Asked by: Sheila Gilmore (Labour - Edinburgh East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2014, Official Report, column 618W, on official visits, what domestic visits he has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
Ministers undertake regular visits to a wide variety of local authority areas in England, whilst balancing their Parliamentary work, internal Ministerial meetings in London and meetings of Cabinet Committees. Ministers also regularly host delegations from local authorities for meetings in Westminster.
The list below provides a list of visits up to the end of January 2015. It would entail disproportionate cost to provide a detailed commentary on the purpose of each visit, but a brief summary is included. To assist the hon. Member, a selection of political visits is also included.
Such visits also need to be viewed alongside the visits that other members of the Ministerial team have made, and the published list of meetings with external organisations.
2013
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 21 January 2013, growth policy
London Borough of Enfield area on 22 January 2013, political
Cheshire West and Chester Unitary authority area on 1-2 February 2013, political
Borough of Eastleigh area on 11 February 2013, political
Borough of Eastleigh area on 22 February 2013, political
Oxfordshire County Council area on 1 – 2 March 2013, political
Reading Borough Council area on 18 March 2013, growth policy
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council area on 15 April 2013, local government and growth policy
Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth area on 19 April 2013, political
Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees Council area on 25 April 2013, political
Ribble Valley Council area on 26 April 2013, political
Mid Devon Council area on 29 April 2013, political
Leicestershire County Council area on 13 May 2013, troubled families
Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 18 June 2013, faith and integration
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council area on 4 July 2013, local government policy
Salford City Council area on 4 July 2013, community rights
London Borough of Hackney area on 30 July 2013, community rights
Thurrock Council area on 9 August 2013, Thames Gateway policy
Hastings Borough Council area on 15 August 2013, coastal communities’ policy
Medway Council area on 18 August 2013, faith and integration
London Borough of Southwark area on 23 September 2013, community rights
Telford and Wrekin Council area on 7 November 2013, growth and housing policy
Cheshire West and Chester Council area on 18 November 2013, local government policy
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council area on 28 November 2013, local Enterprise Zones
Waveney District Council area on 7 December 2013, high streets policy
2014
Portsmouth City Council area on 16 January 2014, political
Norfolk County Council area on 31 January 2014, growth and housing policy
London Borough of Croydon area on 10 February 2014, flood response and recovery
Cherwell District Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery
Oxford City Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery
Arun District Council area on 20 February 2014, coastal defences and flooding
Runnymede Borough Council on 20 February 2014, flood response and recovery
Fife Council area on 24 February 2014, coastal communities’ policy
Aberdeen Council area on 24 February 2014, Cabinet meeting
London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 3 April 2014, community rights and housing policy
Derbyshire County Council area on 22 April 2014, growth policy and local enterprise zones
London Borough of Havering area on 23 April 2014, housing policy
Cambridge City Council area on 23 April 2014, political
Metropolitan Borough of Dudley Council area on 24 April 2014, political
London Borough of Wandsworth area on 1 May 2014, troubled families
Stoke-on-Trent City Council area on 2 May 2014, political
Brent Council area on 5 May 2014, faith and integration
Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 19 May 2014, political
Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 1 June 2014, political
Bedfordshire County Council area on 12 June 2014, political
Manchester City Council area on 26 June 2014, housing policy
West Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 26 June 2014, political
Doncaster City Council area on 27 June 2014, housing policy
East Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 27 June 2014, political
Harrogate Borough Council area on 5 July 2014, Le Grand Départ
Salisbury City Council area on 10 July 2014, political
Staffordshire County Council area on 11 July 2014, commemorative event
West Sussex County Council area on 21 July 2014, commemorative event
Hampshire County Council area on 29 July 2014, political
London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 1 August 2014, faith and integration
North East Lincolnshire Council area on 1 August 2014, growth policy and local Enterprise Zones
Glasgow City Council area on 4 August 2014, commemorative event
Mid Sussex District Council area on 23 August 2014, commemorative event
Bedford Borough Council on 2 September 2014, housing policy
Essex County Council on 4 September 2014, coastal defences
Tendring District Council area on 4 September 2014, political
London Borough of Harrow area on 14 September 2014, political
Birmingham City Council area on 17 September 2014, Waste management
Birmingham City Council area on 30 September 2014, local enterprise zones
London Borough of Wandsworth area on 21 October 2014, growth and housing policy
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 23 October 2014, housing policy
Pendle Borough Council area on 24 October 2014, regeneration and housing policy
Stroud District Council area on 27 October 2014, political
Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 29 October 2014, better care fund
Manchester City Council area on 30 October 2014, better care fund
Stroud District Council area, Cheltenham Borough Council area and Staffordshire County Council area on 6 November 2014, political
Westminster Council area on 9 November 2014, commemorative event
Stroud District Council area on 20 November 2014, political
Westminster City Council area on 25 November 2014, commemorative event
Flyde Borough Council area on 27 November 2014, political
Central Bedfordshire Council area on 28 November 2014, housing policy
Northampton Borough Council area on 28 November 2014, political
Essex County Council area on 11 December 2014, housing policy
2015
Cardiff City Council and Newport City Council area on 8 January 2015, political
Bath and North East Somerset Council area on 15 January 2015, political
Leicester City Council and Charnwood Borough Council area on 29 January 2015, local Enterprise Zones
The list reflects the fact that the Department’s responsibilities are broadly devolved outside England. All visits are conducted in line with the provisions of the Ministerial Code.