Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nigel Mills and Jake Berry

Monday 4th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

As one of the Members of Parliament from east Lancashire covered by the proposal, I can say that we certainly welcome the discussions that are taking place more widely across east Lancashire. The Department has only just received the letter—despite the press release being sent out last week—and is giving it some consideration, but surely we could make more progress if every council in east Lancashire supported it.

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

Amber Valley Borough Council is holding a planning meeting tonight on building 2,000 houses on the green belt across a number of sites. Can the Minister confirm that that should be a last resort and that the council has to show exceptional circumstances for each site before it does that?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nigel Mills and Jake Berry

Monday 4th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

13. What progress he has made on devolving decision making to local communities in (a) Derbyshire and (b) the east midlands.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Jake Berry)]

Following the launch of our industrial strategy, the Government are in the early stages of designing a devolution framework for England. Areas such as Derbyshire and the east midlands should seek widely supported, ground-up proposals in line with the framework.

[Nigel Mills]

After the failure of the earlier devolution proposals, can the Minister confirm that the Government are still interested in further proposals coming from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, perhaps along the lines of the Derby and Nottingham metro proposal published a couple of weeks ago? Can he also confirm that there is now no requirement for an elected mayor?

[Jake Berry]

We are of course aware of Derby and Nottingham City Councils’ metro proposals, although we have not received a formal submission to the Government. I can confirm that the door remains open for devolution in this area and that, in line with our manifesto, there is no requirement for rural areas to have a mayor.