Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on the activities of mayoral development corporations of the judgement in the litigation taken by South Tees Development Corporation and South Tees Developments Limited against PD Teesport Limited, with case reference Bl-2021-000461.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, it would be inappropriate to comment during legal proceedings.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answers of 15 January 2024 to Questions 8744, 8995 and 8996 on Teesworks Joint Venture Independent Review, on what evidential basis the Minister said that very serious allegations of illegality had been made by the hon. Member for Middlesborough.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
On 20 April 2023, the Hon Member for Middlesbrough asked in Parliament about Government plans for “a full investigation” of what he described as “industrial-scale corruption” in Teesside (Official Report, HC, Volume 731, Column 384). A link to the full debate is available here. Industrial-scale corruption would be considered by the Government to be very serious illegality. The Department’s exchange of letters with the Mayor of Tees Valley has been published online and is available here.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answers of 15 January 2024 to Questions 8744, 8995 and 8996 on Teesworks Joint Venture Independent Review, whether he received a request from the Mayor of Tees Valley to establish an assurance review.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
On 20 April 2023, the Hon Member for Middlesbrough asked in Parliament about Government plans for “a full investigation” of what he described as “industrial-scale corruption” in Teesside (Official Report, HC, Volume 731, Column 384). A link to the full debate is available here. Industrial-scale corruption would be considered by the Government to be very serious illegality. The Department’s exchange of letters with the Mayor of Tees Valley has been published online and is available here.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish all correspondence and communications between his Department and the panel of the independent assurance review into the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks Joint Venture.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This review was established at the request of the Mayor of Tees Valley to establish the truth behind the very serious allegations of corruption and illegality made by the member for Middlesbrough. The review will have provided you with the opportunity to present any evidence to the panel to substantiate these serious allegations.
The timing of the review is dictated by the independent panel.
The department is a key consultee for the panel’s fact-checking process. Officials received an early working draft to offer solely factual comment in late November 2023. No drafts have been shared with ministers. We have not received the final report, which is independent of this department, and our officials do not have a say on its findings.
It would not be appropriate to release correspondence between the panel and officials while the report is being finalised.
We understand that the report is of interest to Parliament and the public and hope to be able to publish it shortly.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on what date his Department first received an initial copy of the independent assurance review into the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks Joint Venture.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This review was established at the request of the Mayor of Tees Valley to establish the truth behind the very serious allegations of corruption and illegality made by the member for Middlesbrough. The review will have provided you with the opportunity to present any evidence to the panel to substantiate these serious allegations.
The timing of the review is dictated by the independent panel.
The department is a key consultee for the panel’s fact-checking process. Officials received an early working draft to offer solely factual comment in late November 2023. No drafts have been shared with ministers. We have not received the final report, which is independent of this department, and our officials do not have a say on its findings.
It would not be appropriate to release correspondence between the panel and officials while the report is being finalised.
We understand that the report is of interest to Parliament and the public and hope to be able to publish it shortly.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the independent assurance review into the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks Joint Venture.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This review was established at the request of the Mayor of Tees Valley to establish the truth behind the very serious allegations of corruption and illegality made by the member for Middlesbrough. The review will have provided you with the opportunity to present any evidence to the panel to substantiate these serious allegations.
The timing of the review is dictated by the independent panel.
The department is a key consultee for the panel’s fact-checking process. Officials received an early working draft to offer solely factual comment in late November 2023. No drafts have been shared with ministers. We have not received the final report, which is independent of this department, and our officials do not have a say on its findings.
It would not be appropriate to release correspondence between the panel and officials while the report is being finalised.
We understand that the report is of interest to Parliament and the public and hope to be able to publish it shortly.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish the terms of reference of the panel to be appointed to review the Tees Valley Combined Authority's oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks joint venture.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Further to the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS813) of 25 May, details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many jobs have been created in each Freeport site in England; and what estimate his Department has made of how many jobs will have been created at each such site by 2024-25.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Information on Freeport Custom Site contractors, a list of legal entities that own each Freeport site can be found using the following link. We will publish an annual report in due course.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which contractors operate the customs cites in each Freeport in England.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Information on Freeport Custom Site contractors, a list of legal entities that own each Freeport site can be found using the following link. We will publish an annual report in due course.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will list the legal entities that own each Freeport site in England.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Information on Freeport Custom Site contractors, a list of legal entities that own each Freeport site can be found using the following link. We will publish an annual report in due course.