Robert Neill
Main Page: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
David Wright (Telford) (Lab)
8. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of fire and rescue services on the effects of reductions in their budgets; and if he will make a statement.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill)
I regularly meet representatives of fire and rescue authorities. My door is always open to their members if they wish to discuss their concerns. I have specified seven areas in which fire and rescue authorities might make efficiency savings, but the setting of fire authority budgets and service delivery are a local matter which is determined by individual fire and rescue authorities and not by central Government.
David Wright
Shropshire fire and rescue service
“has been hit by unprecedented cuts to its grant from Central Government, with a 12.6% reduction for years 2011-12 and 2012-13”.
Those are not my words, but the words of the chief fire officer in a letter sent to me the other day. Services and engine cover in Telford are to be reorganised. If response times fall away, will the Minister look again at the grant allocation for the Shropshire fire service?
Robert Neill
The local government grant accounts for only about 38% of the Shropshire fire and rescue authority’s total budget. Its spending power has therefore been reduced by only 2.1%, while its capital grant has been increased by 32%. The disposition of appliances and staff is, of course, a matter for the authority.
Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)
As my hon. Friend knows, following the floods of 2007 and the tragedy in Hull the Pitt report placed an obligation on fire services to provide the right equipment in the event of future floods. Will he ensure not just that that obligation exists but that money will be provided, and will he insist that local authorities make that happen?
Robert Neill
Some of the most important equipment made available for such purposes is the “new dimension” equipment that is provided through a central Government grant. The Government have continued to fund the equipment directly, and I am glad to say that, with the exception of one item, all of it is duly being rolled out.
Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab)
In February, the Under-Secretary of State accused me of scaremongering about the impact of his cuts on the fire service. However, freedom of information requests have confirmed that he has already presided over more than 1,000 firefighter job losses, although the Prime Minister pledged to supply funds to the fire service front line. Can he tell us whether he expects further firefighter cuts in the next 12 months, and if so, how many?
Robert Neill
The disposition of firefighters is entirely a matter for local authorities, whose job is to ensure that they fulfil their statutory obligations and meet their integrated resource management plan. Provided that they do those two things, it is not for central Government to micro-manage them. I know that it is difficult for the hon. Gentleman to understand that.
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)
9. What plans he has to increase the powers of local authorities to tackle unauthorised development.
Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (Con)
19. What steps he is taking to increase the fiscal autonomy of local authorities.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill)
The local resource review will enable local authorities to keep at least a proportion of the business rates that they raise. This will enable a number of local authorities to break free from dependency on central Government. The review will also bring forward proposals to free local authorities to raise tax increment financing to support infrastructure and related projects.
Mr Carswell
Does the Minister believe that we can achieve real localism without devolving revenue-raising powers from Whitehall to the town halls?
Robert Neill
The Government are anxious to ensure that local businesses are not subject to local increases in taxation which they cannot control, but on the other hand a real and powerful incentive is being created for local authorities to grow their tax base by attracting business to their area.
Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
It is a national scandal that wanted and profitable pubs are being closed against the wishes of the communities they serve and simply to serve the interests of greedy developers and pub companies. I was delighted to welcome the Minister with responsibility for community pubs to the launch of the all-party save the pub group’s new planning charter. Will he welcome that charter and work with the group to ensure that the Government do all they can to protect pubs?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill)
I am delighted to work with the hon. Gentleman and to discuss his charter—I should be delighted to join him in a pub, if need be. The Government are determined, through our planning reforms and the Localism Bill, to give communities an opportunity to acquire those assets that genuinely can be viable.
Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab)
Conservative-run Lancashire county council has increased day-care charges from £5 to £30 starting from this month. Does the Minister think that the residents and elderly of Lancashire will see a 600% improvement from that Conservative council?