Topical Questions

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Regeneration is taking place across Burnley and Padiham, but to realise the potential we must crack down on antisocial behaviour in our town centres. What steps are being taken to crack down on ASB in town centres?

Question

It takes some brass neck from a Government whose Prime Minister has two fixed penalty notices to accuse us of moral relativism. In fairness to the Secretary of State, he has had a busy weekend: another week, another promise and another press release—he is at least consistent with that. But I have here a document that reveals that even on his flagship levelling-up policy, he has been able to get only 8% of his funds out of the door. He is good at getting press releases out the door—why not our money?

Question

The desperation is absurd, Mr Speaker—8% of the levelling-up funds have been spent. In just one day, his Government spent three times more on a tax cut for the richest 1% than they have managed to spend on the whole of the north of England in well over a year. Doesn't that just sum the Government up?

Question

Next month is National Pet Month. Sadly, I have been contacted by a number of constituents renting in the private sector who have been refused pets. Will he confirm whether he is still committed to enshrining, in the renters reform Bill, the right for tenants to request a pet and for such a request not to be unreasonably refused?

Question

May I add to the Secretary of State's congratulations to Humza Yousaf? May I ask the Secretary of State some questions on intergovernmental relations? A third tranche of levelling-up funding is yet to be distributed, £90 million of which should go to Scotland. Rather than the botched and broken system seen in the last month or so of funding distribution from this place, is it not time to devolve the funding to devolved Administrations to enable its fair and efficient use?

Question

Before the spring Budget, the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, sent a letter to the Chancellor raising several concerns, all of which were ignored. What does it say about the state of intergovernmental relations when the UK Government refuse to consider even a single concern raised by devolved Administrations at Budget time?

Question

I am concerned that the government's announcement does not provide enough funding for local initiatives such as the one in Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke. Will the Secretary of State meet with Staffordshire police and crime commissioner Ben Adams to see how we can get the necessary funding to our local area?

Question

Does the Secretary of State believe that footage of MPs in his party earning substantial amounts from external work undermines the concept of levelling up? If so, will he condemn this behaviour?

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that when homeowners encounter significant issues in newly built houses, developers should be compelled to address them immediately? Will he ensure this happens?

Question

With an election expected within 18 months, will the Secretary of State provide assurances that regulations allowing overseas voters to vote are in place by then?

Question

Does the Minister agree that Eastbourne council's ruling preventing MPs from receiving responses about critical issues such as eviction orders and safety conditions during the pre-election period is disproportionate?

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the Government should bring forward legislation to end feudal-style leasehold systems this Session?

Question

Can the Secretary of State update us on the status and continuity of funding for services affected by the lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland?

Question

Will the Secretary of State give councils the first right to purchase public land as it becomes available, so they can develop desperately needed social housing?

Question

Will the Minister hurry officials up to clarify national design codes so that play parks can be fully accessible for all children?

Question

At a meeting in Leeds on Saturday of leaseholders affected by the cladding scandal, nearly two thirds said that they have absolutely no idea when their home is going to be made safe—six years after Grenfell. Does the Secretary of State agree that that is completely unacceptable? What is he going to do to make their homes safe?

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for coming up to Hinckley only last month to hear about the problems we are having with the Liberal Democrat-run borough council, which does not have an up-to-date local plan. The biggest problem it causes is to my community, who put in neighbourhood plans that are ridden roughshod over. What is his message to my constituents?

Question

This Friday, hundreds of groups across Northern Ireland will face a situation where their funding finishes and they will have to close their doors. Will the Minister give us an assurance that the problems with the shared prosperity fund, which was meant to replace the European structural funds, will be sorted out and that those groups, including Monkstown boxing club in my constituency, will be given an assurance of funding?

Question

Devon needs a devolution deal to deliver new powers and money to the towns there. A good deal would give local leaders the levers they need over affordable housing, public transport and local skills. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss how we can get the best deal for Devon?

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State's words in the media yesterday, saying that it is unacceptable for private sector landlords to raise rents above the level of inflation, which is a big issue in Vauxhall. Just last week, someone in Brixton contacted me to say that their rent had been doubled in a year. Is it not the truth that the Secretary of State needs to hurry up, put words into action and bring forward the renters reform Bill now?

Question

First, I thank the Secretary the State for the money for the Eden Project Morecambe; it has been gratefully received in Morecambe.<br/>However, we have another problem that I would love to meet the Secretary of State to discuss. The town council or the parish council has raised the precept from £200,000 two years ago up to £1.5 million. Apparently, that is to buy a piece of land that is already owned by the public for a knock-down price of £1 million, when it was bought for £3 million. If that is not the case, the remaining money will go into a fund. As we both know, funds cannot be raised against what is already there, unless it is half. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the issue as soon as possible?

Question

Do Ministers still intend to honour their manifesto commitment to make sure that no region loses out as a consequence of the loss of EU structural funding?

Question

Solar companies across the country are cynically putting in for just 49.9 MW to avoid having to get national approval from the Government for their solar farms. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss this playing of the system and the Mallard Pass solar farm proposed in my constituency, which will be built with Uyghur blood labour?

Question

Will the feudal system of leasehold finally be kicked into the history books with the next tranche of legislation in the King's Speech—yes or no?

Question

In response to an earlier question, the Secretary of State said how important locally-led planning policies were, but frequently the Planning Inspectorate drives a coach and horses through decisions made by local planning authorities, as was recently the case in the village of Wootton, in my constituency. What is he going to do to ensure that the Planning Inspectorate takes more notice of local opinion, expressed through local councils?

Question

Earlier today, the Minister cited the Electoral Commission to support the Government's voter ID plans. How many cases of voter impersonation in the 2021 elections across Great Britain produced enough evidence for a police caution? If she does not know, I suggest it is half the number of people on the Government Front Bench right now.

Question

I have many constituents who are leaseholders and stuck in limbo with astronomical bills through no fault of their own. Developers such as Galliard have refused to sign the Government's latest pledge. What is being done to address this aspect of the building safety crisis?