Oral Answers to Questions

Damian Hinds Excerpts

Monday 12th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

I want to update the hon. Gentleman on a matter of fact. He might like to have a look at the figures, which show that the cut for fire authorities last year and the year that we are now in was 0.5%, as opposed to the swingeing cut to which he referred. Those authorities continue to do a fantastic job, as we are seeing. Problem with deaths from fire have fallen quite dramatically over the past few years, and the figures that he is citing simply do not add up.

[Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con)]

19. What steps he is taking to tackle (a) unauthorised development and (b) illegal encampments.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

I refer my hon. Friend to my earlier answer on the problems of Travellers. I certainly look forward to what he has to say.

[Damian Hinds]

My constituents believe that everyone should be treated equally before the law, and they will welcome the news that councils are to get greater freedom to move quickly to prevent long-drawn-out stalemates such as the one at Dale Farm. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that his policy will result in a return to fairness in the planning system, unlike the policies of the Labour Government, which turned a blind eye to unauthorised development?

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend is right. Dale Farm was a stain against the reputation of the planning system. We must never allow something like that to happen again. We have gone about this in a systematic way, trying to get a good balance to ensure that funds are readily available for authorities that wish to provide or should provide Traveller sites, but that resources and laws are there to ensure that those who wish to defy the law can be dealt with expeditiously—unlike what happened at Dale Farm.