Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

New Unitary Authorities

Monday 9 June 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Gregory Stafford asked about financial concerns in Waverley borough due to the local government reorganisation.
  • The Secretary of State stated there is no proposal to centrally address council debt as part of the reorganisation.
  • Lauren Edwards inquired about the protection of sites of special scientific interest under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gregory Stafford Con Farnham and Bordon
Local Government
Context

Local government reorganization has led to concerns about financial sustainability, especially for councils that are merging with debt-ridden authorities.

Question

The rushed local government reorganisation means that Waverley borough in my area will be forced to join other authorities that are debt-ridden, such as Woking. What will the Secretary of State do to ensure that residents in my area do not pay a financial price for the woes of other authorities?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)

As set out in the invitation letters, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. However, the Government accept that Woking and Thurrock councils hold significant unsupported debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety. We have committed to providing an initial amount of debt repayment support for these councils in 2026-27 ahead of the reorganisation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not address how residents will avoid paying a financial price due to merging with debt-ridden councils.

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Q2 Lauren Edwards Lab Rochester and Strood
Environment
Context

Concerns have been raised about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill potentially weakening protections for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, particularly in Lauren Edwards' constituency which includes Lodge Hill with its important nightingale population.

Question

I have been contacted by constituents who are concerned by media comments over the last week that suggest that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill may render sites of special scientific interest protections meaningless. Will the Secretary of State clarify the Bill’s position on this and outline what protections there will be for SSSIs like Lodge hill in my constituency with its important nightingale population?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)

I am sure that those on the Conservative Benches have an interest in areas of natural beauty as well, and I am sure that the Minister for Housing and Planning will address this point when we discuss the Planning and Infrastructure Bill later today. We take natural beauty and history seriously, and we think that the Bill will be able to do nature recovery and enable us to build the houses that we desperately need.

Not addressed: The Secretary did not clarify how the Planning and Infrastructure Bill affects Site of Special Scientific Interest protections.

How: Redirecting To Future Discussion, Suggesting Others Will Address It

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