Adjournment debate on the Swindon Borough Council WiFi project.

Adjournment debate on the Swindon Borough Council WiFi project.

I am pleased to be able to bring this debate to the House, as it covers serious questions about Swindon borough council and its wi-fi scheme. In November 2009, the council announced an initiative with two newly formed Swindon-based businesses, Digital City (UK) and a London-based and Isle of Man-registered...

I am pleased to be able to bring this debate to the House, as it covers serious questions about Swindon borough council and its wi-fi scheme. In November 2009, the council announced an initiative with two newly formed Swindon-based businesses, Digital City (UK) and a London-based and Isle of Man-registered...

I think authorities should have in place robust mechanisms for dealing with conflicts of interest and for advising staff on how to behave when they arise. In an ideal world—I do not know whether this is a duty, but I can write to my hon. Friend about it—councils should have...

I think authorities should have in place robust mechanisms for dealing with conflicts of interest and for advising staff on how to behave when they arise. In an ideal world—I do not know whether this is a duty, but I can write to my hon. Friend about it—councils should have...

Does my hon. Friend mean that councils should have a policy on this—a published policy on issues, such as council employees being directors and conflicts of interest, to which members of the public could have access?

Does my hon. Friend mean that councils should have a policy on this—a published policy on issues, such as council employees being directors and conflicts of interest, to which members of the public could have access?

It is a pleasure to respond to this debate, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon (Anne Snelgrove). I congratulate her on securing this opportunity to discuss her concerns about the way in which Swindon borough council introduced borough-wide wi-fi. As she knows, local authorities act independently...

It is a pleasure to respond to this debate, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon (Anne Snelgrove). I congratulate her on securing this opportunity to discuss her concerns about the way in which Swindon borough council introduced borough-wide wi-fi. As she knows, local authorities act independently...

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concerns. The problem has been the process. I think that sufficient safeguards exist, but the cabinet member brief brought about all the secrecy. That is my concern—it is a very unusual process. The hon. Gentleman gives me an opportunity to say that I have a...

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concerns. The problem has been the process. I think that sufficient safeguards exist, but the cabinet member brief brought about all the secrecy. That is my concern—it is a very unusual process. The hon. Gentleman gives me an opportunity to say that I have a...

The hon. Lady is a caring and assiduous constituency Member of Parliament, who works hard for her people in Swindon. Does she feel that the cabinet system that she describes allows a small number of councillors to become cosy and close to senior officers in a council, and that that...

The hon. Lady is a caring and assiduous constituency Member of Parliament, who works hard for her people in Swindon. Does she feel that the cabinet system that she describes allows a small number of councillors to become cosy and close to senior officers in a council, and that that...

Responses to the DCLG consultation on changes to the revenue and capital rules for council housing. 100 documents.

Responses to the DCLG consultation on changes to the revenue and capital rules for council housing. 100 documents.

There will be an opportunity for such a debate, and I hope that my hon. Friend will be able to catch your eye in it, Mr. Speaker. As she says, we have put a huge amount of extra capital the way of local authorities, and we have eased the rules...

There will be an opportunity for such a debate, and I hope that my hon. Friend will be able to catch your eye in it, Mr. Speaker. As she says, we have put a huge amount of extra capital the way of local authorities, and we have eased the rules...

Will my right hon. Friend consider granting a debate on local government capital financing? Although the Labour Government have given local councils, on average, 33 per cent. extra since 1997, Swindon borough council still claims that it needs to sell off much-loved capital assets, such as Lower Shaw farm, which...

Will my right hon. Friend consider granting a debate on local government capital financing? Although the Labour Government have given local councils, on average, 33 per cent. extra since 1997, Swindon borough council still claims that it needs to sell off much-loved capital assets, such as Lower Shaw farm, which...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the meetings held by officials from her Department with Swindon borough council in 2004 and 2005 to improve the performance of the councillors running Swindon borough council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the meetings held by officials from her Department with Swindon borough council in 2004 and 2005 to improve the performance of the councillors running Swindon borough council.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of officials from his Department engaged full-time in supporting Swindon borough council has been since 2003.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of officials from his Department engaged full-time in supporting Swindon borough council has been since 2003.

Supplementary business question on local government finance in Swindon.

Supplementary business question on local government finance in Swindon.

Written Statement on publication of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate inspection report on Swindon Borough Council. (Inc figs and fact that copy in the library Dep 04/1569).

Written Statement on publication of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate inspection report on Swindon Borough Council. (Inc figs and fact that copy in the library Dep 04/1569).

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the governments policy towards council pension deficits.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the governments policy towards council pension deficits.