Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 8th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I will certainly meet my hon. Friend and his colleagues. It is essential for homes to be built in every community, so that young people and rising generations throughout the country have a chance to continue to be part of the communities in which they were born and raised.

[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.

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[Brandon Lewis]

I hope that the hon. Lady will join me in insisting that her local council takes its duty seriously and deals with the situation. The Bill will enable councils to issue civil penalties amounting to up to £30,000 and remedy payment orders for up to 12 months. That will give them a resource that they have never had before, and one that I hope they will endorse and use. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

I must say that there are sounds of some very heavy breathing. I call Mr Mark Prisk.

[Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford and Stortford) (Con)]

While the hon. Member for Westminster North (Ms Buck) is right to draw attention to the difference in the enforcement of existing regulations, neighbouring councils with the same resources often enforce the regulations in radically different ways. May I encourage the Minister not only to promote the best practice in enforcement, but, most important, to challenge councils that are failing to use the powers that they have?

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[Mr Speaker]

I understand the Minister. It is humbling indeed to be praised by someone of the exalted status of the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz).

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

14. What estimate he has made of the average difference in council tax paid by residents of urban and rural areas.

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[Greg Clark]

I have written no such letter. I remind the hon. Gentleman that council tax doubled under the previous Government. On all the forecasts that we have made, it will be lower in real terms than it was at the beginning of the last Parliament.

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not forgotten, I call Paula Sherriff.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

16. What steps he plans to take to support high streets.

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[Mr Jones]

We are committed to supporting high streets. High street vacancy rates are at their lowest since 2010. Investment in high street property is up by 30%, and where areas are doing the right things, they are seeing people return to their high street. That was seen through the Great British High Street competition. There are a number of winners from Yorkshire, and I am sure that people in Dewsbury will be able to take tips from around Yorkshire so that they can improve their high street.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Geoffrey Robinson. Not here.

[Joan Ryan (Enfield North) (Lab)]

T2. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

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[Brandon Lewis]

Having met some of my hon. Friend’s constituents, I know they are very keen, and he has been supporting them strongly on their neighbourhood plans. Those should move forward, and we are putting in funding to support them. That gives them weight in law. This is a really good way for people to have control over local development opportunities if the local authority, in its local plan, is letting them down in the way my hon. Friend argues it is.

[Mr Speaker]

Dr Alan Whitehead—not here.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

What does the Minister estimate the total percentage rise for residents of Birmingham will be once the Chancellor’s social care tax, the increased police precept and the 1.9% council tax are added together?

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry, but we must now move on.