Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Alberto Costa

Tuesday 11th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Philip Hammond]

I imagine the reason is that the provision of these services is contracted out, but I will investigate and write to the hon. Lady.

[Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) (Con)]

The Chancellor can rightly take pride in his policies which result in South Leicestershire having one of the highest employment rates in Britain. On Friday, I am meeting local businesses in Lutterworth, where Councillor Neil Bannister, leader of Harborough District Council, will be hosting a “Meet your MP” session with local businesses. What other positive messages does the Chancellor have for local businesses in Lutterworth and South Leicestershire?

[Mr Hammond]

In areas of the country like the one my hon. Friend mentions, we have seen a resurgence of the entrepreneurial spirit since the financial crisis, with high levels of employment and good levels of wages. Now we need to see businesses being prepared to invest and innovate to grow productivity so that we can carry on seeing wages rising to create the sustainable high-wage economy that we all want to see.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Alberto Costa

Tuesday 3rd July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

We have a £9 billion affordable homes programme, and we announced a £2 billion uplift in that programme last autumn. We have increased additional flexibilities to allow building for social rent and to relax the housing revenue account caps on local authorities in the highest demand areas. This Government’s programme to deliver the homes this country needs achieved 217,000 net additional dwellings last year and is on track to deliver 300,000 net additional dwellings a year by the middle of the 2020s.

[Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) (Con)]

It is indeed commendable that the policies the Chancellor has brought to the House and made into law have been of enormous benefit to my constituents. Will he intensify his efforts in helping not only first-time buyers but those who find it difficult to afford houses? Can he perhaps say a few words on what he might do for them?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Alberto Costa

Tuesday 19th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Hammond)]

My priority is to ensure the stability and prosperity of the UK economy. That means a combination of near-term measures to respond to the shock that the economy has received, and longer-term measures to manage the impact of transition out of the EU and to reposition the UK economy to maximise its potential in the new circumstances we will then face.

[Alberto Costa]

I add my congratulations to the new Front-Bench team. Leicestershire County Council is one of the lowest funded local authorities in the country. The council is reaching the point where it may not be able to meet all its statutory obligations. Given that, will my right hon. Friend help to arrange an urgent meeting between his counterparts in the Department for Communities and Local Government and council officials to discuss this matter?

[Mr Hammond]

As my hon. Friend notes, that is a CLG lead, but I am very happy to facilitate such a meeting for him.