministerial meetings in London and meetings of Cabinet Committees. Ministers also regularly host delegations from local authorities for meetings in Westminster.

The list below provides a list of visits up to the end of January 2015. It would entail disproportionate cost to provide a detailed commentary on the purpose of each visit, but a brief summary is included. To assist the hon. Member, a selection of political visits is also included.

Such visits also need to be viewed alongside the visits that other members of the Ministerial team have made, and the published list of meetings with external organisations.

2013

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 21 January 2013, growth policy

London Borough of Enfield area on 22 January 2013, political

Cheshire West and Chester Unitary authority area on 1-2 February 2013, political

Borough of Eastleigh area on 11 February 2013, political

Borough of Eastleigh area on 22 February 2013, political

Oxfordshire County Council area on 1 – 2 March 2013, political

Reading Borough Council area on 18 March 2013, growth policy

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council area on 15 April 2013, local government and growth policy

Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth area on 19 April 2013, political

Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees Council area on 25 April 2013, political

Ribble Valley Council area on 26 April 2013, political

Mid Devon Council area on 29 April 2013, political

Leicestershire County Council area on 13 May 2013, troubled families

Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 18 June 2013, faith and integration

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council area on 4 July 2013, local government policy

Salford City Council area on 4 July 2013, community rights

London Borough of Hackney area on 30 July 2013, community rights

Thurrock Council area on 9 August 2013, Thames Gateway policy

Hastings Borough Council area on 15 August 2013, coastal communities’ policy

Medway Council area on 18 August 2013, faith and integration

London Borough of Southwark area on 23 September 2013, community rights

Telford and Wrekin Council area on 7 November 2013, growth and housing policy

Cheshire West and Chester Council area on 18 November 2013, local government policy

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council area on 28 November 2013, local Enterprise Zones

Waveney District Council area on 7 December 2013, high streets policy

2014

Portsmouth City Council area on 16 January 2014, political

Norfolk County Council area on 31 January 2014, growth and housing policy

London Borough of Croydon area on 10 February 2014, flood response and recovery

Cherwell District Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery

Oxford City Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery

Arun District Council area on 20 February 2014, coastal defences and flooding

Runnymede Borough Council on 20 February 2014, flood response and recovery

Fife Council area on 24 February 2014, coastal communities’ policy

Aberdeen Council area on 24 February 2014, Cabinet meeting

London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 3 April 2014, community rights and housing policy

Derbyshire County Council area on 22 April 2014, growth policy and local enterprise zones

London Borough of Havering area on 23 April 2014, housing policy

Cambridge City Council area on 23 April 2014, political

Metropolitan Borough of Dudley Council area on 24 April 2014, political

London Borough of Wandsworth area on 1 May 2014, troubled families

Stoke-on-Trent City Council area on 2 May 2014, political

Brent Council area on 5 May 2014, faith and integration

Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 19 May 2014, political

Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 1 June 2014, political

Bedfordshire County Council area on 12 June 2014, political

Manchester City Council area on 26 June 2014, housing policy

West Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 26 June 2014, political

Doncaster City Council area on 27 June 2014, housing policy

East Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 27 June 2014, political

Harrogate Borough Council area on 5 July 2014, Le Grand Départ

Salisbury City Council area on 10 July 2014, political

Staffordshire County Council area on 11 July 2014, commemorative event

West Sussex County Council area on 21 July 2014, commemorative event

Hampshire County Council area on 29 July 2014, political

London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 1 August 2014, faith and integration

North East Lincolnshire Council area on 1 August 2014, growth policy and local Enterprise Zones

Glasgow City Council area on 4 August 2014, commemorative event

Mid Sussex District Council area on 23 August 2014, commemorative event

Bedford Borough Council on 2 September 2014, housing policy

Essex County Council on 4 September 2014, coastal defences

Tendring District Council area on 4 September 2014, political

London Borough of Harrow area on 14 September 2014, political

Birmingham City Council area on 17 September 2014, Waste management

Birmingham City Council area on 30 September 2014, local enterprise zones

London Borough of Wandsworth area on 21 October 2014, growth and housing policy

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 23 October 2014, housing policy

Pendle Borough Council area on 24 October 2014, regeneration and housing policy

Stroud District Council area on 27 October 2014, political

Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 29 October 2014, better care fund

Manchester City Council area on 30 October 2014, better care fund

Stroud District Council area, Cheltenham Borough Council area and Staffordshire County Council area on 6 November 2014, political

Westminster Council area on 9 November 2014, commemorative event

Stroud District Council area on 20 November 2014, political

Westminster City Council area on 25 November 2014, commemorative event

Flyde Borough Council area on 27 November 2014, political

Central Bedfordshire Council area on 28 November 2014, housing policy

Northampton Borough Council area on 28 November 2014, political

Essex County Council area on 11 December 2014, housing policy

2015

Cardiff City Council and Newport City Council area on 8 January 2015, political

Bath and North East Somerset Council area on 15 January 2015, political

Leicester City Council and Charnwood Borough Council area on 29 January 2015, local Enterprise Zones

The list reflects the fact that the Department’s responsibilities are broadly devolved outside England. All visits are conducted in line with the provisions of the Ministerial Code.