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Debate on a motion that for the purpose of section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004, the higher amount should be increased to £9,000, and to £4,500 in the cases described in regulation 5 of the draft regulations in Command Paper Cm 7986, and that the increase should take effect from 1 September 2012. Agreed on division (323 to 302). Discussed with draft Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010. Motion to approve agreed to on division (323 votes to 302).
Debate on a motion that for the purpose of section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004, the higher amount should be increased to £9,000, and to £4,500 in the cases described in regulation 5 of the draft regulations in Command Paper Cm 7986, and that the increase should take...
Lead member
Vincent Cable
Answering member
John Denham
Department
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Type
Debates
Legislation
Higher Education Act 2004; Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010
Subjects
Access; Devolved matters; Admissions; Disadvantaged; Applications; Fees and charges; Grants; Education maintenance allowance; Higher education; Humanities; Earned income; Northern Ireland; Loans; Low pay; Part-time education; Scotland; Universities; Wales; Repayments; Taxation; Students; Student numbers
Date
9 December 2010
Reference
520 c540-633
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Postal Services Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed on division (321 to 238). Programme motion relating to proceedings in public bill committee, consideration and third reading, and Lords amendments agreed on question. Money resolution agreed on question. Ways and means resolution agreed on question.
Postal Services Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed on division (321 to 238). Programme motion relating to proceedings in public bill committee, consideration and third reading, and Lords amendments agreed on question. Money resolution agreed on question. Ways and means resolution agreed on question.
Lead member
Vincent Cable
Answering member
John Denham
Department
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Type
Debates on bills
Legislative stage
Second reading
Legislation
Postal Services Bill 2010-12
Subjects
Closures; Cooperatives; Privatisation; Workplace pensions; Redundancy; Post offices; Pension funds; Postal services; Post Office; Standards; Regulation; Subsidies; Royal Mail
Date
27 October 2010
Reference
517 c346-433
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I worry greatly about councils that are proposing what they call a budget-airline or Ryanair approach to local government, with services stripped down to the most basic level. The only people who enjoy decent services are those who can afford to pay for them twice—once through the council tax, and once through charges. For example, I was told the other day that Wolverhampton council has made it part of its standing orders that every service should be charged at a full-cost recovery rate, unless specifically authorised otherwise by a cabinet member.
I think that that approach will leave large numbers of people on middle incomes unable to enjoy decent council services. It is a shame that it is being championed by the Opposition.
I worry greatly about councils that are proposing what they call a budget-airline or Ryanair approach to local government, with services stripped down to the most basic level. The only people who enjoy decent services are those who can afford to pay for them twice—once through the council tax, and once through charges. For example, I was told the other day that Wolverhampton council has made it part of its standing orders that every service should be charged at a full-cost recovery rate, unless specifically authorised otherwise by a cabinet member.
I think that that approach will leave large numbers of people on middle incomes unable to enjoy decent council services. It is a shame that it is being championed by the Opposition.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Whitehead
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Ryanair was recently voted the least family- friendly company in the country. In the light of that, what is my right hon. Friend's view of local authorities that seek to make efficiency savings by instituting two-tier services, with a no-frills basic?
Subjects
Cost effectiveness; Local government
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c134-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Lady is wrong on both counts. In reply to an earlier question, I said that we have published a report from two respected local government leaders on precisely the measures that local government should be planning to take now to make the most efficient use of the available resources. As the House knows, however, the reality is that there has not yet been a comprehensive spending review for the next three-year settlement because we have been through a year of the most extraordinary economic change. The policies that we have implemented have seen the Government, the country and local government through the crisis, because we rejected the calls from the Opposition to cut our spending last year. It would have been irresponsible to try to project exact levels of spending for four years from today, given the uncertainties of the past year. Clearly, spending plans will have to be set out, but the timing is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The hon. Lady is wrong on both counts. In reply to an earlier question, I said that we have published a report from two respected local government leaders on precisely the measures that local government should be planning to take now to make the most efficient use of the available resources. As the House knows, however, the reality is that there has not yet been a comprehensive spending review for the next three-year settlement because we have been through a year of the most extraordinary economic change. The policies that we have implemented have seen the Government, the country and local government through the crisis, because we rejected the calls from the Opposition to cut our spending last year. It would have been irresponsible to try to project exact levels of spending for four years from today, given the uncertainties of the past year. Clearly, spending plans will have to be set out, but the timing is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Julia Goldsworthy
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
The problem is that the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinks that that is simply not possible, and that deep cuts will follow in years ahead. Given that no credible detail is forthcoming from either the Government or those on the Conservative Front Bench, should the right hon. Gentleman not be doing the responsible thing and advising councils to prepare for the worst-case scenario pointed out by the IFS—that is, reductions of up 23 per cent. over four years from 2011?
Subjects
Cost effectiveness; Local government
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c135-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
It is important that the combination of local, regional and national policy should be used to secure sufficient homes to meet the needs of families in this country in the future. We have rejected calls to scrap regional spatial strategies and planning targets and to leave everything to decision making at local level because we know full well that the house building industry would grind to a halt, that land would not be available, that growth would be slowed and that the needs of this country's families would not be met. The house building industry is terrified by the prospect of such a policy being brought into play.
It is important that the combination of local, regional and national policy should be used to secure sufficient homes to meet the needs of families in this country in the future. We have rejected calls to scrap regional spatial strategies and planning targets and to leave everything to decision making at local level because we know full well that the house building industry would grind to a halt, that land would not be available, that growth would be slowed and that the needs of this country's families would not be met. The house building industry is terrified by the prospect of such a policy being brought into play.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Peter Luff
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Given the consensus that exists in areas such as south Worcestershire about the need for more homes—and for more affordable homes, in particular—may I urge the Secretary of State, even at this late stage, to tear up the west midlands regional spatial strategy and to allow local communities to decide exactly how many houses they need and precisely where they should go?
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c151
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to the publication Cameron's Councils", because it sets out for everybody the very clear warning of what it would be like if people were so ill advised as to elect a Conservative Government.
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to the publication Cameron's Councils", because it sets out for everybody the very clear warning of what it would be like if people were so ill advised as to elect a Conservative Government.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Greg Hands
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Turning to the earlier question about Hammersmith and Fulham, the Secretary of State seemed entirely unaware of the quote that he had made about the leader of the council, so let me take him back to the opening line of his party conference speech, when he said:""'They are hard to get rid of', the Tory Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham moans about his council tenants.""
That was an invented quote, which has been repeated many times by his colleagues, including in the document, "Cameron's Councils". Will he finally take the opportunity to withdraw this disgraceful slur on one of the best-run councils in the country?
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c154
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The total number of houses is based not on some whim of central Government but on a hard-headed assessment of need. That need translates into the families of this country who want to know that their children will have homes that they can move into, and that there will be provision for elderly people in the future. Those who pretend that we can simply say that we are not going to provide that housing and that someone else will provide the space in which our children need to live are wrong. It is enormously damaging to suggest that. It is also, frankly, misleading to local people to suggest that the hon. Gentleman's approach would work. There must be a mature discussion in this country about meeting the needs of people now and in the future, and I am sorry that he does not share that view.
The total number of houses is based not on some whim of central Government but on a hard-headed assessment of need. That need translates into the families of this country who want to know that their children will have homes that they can move into, and that there will be provision for elderly people in the future. Those who pretend that we can simply say that we are not going to provide that housing and that someone else will provide the space in which our children need to live are wrong. It is enormously damaging to suggest that. It is also, frankly, misleading to local people to suggest that the hon. Gentleman's approach would work. There must be a mature discussion in this country about meeting the needs of people now and in the future, and I am sorry that he does not share that view.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Martin Horwood
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
After five years, the south-west regional spatial strategy is still grinding on with unsustainable housing targets that are way in excess of economic reality and local housing need. It has attracted 37,000 objections and run into legal challenges; it has also now clearly run out of time. When will the Government admit defeat and return to local people their right to plan the houses that they need where people want them?
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c151-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
May I reassure my hon. Friend that although the report from the taskforce on making efficiencies in local government—
... Bullock and Leese. The taskforce does not, as I recall, call for the re-establishment of the position of borough surveyor; none the less, it directly addresses the need to reduce layers of management both within local authorities and, in particular, between them in areas with two-tier councils.
May I reassure my hon. Friend that although the report from the taskforce on making efficiencies in local government—
... Bullock and Leese. The taskforce does not, as I recall, call for the re-establishment of the position of borough surveyor; none the less, it directly addresses the need to reduce layers of management both within local authorities and, in particular, between them in areas with two-tier councils.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Andrew Mackinlay
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
May I take the Secretary of State back to the issue of maximising scarce resources, efficiency savings and protecting front-line services, and offer a view? The problem is that since 1974, Labour, Liberal and Conservative Governments and councils—all three parties have been equally to blame—have constantly reorganised local government, creating unnecessary tiers of management. Why do we not return to a lean machine, get rid of the layers of management in local authorities and start calling people "The borough engineer" or "The surveyor", which people understand, rather than calling them after these God-almighty directorships of something-or-other, which vary from week to week?
... His name's Bullock, isn't it?
Subjects
Government assistance; Mortgages
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c149-50
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Following the end of the consultation on 19 January, Ministers gave careful consideration to the boundary committee's advice, the representations we had received, and all other relevant information, including the advice from the permanent secretary. While expressing concern that our proposed approach would impact adversely on the financial position of the public sector as compared with the alternative options available to us, he highlighted the savings that would be achieved by the unitary Norfolk and unitary Devon proposed by the boundary committee.
We had previously been consistently advised that we were not duty bound to choose the cheapest option. We noted that the unitary county option did not command the support of any of the principal councils, including Norfolk county council and Devon county council, and we were reluctant to pursue recommendations that did not meet the broad cross-section of support criteria. We concluded that a unitary Exeter and a unitary Norwich which were locally supported was the best way forward for local people, creating councils far better placed to deliver jobs, growth and services.
Following the end of the consultation on 19 January, Ministers gave careful consideration to the boundary committee's advice, the representations we had received, and all other relevant information, including the advice from the permanent secretary. While expressing concern that our proposed approach would impact adversely on the financial position of the public sector as compared with the alternative options available to us, he highlighted the savings that would be achieved by the unitary Norfolk and unitary Devon proposed by the boundary committee.
We had previously been consistently advised that we were not duty bound to choose the cheapest option. We noted that the unitary county option did not command the support of any of the principal councils, including Norfolk county council and Devon county council, and we were reluctant to pursue recommendations that did not meet the broad cross-section of support criteria. We concluded that a unitary Exeter and a unitary Norwich which were locally supported was the best way forward for local people, creating councils far better placed to deliver jobs, growth and services.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Local government; Norfolk
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c141
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
As I set out earlier, local government has already planned to make efficiency savings. We believe that it can make the additional savings needed to fund services for the new policy, which comes in not at the beginning of the coming year, but halfway through it. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that, as I said earlier, the policy will be accompanied by the biggest transfer of funding into local government from the national health service since the establishment of the NHS in 1948. I hope that he will welcome that.
As I set out earlier, local government has already planned to make efficiency savings. We believe that it can make the additional savings needed to fund services for the new policy, which comes in not at the beginning of the coming year, but halfway through it. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that, as I said earlier, the policy will be accompanied by the biggest transfer of funding into local government from the national health service since the establishment of the NHS in 1948. I hope that he will welcome that.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Desmond Swayne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Will the Secretary of State take this opportunity to address the question put to him earlier by my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman); namely, where will the funding come from in the current financial year to provide for the Government's proposals on social care?
Subjects
Finance; Home care services
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c149
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Since I came into the House in 1992, I have held the view that Parliament and this House were sovereign. I do not share the concept that there is a period of time when the House is sitting when decisions should not be taken. Decisions are taken properly and in accordance with the law, after we have considered all the relevant processes. It is only right that Ministers should continue to take decisions as long as the House is sitting as a properly constituted, democratically elected Chamber.
Since I came into the House in 1992, I have held the view that Parliament and this House were sovereign. I do not share the concept that there is a period of time when the House is sitting when decisions should not be taken. Decisions are taken properly and in accordance with the law, after we have considered all the relevant processes. It is only right that Ministers should continue to take decisions as long as the House is sitting as a properly constituted, democratically elected Chamber.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Peter Bone
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
A few days ago, the Secretary of State gave permission for 3,000 new homes to be built in Wellingborough north, against the wishes of local residents, local councillors and myself. What democratic credibility can this Government have when the Secretary of State makes such a decision so near to a general election?
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c151
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I will talk to my right hon. Friend at the Department of Health if the hon. Gentleman will talk to his hon. Friend on the Front Bench to say how crazy it would be to scrap the regional development agency that he values so highly in his constituency, because that is exactly what would happen.
I will talk to my right hon. Friend at the Department of Health if the hon. Gentleman will talk to his hon. Friend on the Front Bench to say how crazy it would be to scrap the regional development agency that he values so highly in his constituency, because that is exactly what would happen.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Robert Key
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
The South West of England Regional Development Agency is pumping millions into the Porton science park in my constituency, in partnership with Wiltshire council, which is regenerating the social and physical infrastructure. Will the Secretary of State have a word with Ministers in the Department of Health, who are talking about supporting the Health Protection Agency in moving nearly 800 of its work force out of the south-west, which needs the jobs, into the overcrowded south-east? Is the Lyons review still living, or is it dead?
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c152
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
For what reasons he overruled the advice of his Department's accounting officer in relation to the value for money of his proposals for unitary restructuring in Norfolk.
For what reasons he overruled the advice of his Department's accounting officer in relation to the value for money of his proposals for unitary restructuring in Norfolk.
Asked by
Chloe Smith
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 March 2010
For answer on
9 March 2010
Answered on
9 March 2010
Following the end of the consultation on 19 January, Ministers gave careful consideration to the boundary committee's advice, the representations we had received, and all other relevant information, including the advice from the permanent secretary. While expressing concern that our proposed approach would impact adversely on the financial position of the public sector as compared with the alternative options available to us, he highlighted the savings that would be achieved by the unitary Norfolk and unitary Devon proposed by the boundary committee.
We had previously been consistently advised that we were not duty bound to choose the cheapest option. We noted that the unitary county option did not command the support of any of the principal councils, including Norfolk county council and Devon county council, and we were reluctant to pursue recommendations that did not meet the broad cross-section of support criteria. We concluded that a unitary Exeter and a unitary Norwich which were locally supported was the best way forward for local people, creating councils far better placed to deliver jobs, growth and services.
Subjects
Local government; Norfolk
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c141; 321002
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Asked by
Desmond Swayne
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Topical questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 March 2010
Notes
Lead question not printed
Subjects
Finance; Home care services
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c149; 321023
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Asked by
Peter Bone
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Topical questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 March 2010
Notes
Lead question not printed
Subjects
Construction; Housing; Wellingborough
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c151; 321028
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Asked by
John Robertson
(Labour)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Topical questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 March 2010
Notes
Lead question not printed
Subjects
Fees and charges; Local government services
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c148-9; 321024
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I asked an expert taskforce, chaired by Sir Steve Bullock, mayor of Lewisham, and Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, to look at how best to achieve efficiency savings and protect front-line services. Their report "Putting the Frontline First: Meeting the local government challenge" was published on 1 March. It sets out 10 decisive steps that councils can take to achieve efficiency while delivering high-quality local services. Local people will rightly be intolerant of any council if they are told that front-line services like care provision, libraries or youth services will be cut because it has failed to carry through all the recommendations made in our experts' taskforce report.
I asked an expert taskforce, chaired by Sir Steve Bullock, mayor of Lewisham, and Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, to look at how best to achieve efficiency savings and protect front-line services. Their report "Putting the Frontline First: Meeting the local government challenge" was published on 1 March. It sets out 10 decisive steps that councils can take to achieve efficiency while delivering high-quality local services. Local people will rightly be intolerant of any council if they are told that front-line services like care provision, libraries or youth services will be cut because it has failed to carry through all the recommendations made in our experts' taskforce report.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Cost effectiveness; Local government
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c133-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Much has been achieved on antisocial behaviour, and the number of people who think that it is a problem in their neighbourhood has fallen to the lowest level since records began. However, there are still communities where such behaviour causes problems, and people need to feel confident that they, with the police and local councils, can tackle the problem. Last month, we began training up to 10,000 community champions to join their neighbours, police and councils to take a stand against antisocial behaviour.
Much has been achieved on antisocial behaviour, and the number of people who think that it is a problem in their neighbourhood has fallen to the lowest level since records began. However, there are still communities where such behaviour causes problems, and people need to feel confident that they, with the police and local councils, can tackle the problem. Last month, we began training up to 10,000 community champions to join their neighbours, police and councils to take a stand against antisocial behaviour.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
Alun Michael
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c148
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am concerned about that. Charging for some local services has always been part of the operation of local government, but some local authorities now seem to have a deliberate strategy of keeping basic services as basic as possible and allowing people on middle incomes to get a decent service only if they are prepared to pay twice. That is not the way that I want to see local government services going, and my hon. Friend is quite right to highlight those political parties that are indulging in that approach.
I am concerned about that. Charging for some local services has always been part of the operation of local government, but some local authorities now seem to have a deliberate strategy of keeping basic services as basic as possible and allowing people on middle incomes to get a decent service only if they are prepared to pay twice. That is not the way that I want to see local government services going, and my hon. Friend is quite right to highlight those political parties that are indulging in that approach.
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Asked by
John Robertson
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is my right hon. Friend concerned about some local councils charging extra for some lesser services, but in the meantime keeping council tax low for political purposes and not meeting the needs of the poor and the needy?
Subjects
Fees and charges; Local government services
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c148-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What guidance he has issued to local authorities on achieving efficiency savings without reducing front-line services.
What guidance he has issued to local authorities on achieving efficiency savings without reducing front-line services.
Asked by
Mark Hendrick
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 March 2010
For answer on
9 March 2010
Answered on
9 March 2010
I asked an expert taskforce, chaired by Sir Steve Bullock, mayor of Lewisham, and Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, to look at how best to achieve efficiency savings and protect front-line services. Their report "Putting the Frontline First: Meeting the local government challenge" was published on 1 March. It sets out 10 decisive steps that councils can take to achieve efficiency while delivering high-quality local services. Local people will rightly be intolerant of any council if they are told that front-line services like care provision, libraries or youth services will be cut because it has failed to carry through all the recommendations made in our experts' taskforce report.
Subjects
Cost effectiveness; Local government
Date
9 March 2010
Reference
507 c133-4; 320997
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons