Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Green Spaces

Monday 22 January 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Through the levelling up parks fund, taxpayers are providing more than 9 million to create new green spaces or significantly refurbish existing ones.
  • Local authorities are required by law to publish a notice and advertise before disposing of any open space.
  • The Conservative party's record on education over 40 years includes substantial improvements in education and teaching.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Maggie Throup Con
Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about the protection and maintenance of public green spaces across constituencies.

Question

What steps he is taking to protect public green spaces?

Answer from Lee Rowley

Through the levelling up parks fund, taxpayers are providing more than £9 million to create new green spaces or significantly refurbish existing ones. The Department-owned green flag award scheme sets the national standard for public green spaces and encourages local authorities to ensure that parks and green spaces are welcoming, safe and well maintained.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Maggie Throup Con
Housing Local Government Environment
Context

The MP expresses concern about the Erewash Borough Council's plan to sell large swathes of green open spaces, including a designated nature reserve.

Question

Behind the closed doors of the town hall, Labour-controlled Erewash Borough Council is plotting to sell off large swathes of green open space. Will my hon. Friend take steps to prevent local authorities from selling public land without first carrying out full public consultations, and will he join me on a visit to the Pewit site to discuss how we might save it from the hands of developers?

Answer from Lee Rowley

By law, local authorities are required to publish a notice and advertise it before disposing of any open space. This is exactly why it is so important that my hon. Friend is and continues to be the MP for Erewash. She can call out all the disasters of the Labour Erewash Borough Council which, as a fellow Derbyshire MP, I see Derbyshire Labour doing regularly all across my county.

Not addressed: Steps to prevent selling public land without full consultation

How: Call Out All The Disasters Of The Labour Erewash Borough Council

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Education
Context

The MP highlights the decline in school trips to public green spaces due to reduced funding for local authority education departments.

Question

Is he aware that the decline of education departments in many local authorities owing to the policies of successive Conservative Governments means that today the ability to organise school trips to green spaces is minimal? Could we have a policy that allows all our children, of whatever background, to go to and enjoy those beautiful green spaces?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The hon. Gentleman should look at the Conservative party's record on education in over 40 years in government. There have been substantial improvements in education and teaching, and our children are better readied for the challenges ahead as a result.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email