Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Clive Lewis and Kemi Badenoch

Monday 24th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

In my city of Norwich, we have had less levelling up and more vital services simply levelled. Will the Secretary of State stop fobbing us off with insufficient, ad hoc pots of money and ensure that sustainable, long-term funding is given to my city and county councils, the real engines of any levelling-up agenda?

[The Minister for Levelling Up Communities (Kemi Badenoch)]

We do provide sustainable funding. The hon. Gentleman will know that the provisional local government finance settlement made available an additional £3.5 billion to councils. Norwich City Council had an increase in cash terms of up to 4.8% compared with last year, giving it a total core spending power of up to £18.6 million. Norfolk County Council got an increase of up to £55.5 million and the core spending power of South Norfolk District Council was at £15.7 million. If there are further conversations that he would like to have, I am very happy for him to write to me.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Clive Lewis and Kemi Badenoch

Tuesday 7th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of including a four-day working week as part of the Government's covid-19 recovery strategy.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Kemi Badenoch)]

The Prime Minister recently set out the first steps of the Government’s strategy to rebuild and fuel economic recovery in response to covid-19. The Government believe the best way to secure a recovery is to invest across the UK to level up, while ensuring that we create the conditions for private enterprise to flourish.

[Clive Lewis [V]]

The Chancellor will have received a letter signed by Members from across the House, including myself, asking him to consider introducing a four-day working week as a way of helping the country recover and creating a better future post-covid-19. So will he commit to the Treasury exploring a four-day working week as part of its economic planning for the recovery? Will he also meet me and other Members to discuss how we can work together to make shorter working times a reality?

[Kemi Badenoch]

The Government believe that the best way of dealing with these issues is for workers to look at existing options available for flexible working and discuss them directly with their employers, rather than the Government legislating for the entire UK work- force. However, I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss this topic further, if he would like.