Immigration

Debate between Lord Field of Birkenhead and Kate Green

Thursday 6th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Field]

I have no evidence, but a constituent of mine was one of those who had their legs blown off in the London bombing.

[Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab)]

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

[Mr Field]

No; I have given way on that point.

My second question is on the mountain we must climb. I reiterate the point that my right hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex made. If the Government are not successful within a 15-year period, if not sooner, our population will go beyond 70 million. As he said, in concrete terms, that means that if we wish to maintain existing living standards rather than see them cut, we must build the equivalent of Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Bristol and Glasgow. That must happen during a period when we will experience a more sustained number of years of cuts in public expenditure than we have ever experienced. With those cities must come roads, utilities and the necessary extra schools and health facilities. Does any hon. Member believe that if we are not successful in meeting the Government’s objective, we will meet the objective of housing people on an equivalent basis to how they are currently housed?