To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require local authorities to clean and maintain unadopted alleyways; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require local authorities to clean and maintain unadopted alleyways; and if he will make a statement.

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I would just like to explain on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that he came in to check progress and, having already heard the hon. Gentleman's contribution several times, he decided to come back later.

I would just like to explain on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that he came in to check progress and, having already heard the hon. Gentleman's contribution several times, he decided to come back later.

I am pleased to be here today because I thought that after the events of a couple of weeks ago we would not get the Bill before the House again. It is thanks to the actions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that we have once again...

I am pleased to be here today because I thought that after the events of a couple of weeks ago we would not get the Bill before the House again. It is thanks to the actions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that we have once again...

No, I must make some progress. Given the lack of knowledge of the number and complexity of proposals, it is not reasonable to set a deadline, because it would mean that the Secretary of State could go into default or would have to decide on proposals, which are extraordinary complex...

No, I must make some progress. Given the lack of knowledge of the number and complexity of proposals, it is not reasonable to set a deadline, because it would mean that the Secretary of State could go into default or would have to decide on proposals, which are extraordinary complex...

No, but it does exactly what we hope it will do: involve local people far more in local democratic processes.

No, but it does exactly what we hope it will do: involve local people far more in local democratic processes.

In the few minutes that remain—

In the few minutes that remain—

I understand, Mr. Deputy Speaker. With the leave of the House, I would like to reiterate the flexibility that the Bill gives us to carry out this important work, and the fact that the amendments will reduce that flexibility and make that work more difficult.

I understand, Mr. Deputy Speaker. With the leave of the House, I would like to reiterate the flexibility that the Bill gives us to carry out this important work, and the fact that the amendments will reduce that flexibility and make that work more difficult.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of a moratorium on payments of retrospective rates on port businesses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of a moratorium on payments of retrospective rates on port businesses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have registered for his Department's scheme to enable retrospective business rate charges to be paid over eight years; and how many such companies are (a) newly-rated port companies and (b) located outside ports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have registered for his Department's scheme to enable retrospective business rate charges to be paid over eight years; and how many such companies are (a) newly-rated port companies and (b) located outside ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on (a) agency fees and (b) salaries of agency staff recruited to work at its headquarters (i) in each financial year since 2004-05 and (ii) in 2009-10 in the latest period for which figures...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on (a) agency fees and (b) salaries of agency staff recruited to work at its headquarters (i) in each financial year since 2004-05 and (ii) in 2009-10 in the latest period for which figures...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many agency and temporary staff his Department employed in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many agency and temporary staff his Department employed in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the Personal Care at Home Bill's compliance with the new burdens doctrine for local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the Personal Care at Home Bill's compliance with the new burdens doctrine for local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people entered post at each grade of the Senior Civil Service in his Department (a) on promotion from within and (b) on recruitment from outside his Department in each year since January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people entered post at each grade of the Senior Civil Service in his Department (a) on promotion from within and (b) on recruitment from outside his Department in each year since January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes in rateable values in the 2005-10 Rating Cycle have been provided to port operators as a result of the new regime of retrospective business rates on firms operating in ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes in rateable values in the 2005-10 Rating Cycle have been provided to port operators as a result of the new regime of retrospective business rates on firms operating in ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of (a) the Conservative Party and (b) the Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of (a) the Conservative Party and (b) the Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account his Department's food procurement policy takes of animal welfare.

This is a very difficult situation, and once again I am going to move away from the particular and go to the general, not to evade the issue, but simply because of the need for Chinese walls. A local planning authority cannot unilaterally withdraw a permission that has been granted....

This is a very difficult situation, and once again I am going to move away from the particular and go to the general, not to evade the issue, but simply because of the need for Chinese walls. A local planning authority cannot unilaterally withdraw a permission that has been granted....

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention. It is now even more difficult for me to comment on the case because it is going through the complaints procedure, the outcome of which we will have to await. I know that if the right hon. Gentleman is returned to...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention. It is now even more difficult for me to comment on the case because it is going through the complaints procedure, the outcome of which we will have to await. I know that if the right hon. Gentleman is returned to...