Points of Order
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
Sir Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove) (LD)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In questions to the Department of Energy and Climate Change on Thursday last week, I raised the case of a constituent who felt that she had been hard done by by a company, which I proceeded to name and to describe in unfavourable terms. That company and my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan), in whose constituency the firm is based, have made fervent and strong representations to me, which I fully acknowledge. In my attempt to convey just how anxious and concerned my constituent was, I clearly used language that went well beyond what the facts would substantiate. I want to make it clear to the House that I withdraw those remarks, although I still intend to give my constituent whatever help I can in this matter.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(10 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Mr Speaker
The right hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir Andrew Stunell) was already looking excited, but I imagine his excitement will now be boundless.
Sir Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove) (LD)
20. What steps he plans to take to ensure that the voluntary sector is able to compete for rehabilitation contracts.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(11 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Speaker
The right hon. Gentleman looks a bit surprised. We wish to hear from him.
Andrew Stunell
Thank you, Mr Speaker. As a Liberal Democrat, I am pleased with the progress that the Department is making on decarbonising Britain, but, bearing in mind that 50% of carbon emissions come from buildings, will the Secretary of State tell the House what discussions he is having with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about making sure that zero-carbon homes are on track for delivery in 2016?
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
Andrew Stunell
The hon. Lady should not believe too much of what she reads on these matters—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. The Minister, as we always expect him to, is behaving like a gentleman, but the hon. Gentleman must be heard.
Andrew Stunell
The fact of the matter is that the social and affordable housing programme is meeting an urgent need and we are pressing ahead with it vigorously. The issue that the hon. Lady raises must be seen in the context of the financial and housing situation we inherited from the previous Government.
Mr Speaker
Order. There is no breach of order. [Interruption.] Order. I must say to the hon. Lady that the Minister is not out of order. I do not think she should take offence, as the Minister did not mean to be offensive in any way; he was being light-hearted and jocular, as we all seek to be.
Andrew Stunell
If it assists in our proceedings, I am happy to withdraw the comment.
I fully acknowledge that we need more social and affordable homes. That is why we have a programme that is adding to the stock of social and affordable homes. I say to the hon. Lady that Slough will end up with more social and affordable homes in 2015 than there were in 2010, unlike the period in which Labour ran this country and its housing policy.
Decent Homes Programme (Nottingham)
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
Mr Speaker
The hon. Gentleman is a generous fellow. I call Lilian Greenwood.
Local Government Finance Bill
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
Mr Speaker
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
Government new clause 10—Power for HMRC to supply information for purposes of council tax
New clause 2—Discounts—
‘(1) Section 11 of the LGFA 1992 is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for the word “shall”, substitute “may”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) for the word “shall”, substitute the word “may”;
(b) for the word “twice”, substitute the words “a multiple of”.
(4) Omit subsections (3) and (4) and insert—
(a) In this section “the appropriate percentage” and “multiple” are to be determined by the relevant local authority and approved as part of their Council Tax Reduction Scheme as set out in Schedule 1A.
“(b) The eligibility for any reduction shall be determined as part of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
(4) Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for determining who shall be disregarded for the purposes of discount.”.’.
New clause 5—Report on effects of provisions—
‘At a date no later than three years from the implementation of this Act the Secretary of State shall prepare a report detailing the effects of these provisions on—
(a) the number of people receiving council tax support in each local authority including the number in employment, the number actively seeking work, and the number of pensionable age, and
(b) the costs incurred by each authority in running the scheme, including the cost of appeals.’.
New clause 7—Power to set higher amount for second homes—
‘(1) The LGFA 1992 is amended as follows.
(2) After section 11A insert—
“11C Higher amount for second homes: England
(1) For any financial year, a billing authority in England may by determination provide in relation to its area, or such part of its area as it may specify in the determination, that if on any day a dwelling is a second home—
(a) the discount under section 11(2)(a) shall not apply, and
(b) the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by such percentage of not more than 50 as it may so specify.
(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe one or more classes of dwelling in relation to which a billing authority may not make a determination under this section.
(3) A class of dwellings may be prescribed under subsection (2) by reference to such factors as the Secretary of State thinks fit and may, in particular, be prescribed by reference to—
(a) the physical characteristics of, or other matters relating to, dwellings;
(b) the circumstances of, or other matters relating to, any person who is liable to the amount of council tax concerned.
(4) Where a determination under this section has effect in relation to a class of dwellings—
(a) the billing authority may not make a determination under section 11A(3), (4) or (4A) in relation to that class, and
(b) any determination that has been made under section 11A(3), (4) or (4A) ceases to have effect in relation to that class.
(5) A billing authority may make a determination varying or revoking a determination under this section for a financial year, but only before the beginning of the year.
(6) A billing authority which makes a determination under this section must publish a notice of it in at least one newspaper circulating in its area and do so before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the determination.
(7) Failure to comply with subsection (6) does not affect the validity of a determination.
(8) For the purposes of this section, the Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the definition of a dwelling to be considered a “second home”.
(3) In section 11(2) (discounts: no chargeable residents) after “sections 11A”, insert “, 11C”.
(4) In section 11A (discounts: special provision for England) after subsection (4B) (inserted by section 9) insert—
“(4D) Subsections (3), (4) and (4A) are subject to section 11C (4).”.
(5) In section 66(2)(b) (matters to be questioned only by judicial review), after “section 8(2), 11A”, insert “, 11C”.
(6) In section 67(2)(a) (functions to be discharged only by authority), after “section 8(2), 11A”, insert “, 11C”.’.
Government amendments 42 to 48.
Amendment 6, in clause 8, page 5, line 28, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.
Amendment 7, page 5, line 29, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.
Amendment 4, in clause 10, page 7, line 41, at end insert—
‘(12A) After sub-paragraph (7) insert—
(7A) In this paragraph, “increase” means an increase under section 11C(1)(b) (higher amount for second homes: England).”.’.
Government amendments 49 and 50.
Amendment 1, in schedule 4, page 48, line 43, at end insert—
‘(8A) Before making regulations under sub-paragraph (8), the Secretary of State must consult with local authorities regarding any proposed requirements for schemes.’.
Government amendment 51.
Amendment 9, page 49, line 15, at end insert—
(d) notify all persons within their area receiving council tax benefit on or immediately following 1 April 2012, of the implications of the draft scheme, including the estimated impact of that scheme on their living standards.’.
Government amendment 52.
Amendment 2, page 49, line 22, leave out sub-paragraphs (4) and (5).
Amendment 10, page 49, line 44, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.
Government amendments 53 and 54.
Amendment 11, page 50, line 2, at end insert—
‘(3A) The default scheme must be designed in such a way as to ensure, insofar as can reasonably be assessed, that no person below pensionable age, in or seeking employment, shall receive a lesser entitlement to a council tax reduction than that to which they would have been entitled under council tax benefit.’.
Amendment 12, page 50, line 2, at end insert—
‘(3B) If the default scheme has the effect of reducing or removing a reduction to which any class of persons was entitled under council tax benefit, it must include such transitional provision relating to that reduction or removal as the Secretary of State, after consultation with representatives of local government, thinks fit.’.
Amendment 13, page 50, line 5, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.
Amendment 3, page 50, line 14, leave out sub-paragraphs (2) and (3).
Government amendments 55 to 61.
Andrew Stunell
I am delighted to be taking part in the resumption of the debate from the previous Session, as it is good to be resuming our consideration of this important Bill and these important provisions. The Bill is a major step forward in localising fundraising and decision making to local councils and restoring to them local control. Discussing local government finance is very much an acquired taste, albeit one that I can see has not been acquired by too many hon. Members today.
May I draw the House’s attention to the publication of the statements of intent, which the Department has tabled for the benefit of hon. Members over the past few days? The statements bring to the House’s attention a great deal of the technical work behind the Bill and of how the Government intend that the scheme should be implemented over the coming months.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(12 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Member for Northampton North (Michael Ellis) must exercise the kind of restraint that I am sure has characterised his distinguished performances in the law courts over many years.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)
The private rented sector has already responded flexibly to housing need over the past few years. By 2010 it had expanded to house some 3.4 million households in England, an increase of 1 million since 2005.
National Planning Policy Framework
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(13 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Andrew Stunell
I am sorry, but I do not have enough time.
On the presumption in favour of sustainable development, the debate has focused on the term “development” rather than the term “sustainable”. Some good points were made, both in our debate and in the representations we received, about alternative ways of approaching this issue and, as my right hon. Friend said, we are bearing them all in mind. However, let me quote from a 1949 planning circular:
“In cases where no serious issue is involved, and where the authority can produce no sufficient reason for refusal, the presumption should be in favour of granting the application.”
Things have moved on since then, and we have a plan-led system, but the presumption in favour of sustainable development that we propose will strengthen that plan-led system, not undermine it.
I have already commented on the duty to co-operate. The right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich cannot be in the Chamber now, but he gave some statistics, and I want to put on the record that home ownership fell to its lowest rate since 1990 during the 13 years of the Labour Government, and that they managed to combine that reduction with a 440,000 fall in the number of social and affordable homes. Regardless of what the planning system delivered, the Labour Government certainly did not deliver.
Several Members emphasised the importance of bringing empty homes back into use, and the Government agree. We have set aside £100 million to fund a programme to achieve that, and we are also about to launch a consultation on other measures that can help. I welcome the broad support this will receive in the House.
The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Joan Walley) said the planning system must be consistent with the Government’s other aims. She referred to the natural resources White Paper and the work of the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but we should also mention the work being done by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Treasury to generate growth. The planning system must reflect both the priorities of the Government and the priorities of local communities. This debate is about how we can get that balance right.
This debate has been a small but significant part of the important process of building a planning system of which we can be proud—a system that supports growth and change where that is needed to create jobs and homes, that creates health and prosperity for all communities, and that enhances and preserves our country’s unique natural and built environment. To respond to another point that was made in our debate, that includes 20th century buildings.
We must establish a planning system that leaves future generations admiring our foresight, not condemning our selfishness. I believe the framework we have produced can do exactly that, and I urge the House to support the motion.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House has considered the matter of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Mr Speaker
We come now to the Adjournment debate. I appeal to hon. Members who, inexplicably, are leaving the Chamber to do so quickly and quietly so that the rest of us can hear from Mr Henry Smith.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(13 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab)
With more than 1 million people living in substandard privately rented accommodation, and with massive front-loaded cuts to council budgets making it harder to tackle slum landlords, the Housing and Local Government Minister is clearly failing in his responsibilities. However, as Henry Ford once said:
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
Will the Minister therefore adopt a more intelligent approach and abandon his laissez-faire attitude to regulation, which is creating a charter for slum landlords, by implementing the light-touch licensing system recommended by the Rugg review, adopted by Labour and welcomed by the National Landlords Association and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents?
Mr Speaker
Order. We are obliged to the hon. Gentleman, but I think we have got the gist of it.
Andrew Stunell
I am happy to tell the House that 14 local authorities have accepted selective licensing areas—they have approved them and put them in place. That is the way to go. Local authorities should have the power and the responsibility to do that; they should not have the obligation to do it.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow(14 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Andrew Stunell
I certainly agree with the first two thirds of what the hon. Gentleman says, but his conclusion is wrong. In the Secretary of State’s conversations with colleagues at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, they drew our attention—as did the Chancellor—to the small business rate relief, which gives 100% relief for properties, up to £6,000. There is also the holiday on national insurance contributions for the first three years of start-up companies, and this Department is responsible for the local enterprise partnerships, on which we are working closely with the Federation of Small Businesses to ensure that they can play an effective part.
I remind the hon. Gentleman that a large proportion of our housing programme, which will spend £6.5 billion, will of course involve the small construction sector. Our regional growth fund of £1.4 billion will also contribute. We are working hard to ensure that councils understand their role in procurement and delivery of services to ensure that small companies and the voluntary and community sector can be involved. If he asks the question—
Mr Speaker
Order. The comprehensiveness of the Minister’s answer is equalled only by its length. We need snappier answers from now on.
Dr John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
Does the reduction of 7% for four years in local government funding include the 3% efficiency target proposed by the previous Government, or does it exclude it?
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
Gordon Birtwistle
Although I welcome the HMR pathfinder programme, which has delivered massive housing regeneration in many areas across the UK, including my constituency, will the Minister look into both the system of passporting proposals for regeneration and the funding stream, following Government approval, from the HCA to the local authorities? The present delivery quango, which sits between the HCA and the local authorities, top-slices an average of 10% of the funds available, which equates to approximately £40 million for 2008-09, while delivering little benefit on the ground—
Andrew Stunell
I thank my hon. Friend, who I know has done a lot of work in looking at the administrative costs of the process. One of the things that we will be examining closely is how those costs can be reduced and how local authorities can have more control over the process.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Bercow
Ian Austin (Dudley North) (Lab)
May I start by congratulating the new Minister on being appointed to work in my old office? He has a great team of civil servants, and it was a privilege to work with them. I congratulate also the new Housing Minister on his promotion, but it is a real shame that he, along with the Prime Minister and, this week, the Chancellor, should choose to use their first appearances at the Dispatch Box to give such inaccurate information about the housing pledge that the previous Government announced two years ago. The Housing Minister knows full well that the costs were agreed with the Treasury and would have been met with £340 million from capital under-spends in other Departments and £540 million in greater departmental flexibilities. If that had not been the case, the Government’s accounting officer would have prevented us from making the announcement. If that pledge—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman should resume his seat. I think that we have got the thrust of it. We are pretty clear.
Andrew Stunell
Unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman is wrong, and, as it will become clear when statements are made in the emergency Budget and elsewhere, we are putting the financial package back together again.