Topical Questions

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Earlier this month we launched the consultation on Awaab's law, which insists upon time limits for repairs in the social rented sector. In the shaping of this law and many other initiatives and interventions to help people in social housing, the example of Tony Lloyd, the late Member for Rochdale, is in all our minds and hearts.

Question

The household support fund has supported 330,000 households in Liverpool since its introduction. The focus needs to shift from crisis support to prevention but in the short term the demand for local welfare is rising. Like many other councils, Liverpool City Council says the household support fund will need to continue beyond March 2024 to keep residents well supported to stay in and enter work and prevent an escalating crisis, reducing pressure on public services including local authorities. What representations has the Minister made to the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure the continuation of the fund after March?

Question

To follow up, will the Minister for local government commit to meet the county council leadership to ensure that the funding and the formula that goes with it are improved for the future?

Question

First, Mr Speaker, may I echo the comments made by the Secretary of State in relation to the late Tony Lloyd, who will be greatly missed in all parts of the House? As we have heard from the shadow Secretary of State, the whole country has been levelled down since 2010 at an average rate of £10,200 per person. That is a damning indictment of this Government, but with about 1,300 projects funded by the future high streets fund, the towns deals and levelling-up funds, that decline should, in theory, not have happened. How many of those projects have now been completed and what evidence does the Department have that those projects have contributed to reducing regional inequalities?

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What can he do to ensure that such greenfield sites are not wantonly given over to developers? None of the councillors voting in favour of this development have declared any donations from the developer. What is being done about this?

Question

Why will the Government not assist local authorities to build those houses? We have had 14,000 fewer homes a year since 2010. Does the Minister accept that that is a disgraceful record for the Government?

Question

Will the Minister look at how applicants and councils can be compelled to provide and process information in a more timely manner, so that such applications do not blight the lives of local people for so long?

Question

Lease-holders at Orchard House are living in an unsafe building with known defects and have been issued a remediation order, but the freeholder is not co-operating. Does this suggest that the feudal freehold system should be abolished for flats? When will my constituents receive help?

Question

Our area has received £72 million through the levelling-up fund, future high streets fund, towns fund, £20 million for Spennymoor and a £1.4 billion investment fund from the north-east devolution deal. Does this not prove that the Conservatives deliver for the north-east?

Question

There are 14,000 families waiting on Liverpool's housing register. Temporary accommodation costs have risen from £250,000 to £19 million in three years. When will the Secretary of State address this emergency?

Question

Over the weekend, The Express reported that Ferryhill is being used as a dumping ground for rapists and paedophiles. My constituents believe this is caused by housing groups advertising in the south without proper checks required here. Can the Minister meet me to discuss how we can stop this?

Question

Today, 40 of the Government's own MPs have written to the Prime Minister about council financial issues. The Local Government Association estimates a £4 billion funding gap over the next two years. What will the Secretary of State do to ensure people still receive vital services they need?

Question

Local taxpayers expect high levels of governance when councillors use public money for business ventures that carry risk. Does the Minister agree that Warrington Borough Council's reduction of opposition councillors on the audit committee is contrary to good governance, especially given its £1.8 billion debt?

Question

Does the Secretary of State think it is acceptable that leaseholders of Lee Court do not have heating or hot water and face multiple communal area problems? If he does not find this acceptable, how and when will he strengthen the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill?

Question

Can my right hon. Friend draw attention to Ben Houchen's decision to deliver the £250 million Darlington northern link road with Network North funds? Is this not a fantastic example of Ben delivering for Darlington and Teesside?

Question

Will the Minister commit to further levelling-up funding for the devolved institutions for local sports clubs across Northern Ireland, instead of funding Casement Park to the detriment of every other sport looking for funding in Northern Ireland, so that all traditions and all sides of the community can benefit from the funding?

Question

While I am deeply disappointed that Stoke-on-Trent Labour refuses to make the necessary terms and conditions changes to help save Stoke-on-Trent City Council funding, there is a united view across the political divide in Stoke-on-Trent that the legacy in children's social care is causing huge financial strain on the local authority. Will the Secretary of State do everything he can to work with Councillor Jane Ashworth to ensure that that gap is funded and those children—the most vulnerable in our society—are protected?

Question

Road safety is put at risk by roads that are not adopted, because speed limits cannot be enforced and often they do not get gritted. There are serious worries that people will get injured. What more can the Department do to ensure that key service roads on big, new housing estates get adopted more quickly?