All 3 Petitions debates in the Commons on 25th Apr 2013

Petitions

Thursday 25th April 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Petitions
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Thursday 25 April 2013

Police cuts (Humberside)

Thursday 25th April 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Petitions
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The Petition of residents of Scunthorpe,
Declares that the petitioners are opposed to plans to cut £30 million from Humberside Police’s budget over the next four years; declares that the Petitioners reject the Government’s claim that these budget cuts will not have an effect on the quality of policing provided; and further declares that the Petitioners believe these cuts will mean the loss of 331 jobs, on top of the 780 staff who were already offered voluntary redundancy last year.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reverse its decision to cut £30 million from the Humberside Police budget and reconsider the proposed funding allowance for Humberside Police.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Nic Dakin, Official Report, 6 February 2012; Vol. 540, c. 133.]
[P001004]
Observations from the Secretary of State for the Home Department:
The Government support the work of the Police, both in Humberside and across England and Wales as a whole.
The reductions in funding for the police are challenging but manageable. This Government inherited the largest peacetime deficit in Britain’s history, and have had no option but to take urgent action. As a service spending £14 billion per year, the police cannot be exempt from the requirement to save public money.
However, Government funding is not the only source of income for the police. About a quarter comes from the police precept (element of council tax). The level of police precept is set by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and the PCC for Humberside has taken the decision to freeze police precept for 2013-14.
The effectiveness of a police force depends not on overall numbers but on how well it deploys its resources. Recorded crime has fallen under this Government by more than 10%, while total police officer numbers reduced over the same period. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary have made it clear that there is no simple link between officer numbers and crime levels, between numbers and the visibility of the police in the community, or between numbers and the quality of service provided.
The Government note, as of June 2012, that crime in Humberside was down by 12%, which underlines that the force has been able to manage funding reductions whilst continuing to significantly reduce crime.

Wind Farm (Wingate, County Durham)

Thursday 25th April 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Petitions
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The Petition of residents of the UK,
Declares that the Petitioners strongly object to the proposed planning application for the erection of five wind turbines of a maximum height of 115 metres and the associated infrastructure which will include a crane hard standing, a substation and control building, transformers, underground cabling, access tracks and a meteorological mast; further that they object to the proposed location for the turbines of Wingate Grange Farm situated to the west of Wingate, south-east of Wheatley Hill, north of Deaf Hill and on the southern side of the A181.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take the necessary steps to prevent the erection of the wind turbines.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Phil Wilson, Official Report, 21 March 2013; Vol. 560, c. 1170.]
[P001166]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is aware that a planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council in respect of the above development.
Durham County Council is responsible for the day to day planning control in their area and the Secretary of State cannot comment on the merits or otherwise of any planning application. Local planning authorities have the statutory responsibility for considering proposals for development. Authorities have to determine planning applications in the light of the local development plan for the area and any other material planning considerations. They must also take into account any representations received and give reasons for their decision.
The Government are clear that localism and decentralisation are at the heart of their planning agenda and the general approach of the Secretary of State is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of authorities on planning matters.
The planning application is still being considered by Durham County Council. It will be for them to consider the proposal taking account of representations. Should the Council be minded to approve the application then the Secretary of State, at that time, will consider if call-in is appropriate in this case. In the meantime officials are in touch with council officers to keep track of progress on the application.
More broadly, the Government have issued a call for evidence on the role of communities in helping decide applications for wind farms. We are currently reviewing the implications for local planning.