Grenfell Tower

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 3rd July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Member for Norwich South (Clive Lewis) is a most estimable fellow, but I think he is probably still enjoying his honeymoon, which we hope that he celebrated with great joy. But I gently point out to him that he beetled into the Chamber 17 minutes after the statement started and that, therefore, it is a trifle saucy to expect to be called on this occasion. We will store him up for another occasion on which he can give the House the benefit of his wisdom.

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

A week ago, the Secretary of State told us that the Government were capable of processing 100 tests a day. We now know that there is a backlog of 419 tower blocks that have not yet been tested. Can he tell us about that backlog? How many samples are currently in the laboratory, how many have failed to be provided and what is he doing to ensure that they are all supplied?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 16th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile) is very busy. He has many commitments and an extremely full diary. I do not think that anybody doubted the point.

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

Is Westminster City Council right to expect other local authorities across the south-east and as far as the midlands to take on the responsibility of housing as well as providing education and social care for London’s people in housing need?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 8th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Stephen Pound? Not here. Where is the fellow?

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

4. What plans he has to improve conditions for tenants in the private rented sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 12th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Hyndburn has much to commend it, but it does not form part of a local authority area close to London. I call Karen Buck.

[Ms Buck]

With private rents in London in particular soaring and driving up homelessness, can the Minister tell us which of the following two statements is consistent with Government policy: the statement by the previous Housing Minister, the right hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), that homeless households should not be uprooted from their local communities and moved hundreds of miles away, or what is actually happening in the seven west London local authorities, who in their homelessness strategy have talked of their aim to manage the movement of households out of London?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 12th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I feel it is my moral duty to press on so that we get more Back Benchers in.

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

Some of the most pressurised communities in London are facing the loss of familiar and well-liked safer neighbourhood sergeants. Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no more reductions in the local leadership of safer neighbourhood teams, or is the model of ward-based safer neighbourhood policing now dead under this Government?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Monday 20th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think the hon. Gentleman might want an Adjournment debate on the matter.

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

In the Westminster city council area, 3,000 elderly and disabled people are losing social care, children’s centres are being cut, street cleansing is being cut and the youth service is being cut. In the light of that, does the Secretary of State think it is a good use of public money to run a summer roadshow

“to counter the messages that people are hearing about council services being reduced or withdrawn”?

Sure Start Children’s Centres

Debate between Karen Buck and John Bercow

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

The hon. Gentleman is making a very powerful case, as always. On local authorities and incentives, I wonder whether he shares my concern that some authorities may do what it looks as though my local authority is doing. Westminster city council is trying to keep the children’s centres open so it can avoid the controversy attached to closing a building, but it is slashing outreach and drop-in services and other services that actually work and that are provided from within the bricks and mortar of those buildings. That is likely to have an even worse impact on children’s outcomes.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Just before the Chairman of the Select Committee responds to that intervention, I want to make the point that, although there is no time limit on Back-Bench speeches and the House is listening attentively and with respect to the Chairman of the Select Committee, I know that he will want to take account of the substantial interest in making contributions to the debate, and I am keen that everyone who wishes to speak should have the chance to do so. I know that the hon. Gentleman will tactfully take account of my gentle ministration.