Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Joan Ruddock and Nick Boles

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nick Boles]

The rule I would apply is that wherever possible it should be left to local authorities to make those decisions. However, there are a few cases where applications have significance beyond local authority boundaries and it is therefore impossible for one local authority to decide. In the case the hon. Lady mentions, I would imagine that that criterion was not fulfilled.

[Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of progress by his Department in reducing homelessness.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Debate between Joan Ruddock and Nick Boles

Tuesday 19th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Joan Ruddock]

Absolutely. It is utterly hypocritical of Government Members to accuse the Labour Government of doing nothing, because local authorities put things into practice, and many have chosen not to. It is also completely unethical to propose a Bill of this nature knowing that millions are not registered and utterly refuse to do anything about registration prior to the Bill possibly becoming law.

[Nick Boles (Grantham and Stamford) (Con)]

Would the right hon. Lady care to tell us when it would be possible to carry out a boundary review, or are we to have Labour seats being smaller than other seats for ever, given that we will never have a perfect electoral roll?

[Joan Ruddock]

The judgment that the hon. Gentleman makes in saying that Labour seats are smaller is based on numbers.

We challenge the Government to work with all of us—the hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark suggested how we might all work together—to increase levels of registration. If we did that, the Government would be in a much better position having made an honest effort to argue the case with us. In my view, even if we do the best that we can, there is still an issue that cannot be ignored.