Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Rosie Cooper]

I thank the Minister for that non-answer. I would like him to explain to the residents of West Lancashire why, despite the Government’s claim to support localism in the planning process, permission was granted to dump hazardous waste for 20 more years at Whitemoss landfill, for which there was no demonstrable need, either local or regional, and which was opposed by thousands of local residents, the borough council, the county council and me as the local MP. Surely this means—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady can preserve the unexpurgated version of her question for the autumn evenings that lie ahead.

[Brandon Lewis]

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for her gracious comments. As she probably realises, that planning application is still within the six-week period during which a decision can be challenged. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on a specific scheme, owing to the quasi-judicial nature of planning.

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[Mims Davies (Eastleigh) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that constructing a local plan where one did not exist in areas such as my constituency of Eastleigh is of paramount importance in delivering home ownership while protecting green spaces and in committing to the strongest sanctions on councils that fail to do this properly by embracing localism and providing locally based community planning?

[Mr Speaker]

In relation to housing association tenants.

[Mims Davies]

Indeed.

[Brandon Lewis]

All housing association tenants will share my view, and my hon. Friend’s, that the best way for communities to have their say is to have a local plan and, even better, neighbourhood plans. I encourage her authority to listen to her and get on with putting its local plan in place.

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Margaret Ferrier.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP)]

16. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the effect of firefighters pension scheme reforms in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister for Communities and Resilience (Mr Mark Francois)]

Local enterprise partnerships have always been free to propose changes to their geography. No such proposals have been received for the south-east, but I am aware that some are likely to be made soon. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and other ministerial colleagues will consider any such proposals on their merits. While any changes are considered, it is important for the focus to remain on delivering the existing growth deal commitments made by partners within the South East LEP, which I am sure is what my hon. Friend wants.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Graham Jones—not here. I call Richard Burden—not here.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

But Mr Sheerman, you are here.

[Mr Sheerman]

And I have been here since prayers, Mr Speaker, so I have been very patient.

The Secretary of State knows from the migration figures that more and more people want to come and live in this wonderful country, and he knows that more and more people want affordable homes. Will he do something dramatic about building houses and will he stop his plan to sell off housing association stock, or does he want to turn our cities into ghettos, as the French have done with theirs?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

We shall now observe a minute’s silence in respectful memory of the victims of the atrocities in Tunisia.

The House observed a minute’s silence.

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you, colleagues.