Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Holloway and Lord Pickles
Mr Pickles
It seems a good idea for my right hon. Friend’s constituents to seek a revaluation. The Valuation Office Agency is willing to consider changed circumstances and I urge him to look into that.
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
14. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on steps the Government are taking to improve co-ordination between social care and health care.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Holloway and Lord Pickles
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
16. What the percentage change was to average band D council tax bills in real terms in (a) England and (b) Gravesham constituency over financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)
Thanks to the council tax freeze, over the last two years, council tax bills have fallen by 1.4% in Gravesham and 4.4% across England in real terms. That is real help for families and pensioners with the cost of living.
Mr Holloway
I thank the Secretary of State for his answer. I will ask my question in a very calm manner. The majority of councils in Kent have frozen their council tax. Is he disappointed that in Gravesham it has risen by 3.48%, which is just below the 3.5% threshold for a referendum?
Mr Pickles
Gravesham has joined the small, select list of council tax dodgers. If it was felt that the council tax should go up, it would have been sensible to put it to the people of Gravesham, who no doubt would have given it their consideration.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Holloway and Lord Pickles
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
3. What assessment he has made of the effect on the housing market of the suspension of the requirement to provide home information packs.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)
The suspension of HIPs has given a much needed boost to the housing market. Reports from the industry suggest that the number of new homes coming on to the market has increased by more than one third since HIPs were suspended. We have also estimated that abolishing HIPs could save consumers just short of £900 million over the next 10 years.
Mr Pickles
I am delighted to inform my hon. Friend that joy and happiness among estate agents is not confined to Erewash. Throughout the land, there is a general understanding that the drag anchor that HIPs were is no longer a constraint on the housing market.
Mr Holloway
What further plans does the Secretary of State have to roll out that happiness and smooth the conveyancing process?
Mr Pickles
I am all for spreading as much joy and happiness, and indeed love, as I can, where’er I go. It was clear even from the trials that HIPs were going to be a real mess. We now need to look to the future and at what can be done to speed up transactions. I know that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing is looking at ways to speed up the introduction of e-conveyancing.