Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pritchard and Brandon Lewis

Monday 10th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

I am discussing this matter with the industry, and I will continue to do so and inform the House once we have finished those conversations.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

The concrete councillors of Labour-led Telford and Wrekin borough council seem to be building on every bit of greenfield and every green patch in the borough, despite its being a semi-rural borough. What more can the planning Minister do to encourage this out-of-touch council to build on brownfield sites?

[Brandon Lewis]

We have published further guidance to help councils to appreciate that green-belt development should be an absolute last resort and that brownfield sites should always be used first. This summer, we made available to councils an extra several hundred million pounds, and I encourage my hon. Friend’s council to bid for some of that and do what it can to protect its valuable green belt.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pritchard and Brandon Lewis

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

There is an integrated risk management plan for London. It is good that the London fire commissioner has said he is committed to maintaining the current standards for the time it takes for fire engines to get to incidents. Therefore, it will be a local decision based on local need, taking into account clear local risks.

[Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)]

At this Christmas time, when many robins feature on Christmas cards, and given that the Secretary of State is Parliament’s pre-eminent ornithologist, can he tell the House what his Department is doing to protect Britain’s declining common bird population?