Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Clark and Steve Rotheram

Tuesday 8th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I agree with my hon. Friend. He elucidates the principle of the deals. It makes no sense for people in Whitehall to claim to know what is needed in a very local sense across the country. It is far better to give local people and local businesses the opportunity to make those decisions and to bring in private investment. You get a bigger bang for your buck that way.

[Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab)]

Will the Minister explain why there was no representative from Liverpool there when the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Northern Futures board on Friday? Will he or the Deputy Prime Minister work with local MPs to ensure that Liverpool’s voice is not lost?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Clark and Steve Rotheram

Monday 30th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I do agree with that. My hon. Friend is a member of the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government, which considered the matter, and it concurred that it was necessary and desirable to simplify the planning system that has grown to such an extent that it holds back growth and gets in the way of local people participating in the future of their neighbourhood.

[Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab)]

It is nearly two years since this nightmare coalition was thrown together, yet we are still waiting for it to implement the regulations stemming from the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. To quote a twice delivered speech in the Chamber, if not now, when?