Property Market

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Andrew Griffiths

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Westminster Hall

[Richard Harrington]

Again, if the hon. Gentleman has a little patience that difference will emerge as I make progress.

We have to do as much as we can to ensure that new homes are built, but there will always be people who oppose development. Sometimes, what is needed to meet the needs of the larger community can be stifled by those who, understandably, have their own personal interests at heart. It is not simply a hypothetical question. The issue has arisen in several places around the country, following the letter from the Secretary of State. Although regional spatial strategies were clearly not successful, evidence of nimbyism has also appeared, with the recent departure of those strategies. I will give some examples that right hon. and hon. Members may find of interest. In Bath, for instance, the number of homes to be built around the area has been cut by nearly 50% under the city’s draft core strategy. Previous targets proposed by the South West Regional Assembly envisaged more than 21,000 homes being built during the next 20 years, but that figure will now be cut to 11,000. North Somerset is cutting its target for new homes from 26,000 to 13,000.

[Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con)]

My hon. Friend cites a number of targets, saying that one region wanted 21,000 new homes and another region wanted more. However, the reality is that those targets were fantasy targets. Those new homes were not built. We can set targets as high as we like for the building of property, but under the old regime—under the failed Labour policies—houses were not built and, more importantly, the local communities that had those targets forced on them were very upset about it.

[Richard Harrington]

I cannot dispute the validity of what my hon. Friend says, as I am very familiar with his constituency and with my own. The demand for housing in Watford is significantly greater than demand in Burton, but both constituencies offer an illustration of how the RSS and those targets do not work. I am giving examples. My hon. Friend may say that the targets were fanciful, but they were aspirations. Now no one will say that these new targets will be reached, because my hon. Friend’s argument is the same as my own—there is always a presumption against development locally. There are councillors who are elected, one after the other, on anti-development platforms. They come from all parties; I am not picking out one particular party in that respect. However, the fact is that targets have been reduced all over the place, in St Albans, in Wiltshire—I could go on, as I have a list of quite a few areas.

UK Film Industry

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Andrew Griffiths

Tuesday 9th November 2010 Westminster Hall

[Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con)]

I am honoured to be here, as people always say, but I am honoured in particular because this is my first Westminster Hall debate—and under your chairmanship, Mr Chope, which is much appreciated. I thank Mr Speaker for selecting me for once. It is a great honour. I suspect that there was no one else for the lunchtime slot, but one never knows.

I am here today to talk about taxation, and taxation to do with the British film industry in particular. I have a specific film interest in my constituency, which is the base for Leavesden film studios—recently acquired by Warner Brothers and, even now, one of the most successful film studios in Europe.

As I am sure the Minister is aware, Warner Brothers announced yesterday an investment in excess of £100 million in finally acquiring and developing the site. For the record, most people in this country are highly delighted that what has been Watford’s little-known secret—the filming of the Harry Potter films in my constituency, which has been going on for quite a few years—is now formalised. I have not yet been offered a part in the films, but I have had a close relationship with Warner Brothers, as the Government have—the managing director has met with Ministers several times in the past few weeks.

The value of the film industry to this country is significant. People might not be aware, but it directly employs about 36,000 people. If we include the multiplier effect, which studies do, 100,000 people derive their income from the film industry. The taxation commensurate with that is significant. The industry provides about £1.6 billion in direct revenues to the country and £440 million in taxation.

The industry is very significant, with highly skilled and highly paid workers—everything we are looking for in an industry in this country. It has weathered the recession quite well, unlike many other businesses, and production activity is pretty good, I am told.

We rely extensively on inward investment, which is what I want to talk about today.

[Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con)]

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for the British film industry and he has already articulated its importance culturally and economically. It is a vast employer that brings a huge amount of investment and a lot of jobs to this country. Will he, therefore, join me in expressing some surprise that not a single Opposition Member is present—no shadow Minister or Labour politician to speak on behalf of the British film industry.

[Richard Harrington]

My hon. Friend makes a good point, as ever. Given the importance of the industry to this country, I had hoped that Opposition Members would be present. However, avid readers of Hansard they may be, so I am sure that they will be able to catch up in the morning.