Winter Floods
Debate between Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford and Lord Pickles(10 years, 9 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con)
This winter in Oxford West and Abingdon, flooding has led to loss of life, community chaos and property flooding. It is not only deeply distressing for residents but has brought our economy to a standstill. I am very grateful for the commitment to provide emergency funding and I hope that my council will apply. However, does the Secretary of State agree that it is long-term solutions, such as the western conveyance that we are campaigning for in Oxford, that will ensure we are not back here having the same debate every year?
Mr Pickles
My hon. Friend is a redoubtable campaigner for her constituents. I have no doubt that she will raise that issue with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he returns. We are looking for long-term solutions.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford and Lord Pickles
Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con)
19. What steps his Department is taking to promote local enterprise.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)
My Department has been championing a series of measures to promote local economic growth. For example, our proposals for the local retention of business rates will reward councils for working with business, and will provide new incentives to drive growth. The 22 enterprise zones will generate new businesses and jobs in a targeted way across the country, from Newcastle to Newquay.
Mr Pickles
My hon. Friend’s council has long had a reputation as a can-do council, and it is one of the best for keeping down the council tax and keeping satisfaction high among its residents. Given that quite a lot of the important developments in west London lie within her patch, we are looking to her and to the council to expedite badly needed growth.
Nicola Blackwood
Businesses in Oxford West and Abingdon tell me how important it is that they access local government procurement contracts, and about the difficulties they have in navigating some of the complicated procurement processes. The Government have taken some steps to support local businesses to access central Government procurement processes, but how can the Secretary of State’s Department help to open up local government procurement processes in the same way?
Mr Pickles
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Indeed, we have been working very closely with the Local Government Association to try to free up procurement. Part of that, of course, has been ensuring that there is transparency so that we can see how councils are spending their money. I am particularly grateful to the LGA, with which we are trying to demystify the complexities of European procurement regulations to allow local businesses to bid.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford and Lord Pickles
Mr Pickles
My hon. Friend, whom I have known for the best part of 30 years, is sometimes a stranger to democracy. I know that democracy is an inconvenience, but I do not think it that it will do any harm to consult the people of Bradford.
Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con)
16. What steps he is taking to reduce the regulatory requirements his Department places on local community groups.