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Tag: Speeches

  • Caroline Dinenage – 2019 Statement on Health and Social Care

    Below is the text of the statement made by Caroline Dinenage, the Minister for Care, in the House of Commons on 1 May 2019.

    Yesterday, 30 April 2019, Four Seasons healthcare group announced that they have appointed Richard Fleming, Mark Firmin and Richard Beard (Alvarez and Marsal) as administrators to Elli Investments Limited (EIL Guernsey) and Elli Finance (UK) Plc (EFUK). These two companies between them hold £625 million of the company’s debt. It has also announced the launch of an independent sales process of the operational parts of the group, Four Seasons healthcare, Brighterkind and the Huntercombe group, which will continue to deliver care as normal.

    The group has been going through financial restructuring negotiations with its main creditor H/2 Capital Partners since December 2017 with a standstill agreement on its interest payments in place. This agreement has been extended several times, with the latest of these having expired at 23:59 on 29 April. The planned sale of the operating businesses, through an independent, court appointed administrator, will now bring greater certainty to those in care, their families and the 22,000 people employed by the company.

    I would like to update the House on the steps being taken to assure people with care and support needs currently being met by the Four Seasons healthcare group that they should not see a gap in their care service—no matter how their care is funded.

    I have met with the company and the administrator to seek assurance that they are putting the continuity of care at the forefront of this process and that there will be no sudden care home closures. I am pleased to confirm that they have provided both me and the Care Quality Commission with this reassurance.

    In the event that a buyer is not found for any of the care homes, the company has undertaken to manage any future plans around the transition of care with great sensitivity, taking time to ensure that residents are supported to find a new home.

    In 2014, the law was changed giving the CQC a new responsibility to monitor the financial sustainability of the largest and most-difficult-to-replace care providers across the country. That means the CQC has a legal duty to notify local authorities if it considers there to be a credible risk of service disruption (stage 6 notification) as a result of business failure so that they have more time to prepare their plans to protect individuals. The CQC is clear that there is no current risk of service disruption and is not issuing a stage 6 notification to local authorities at this time.

    The Care Act 2014 also places duties on local authorities to intervene to protect individuals where their care provider is no longer able to carry on because of business failure. There should never be a gap in the care that an individual receives. Local authorities have a statutory ​duty under section 48(2) of the Care Act to meet the needs of individuals temporarily if their care provider is no longer able to carry on. Business failure is a normal part of a functioning market and local authorities have appropriate plans in place to minimise disruption of services

    The CQC and my Department are closely monitoring the situation. They are also working closely with the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, NHS England and Four Seasons healthcare group to ensure that individuals’ care and support needs continue to be met.

  • Nicola Sturgeon – 2019 Speech at SNP Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister in Scotland, at the SNP Conference held in Edinburgh on 28 April 2019.

    Conference, we gather here in Edinburgh, our beautiful capital city.

    Soon to be, we hope – and how good does this sound – the capital city of an independent Scotland.

    And as we meet today, our party has plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

    Yesterday, an opinion poll showed levels of support for the SNP that would make any party leader smile.

    A 23 point lead in Westminster voting intentions, a 24 point lead for the Scottish Parliament and a 26 point lead for the Euro elections.

    That is truly extraordinary.

    But enough of polls. What about elections?

    Two weeks ago people here in Edinburgh got to vote – the result of the council by-election in Leith was stunning.

    With all due apologies to The Proclaimers – and don’t worry, I’m not about to sing – the result went something like this:

    My heart was broken for the Tories. Sorrow, sorrow for Labour.

    And for the SNP and independence – it was Sunshine on Leith all the way.

    That win came hard on the heels of another success, with the Labour vote down and SNP support up.

    So let us congratulate our two newest councillors – Jane McTaggart in Clackmannanshire and Rob Munn, our new councillor for Leith Walk.

    Friends, here in Edinburgh we are surrounded by history.

    History that offers inspiration for the future.

    This is the birthplace of the enlightenment.

    It was in this city, in our small country on the edge of Europe, that an intellectual flowering transformed the way humanity thinks about the world.

    Thomas Jefferson, the author of America’s Declaration of Independence, wrote this:

    “So far as science is concerned, no place in the world can pretend to competition with Edinburgh”.

    The contribution Scotland has made to the modern world is unparalleled.

    That should make us proud, but it should also be determined.

    Proud that the Scottish independence movement is defined by progressive, inclusive internationalism.

    And determined that we will never allow our nation’s place in the world to be sacrificed by the likes of Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg or Boris Johnson.

    Scotland’s enlightenment legacy is not just about our history.

    The search for knowledge, invention and innovation is the foundation on which we will build our future too.

    Few countries are better placed than Scotland to help lead the world into a new age.

    We are one of the best educated nations anywhere.

    Today, we have more top universities per head of population than any other country in the world, bar one.

    Our universities are part of a golden thread.

    That thread runs from the Scotland of David Hume and Adam Smith, to the country of John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell and Marion Ross, and onto our modern day nation of Peter Higgs and his Nobel Prize winning discovery.

    Our nation values education – that’s why I will always make this commitment to Scottish students.

    As long as the SNP is in government, there will be no tuition fees.

    Education will always be based on your ability to learn, not your ability to pay.

    Our universities today face a grave Brexit threat.

    European Research Grants at risk, collaboration damaged, European academics leaving.

    The end of free movement – and Theresa May’s deplorable hostile environment – will make it harder to attract the world’s best minds to Scotland.

    So I make no apology for taking the opportunity again today to send a message to all our fellow EU citizens.

    Whether you are studying or working in our universities, saving lives in our health service, creating wealth in our business community, catering for our tourists or harvesting our food – wherever you are in Scotland and whatever you do – you are part of us.

    And with all our hearts, we want you to stay.

    We stand up for Scotland in Europe as well.

    When the history of the SNP is written, there will be a special place for Winnie Ewing, and the late Allan Macartney and Neil MacCormick.

    Not just giants of our movement, but formidable figures who advanced Scotland’s interests on the international stage.

    In recent years, Alyn Smith and Ian Hudghton have continued that tradition.

    Ian has championed Scotland’s cause in the European Parliament for more than 20 years – he has been a passionate advocate for Scotland’s interests.

    As he steps down, we thank him for all he has done for our party, for independence and for Scotland.

    Alyn, we hope, will be going back to Brussels.

    Our job is to make sure he is taking others from our fantastic group of candidates with him.

    Number 2 on our list is Christian Allard, a native Frenchman.

    What a wonderful statement of Scotland’s intent to stay part of the European family of nations.

    Conference, as voters go to the polls for the European elections on May 23 our message will be clear and direct.

    And unlike Labour’s, it will be unambiguous.

    Scotland’s not for Brexit, Scotland’s for Europe.

    If you want to keep Scotland in Europe, vote SNP.

    Conference, Brexit is an unforgivable act of Tory sabotage on our country.

    Having failed to force her disastrous plan through Parliament, the Prime Minister is now looking for help from Labour

    Let me be blunt – I don’t trust Theresa May.

    But on Brexit, I don’t trust Jeremy Corbyn either.

    So today, I make this clear.

    The SNP will not vote for a Tory Brexit and we will not vote for a Labour Brexit. Our policy is no Brexit.

    That is what the people of Scotland voted for, and that is what should happen.

    At Westminster, Ian Blackford has led our MPs in fighting Scotland’s corner.

    And they have been simply magnificent.

    It’s not just on Brexit that they do sterling work.

    Our MPs represent the interests of their constituents day in and day out.

    Recently they forced a vote on Trident renewal.

    Lifelong CND member, Jeremy Corbyn, and most of his MPs refused to oppose Trident. What an utter disgrace.

    Labour’s defence spokesman derided the very idea that Scotland should have any say.

    He said that it was “blindingly obvious” that the decision should be taken at Westminster.

    Well, let me tell you what I think is blindingly obvious – a Labour Party that supports Trident missiles on the Clyde has lost its moral compass.

    A country with one in four children growing up in poverty should not be spending £200 billion on nuclear weapons.

    Conference, the UK Government is paralysed by Brexit and broken by infighting. It is no longer a functioning administration.

    There are no policies to tackle the big issues the UK faces – inequality, access to housing, climate change.

    An end to austerity turned out to be just another promise Theresa May didn’t keep.

    Where there should be action to address the underlying reasons for Brexit, there is a just a vacuum – a vacuum filled by incompetence.

    Incompetence that can be summed up in two words: Chris Grayling, or Failing Grayling as he’s better known.

    A buccaneering hard Brexiteer, he signed a ferry contract with a company that had no ferries.

    Though that’s probably just as well – because they didn’t have access to a port to dock them in either.

    In the not-too-distant past, any Minister would have been sacked for such shocking ineptitude.

    But with these Tories, there’s more chance he’ll be running for Prime Minister by next week.

    There is now no level of incompetence that is a disqualification for a place in this Tory government.

    They lack vision, policies and ability. They can’t even be trusted not to leak sensitive information from the National Security Council.

    This Tory government is a disgrace. It needs to go, and it needs to go now.

    Conference, every government faces challenges.

    But unlike the UK government, our Scottish Government is getting on with the job.

    A recent editorial in an Irish newspaper put it rather well.

    Scotland, it said, ‘is a beacon of sense in a sea of madness’. How true that is.

    Let me share with you just a taste of what our Scottish Government has been doing in the last few weeks.

    While Westminster has been turning the UK into an international laughing stock, we have extended free personal care to everyone who needs it, regardless of age.

    We’ve introduced the world leading Domestic Abuse Act.

    Invested millions of pounds in low carbon projects.

    And millions more to tackle fuel poverty.

    We’ve announced new funding to make sure children don’t go hungry during school holidays.

    And we have achieved the lowest Scottish unemployment rate on record.

    Conference, we’ve done something else too.

    To show the strength of our commitment to those who choose to make our country their home, we have extended free university tuition for EU citizens studying here in Scotland.

    On the NHS, investment and staffing are at record high levels with the SNP.

    When the UK Government short-changed our health service, we used our tax powers to protect it.

    When it comes to a choice between a tax cut for high earners or investing in our precious NHS – we will always put patients first.

    The Scottish Tory tax plans would mean a cut of £650 million to public services – that’s the equivalent of 16,000 nurses.

    And it shows that this cast-iron rule of politics is as strong as ever – you cannot trust the Tories with Scotland’s NHS – not now, not ever.

    Conference, as Westminster sinks deeper into the Brexit mire, let me also give you an insight into what your Scottish government will be doing in the days and weeks to come.

    Action we will be taking on those very issues the UK government is ignoring – housing, inequality, climate change.

    Technology is one of the key drivers of Scotland’s economy, and this city is now the best location anywhere in the UK to start up a tech company.

    We must embrace the potential of technology, but we shouldn’t shy away from the challenges.

    Let me give an example – for many people, accommodation provider Airbnb has enabled cheaper, more flexible travel.

    It’s one of the reasons Scotland’s tourism industry is booming.

    But for others – particularly in tourist hot spots, like the centre of this city – it is making it harder to find homes to live in.

    So today, we are setting out new plans to help cities like Edinburgh and islands like Arran get the balance right.

    We are asking for views on a new system of regulation to make short term lets subject to the same controls as other accommodation.

    And give councils the power to control the number of lets and ensure they make a contribution to the services they use.

    Conference, the SNP will always back Scotland’s tourism industry.

    But we will also help people find places to live in the communities they want to call home.

    We will also take fresh steps to help people own their own home.

    We already provide Help To Buy for new-build houses and support shared equity for lower income home owners.

    But there is a wider issue. An issue of generational fairness.

    Some first time buyers trying to get onto the property ladder can call on the financial help of relatives or friends – the famous bank of mum and dad.

    But for those who can’t, the average age of a first-time buyer is now 35.

    The simple truth is that for many young people, even those on decent incomes, saving for a deposit takes so long it has become a distant dream.

    Many are paying more in rent than they would pay for a mortgage, so they don’t have the money left at the end of the month to save for a deposit.

    In a fair and equitable country that cannot stand.

    And so we will act – we will help young people with the deposits they need.

    I am announcing today a new £150 million scheme.

    If buyers can find just 5% of the value of their new house from their own funds, we will do the rest.

    Starting later this year and running until the end of this parliament, we will offer first-time buyers loans of up to £25,000 to fund or top up their deposit.

    Conference, that is your SNP government – building a fairer Scotland for the next generation.

    Scotland’s new social security system is now a year old.

    In that time, nearly £200 million has been paid to carers and families across the country.

    One of the new benefits we introduced is the Best Start Grant.

    Since December, low income families have been eligible for a payment of £600 on the birth of a first child, and £300 on the birth of any siblings.

    And do you know this – in just the first two months of the Best Start Grant, the Scottish Government got more money into people’s pockets than the DWP had managed under the old system in an entire year.

    Now, we will go further. I can announce today that low income families will get a further £250 when their child starts nursery. Applications open tomorrow.

    And from June they will get the same again when their child starts school.

    And let me be crystal clear: there is no two child cap or rape clause in the Scottish welfare system – and with the SNP, there never will be.

    Conference, our obligations to the next generation are the most important we carry.

    A few weeks ago, I met some of the young climate change campaigners who’ve gone on strike from school to raise awareness of their cause.

    They want governments around the world to declare a climate emergency.

    They say that’s what the science tells us.

    And they are right.

    So today, as First Minister of Scotland, I am declaring that there is a climate emergency.

    And Scotland will live up to our responsibility to tackle it.

    We are already a world leader and our new legislation commits us to being carbon neutral by 2050. It contains some of the toughest targets in the world.

    But many are urging us to do more and go further.

    I am listening.

    So I am making this public promise to the young people I met, and to their entire generation.

    If that advice says we can go further or go faster, we will do so.

    Scotland will lead by example.

    Friends, that commitment to future generations has been the hallmark of your SNP government.

    It’s why I made education our number one priority.

    It’s why we’re taking action to reduce the attainment gap in schools – action that is now delivering results.

    It’s why we are doubling childcare.

    And, friends, it is why 80,000 children have now benefited from Scotland’s wonderful baby box.

    The rights of children and young people must be embedded in everything we do.

    This year is the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    The UN is campaigning for all nations to commit to it.

    Conference, I want Scotland, one day very soon, to take our place as an independent member of the United Nations.

    And when we take that place, we must make sure we are meeting the UN’s gold standard on children’s rights.

    So I can confirm today that next month, we will launch our consultation on exactly how to achieve it.

    Our plan is this: by the end of this Parliament we will have incorporated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.

    Children’s rights will be enshrined in statute in time for Scotland to re-join the family of independent nations.

    Friends, it is time.

    It is time for Scotland to become independent.

    The last three years have shown, beyond any doubt, that for Scotland the Westminster system is broken.

    And do you know what else has been broken?

    The promises Westminster made to the people of Scotland.

    They have been broken too.

    They promised us in 2014 that if we voted No we would stay in Europe.

    They promised 13 new frigates would be built on the Clyde.

    They promised to protect the vulnerable.

    They promised “strength and stability”.

    They promised us an equal partnership.

    Each and every single one of these promises has been broken.

    And the people of Scotland will never, ever trust their promises again.

    Remember what the No campaign called themselves back then? Project Fear.

    Well today, I can reveal their new slogan.

    A Tory minister – anonymous of course – told the BBC why they believed the UK Government should not agree to an independence referendum.

    “Once you’ve hit the iceberg” they declared, “you’re all on it together”.

    So there you have it – we’ve gone from Project Fear to Project Iceberg.

    Never has there been a more dismal offer from Westminster to the people of Scotland.

    Friends, I have a different suggestion.

    We should do everything we can to stop the UK hitting that iceberg.

    I do not want to see that fate for any part of these islands.

    But if the UK can’t be persuaded to change course, Scotland must – we must have the choice of a better future.

    Scotland must have the choice of an independent future.

    Next month, we will introduce legislation for a referendum.

    And we plan to pass it by the end of this year.

    The UK government says it will block Scotland’s right to choose.

    A right to choose mandated in not just one but two elections and endorsed by the Scottish Parliament.

    The Tories – they want to veto Scottish democracy.

    Their only friends in Westminster are the Democratic Unionist Party.

    Well, if they’re not careful, this generation of Tories will go down in history as the Undemocratic Unionist Party.

    On Thursday, they tried to justify their position by saying there was no upsurge in support for independence.

    Two days later the latest opinion polls have proved them wrong.

    Support for independence is already up – our job now is to get support for independence surging.

    And make sure that no Westminster government can ever stand in the way of Scotland’s right to choose.

    Conference, I am setting out today our strategy to win our country’s independence.

    We must recognise that these are different times and new circumstances – this isn’t a re-running of 2014.

    The UK that existed then does not exist any more, so our approach must be different.

    We should not enter this campaign thinking of people as No voters or Yes voters, Remainers or Leavers, but as fellow citizens who all want the best for ourselves, our families and for Scotland’s future.

    We must acknowledge the ties of family and friendship across the UK, and step up to the challenge of answering people’s questions.

    And conference, we must always make our case with the decency, respect and dignity that we want to be the hallmark of our independent country.

    I am acutely aware of the responsibility of all politicians, especially leaders, to bring people together not drive them apart.

    To work as hard as we can to find agreement – that’s why earlier this week I reached out to other parties at Holyrood.

    They are as much a part of Scotland as we are.

    And to those parties, let me say this: I know you haven’t said yes yet, but my door is open.

    You may not share the SNP’s view of Scotland’s destination as an independent country.

    But in Scotland’s journey of change, we can still travel a fair way together.

    If you want to be part of that journey, we will welcome you with open arms.

    But be in no doubt – if your only offer is a failed and broken Westminster system, Scotland’s journey will completely pass you by.

    Conference, we will also reach beyond parliament and political tribes.

    We are establishing a non-party Citizens’ Assembly, so that people from across Scotland can guide the conversation.

    Independence, after all, is about the future of everyone who lives here.

    It was once said: “Don’t think about what you want to be, but what you want to do.”

    Friends, that should be our guiding principle.

    Independence is about the children we can lift out of poverty.

    And the fairer, more equal society we can create.

    That starts with building confidence in the economic case.

    Answering people’s questions, addressing their concerns, and inspiring them about the future.

    The conversation we have had within our party is one we must now have with the country.

    Yesterday, in endorsing our new economic plan, we took a big step – the right step.

    And in the process, we demonstrated what a vibrant, engaged and democratic party we are.

    Over ten years ago, we won the right to govern by demonstrating credibility with the financial powers of devolution.

    And make no mistake about this: if we can now show what is possible with the economic powers of independence, we will win a referendum.

    We have set out an ambitious, optimistic and realistic way forward for these new times.

    And so I can announce today that we will now launch the biggest campaign on the economics of independence in our party’s history.

    From this summer, we aim to get information on Scotland’s potential into the hands of every voter.

    Our plan is to distribute “An independent Scotland – a household guide” to every home across the country – all 2.4m of them.

    So friends, you know what that means… it is time to get your jackets on.

    We will set out an alternative to the inevitable economic decline of Brexit.

    We will tell people about Scotland’s strengths.

    The extraordinary success of our food and drink industry.

    Our renewable energy, our advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, creative industries, tourism.

    Above all, we will show that Scotland has a talented and educated people.

    As an independent nation we will face challenges, as all independent countries do. We must be responsible with our finances.

    But few countries on earth can match our resources and our potential.

    So never let anyone tell you that Scotland doesn’t have what it takes to be a prosperous, independent nation.

    Because our country most certainly does – our new economic plan demonstrates the potential of an independent Scotland.

    It stresses the importance of social justice and equality.

    The point is this: a strong economy is the bedrock of a fair society.

    And a fair, inclusive society leads to a strong economy – that is the case we must make.

    That is why I am announcing today the next step for the SNP in setting out our vision of a fairer, independent Scotland.

    Building on the foundation of Andrew Wilson’s work on the economy, I am now setting up a Social Justice and Fairness Commission.

    It will set out how the proceeds of economic growth in an independent Scotland can be shared much more fairly.

    It will demonstrate how we can use the powers of independence to end poverty, achieve full employment, and drive equality for all.

    It will look at how we can deliver fairness for pensioners, be a nation that sets a gold standard for equal pay, and create opportunity for all of our young people.

    All of that is what independence is for.

    The fact is this – independence will mean little if it does not ensure a safe, warm home for everyone to live in. A fair chance for everyone to get on in life.

    And bring an end to the shameful Westminster system which in 21st century Scotland leaves people without enough money to feed their families at the end of the week.

    We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

    But we will only be a truly rich society when we ensure that not a single man, woman or child has to rely on a food bank to eat.

    That is the prize of independence.

    Conference, our economic and social ambitions can best be realised if Scotland is a member of the European Union.

    I do not, for a single second, dismiss those who voted to Leave – I understand the desire for change and the sense that political institutions can feel remote.

    The EU is far from perfect, but membership is not just about economic and social benefits – substantial though those are.

    It is also about the values we cherish – freedom, democracy, the rule of law, equality, respect for human dignity and human rights.

    In our world today, these values are under attack from the forces of intolerance and extremism.

    But they are values that we must fight for and stand up for – and our party will always do so.

    Conference, for independent countries of our size, the EU does not curtail sovereignty – it enhances and amplifies it.

    If ever we needed proof of the power of small nations in Europe, think about this.

    At the last summit, the leaders of 27 other countries decided the UK – and Scotland’s – fate.

    12 of those countries have populations similar to or smaller than Scotland’s.

    Very small nations such as Luxembourg and Cyprus.

    Countries that have long enjoyed independence: Denmark, Finland and Ireland.

    And others who have regained their independence much more recently.

    All of these nations have come together to share sovereignty for mutual benefit, and on the basis of equality and common values.

    Conference, the respect, support and solidarity they receive in return stands in stark contrast to the contemptuous treatment of Scotland by Westminster.

    That is why it is now time for Scotland to become a truly equal partner in the British Isles.

    It is time to take our place among the family of independent European nations.

    Conference, the SNP is not an ordinary political party.

    We do not represent just one section of society or one group of people.

    We are the national party.

    Our aim is to represent everyone who lives here.

    That comes with a big responsibility.

    Because we are building a nation.

    And what is that nation?

    It is our extraordinary landscape. Our villages, towns and cities – like this one with the castle on the hill.

    It is our history – of independence, of union, of social advancement, of industrial and high-tech revolutions.

    It is what our former Makar, Edwin Morgan, called a “thread of pride and self-esteem” that can never be “broken or forgotten”.

    It is our innovators and our wealth creators.

    Our writers, our poets and our artists – it is all of our people.

    Those who have been here for generations. And those who have just arrived.

    Scotland is everyone who chooses to make this country their home.

    So when we speak of building a nation, what we mean is that we are building a better future for all those who live here and for the generations yet to come.

    A society founded on compassion, on kindness and love.

    A nation that people will come from all over the world to see, to experience, and to be part of.

    So let’s always take the time to dream a little.

    To dream of that better country.

    For those of us privileged to carry the SNP flame today, our task is to turn the dream – that message of hope – into reality.

    So let’s get on with our task.

    Let us win our independence.

    Let us build that fairer nation.

    And let Scotland – an independent Scotland – play our part in building the better world that we know is possible.

  • Rushanara Ali – 2019 Speech on Removal of Cladding on Private Tower Blocks

    Below is the text of the speech made by Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, in the House of Commons on 29 April 2019.

    Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

    I secured this debate to highlight the grave danger facing thousands of people living in privately owned high-rise blocks in my constituency and up and down the country. I am referring, of course, to the presence of aluminium composite material—ACM—cladding on tower blocks that are owned by private companies, not council or housing associations. The danger is real and deeply worrying but can easily be alleviated if Ministers decide to take action. I hope that the Minister will today set out a firm plan of action with a clear set of deadlines to put the situation right.

    It is unlikely that many of us would have been aware or known what ACM cladding was were it not for the terrible tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire. On the terrible night of 14 June 2017, 72 people lost their lives, and many more were injured, lost their homes and suffered a trauma that they are likely to carry with them for the rest of their lives. It was a trauma shared by the whole nation, which watched this needless tragedy.

    It is clear that ACM cladding contributed to the speed with which the fire spread up and down the building, and to the loss of life. This was an avoidable, man-made disaster. Shockingly, the nation then discovered that this kind of cladding and similar flammable cladding is present on hundreds of blocks and other buildings around the country. In the immediate aftermath, Ministers promised swift action to replace ACM and other flammable materials on high-rise blocks, but instead, we have seen unacceptably slow progress, and 22 months later, 345 high-rise buildings with ACM panels are yet to be made safe.

    Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)

    I thank the hon. Lady for giving way and congratulate her on securing a debate on this issue, which has elicited the emotion and interest of the House over a period. Does she agree that it is imperative that the cladding is removed quickly and that a Government-aided scheme would ensure that owners do the right thing and we see the prevention of another Grenfell tragedy? That has to be our goal. It is good to see the Minister in his place; we are all appreciative of him and look forward to his response. I add that the hon. Lady has another two and a half hours for her debate.

    Rushanara Ali

    I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution, and I very much hope that the Minister will say something concrete about legislation and about other steps that he and his Government will take to rectify this appalling problem.​
    This is deeply worrying for families living in those blocks, and is causing huge anxiety, fear and insecurity. Many of my constituents have raised serious concerns. One of them said that

    “we are trapped with crippling fire warden charges and have an unsaleable flat. My wife is now taking anti-depressants.”

    The UK Cladding Action Group, established by residents in these unsafe blocks, has run a survey showing the impact on the mental health of these residents, and 88% stated that their mental health was worse than before. One resident said:

    “I feel as though I could burn alive at any minute. I live in constant fear, my physical and mental health has taken a huge impact. My financial situation is unbearable, I cannot sell my property or remortgage. I am stuck in a nightmare”.

    Another said:

    “The massive £18,500 charge bestowed upon me is completely un-payable in my current financial situation. I have put everything on hold in the hope of a solution to present itself but currently nothing.”

    Another said:

    “I was made redundant and can’t get a loan, can’t remortgage or sell my property. I feel trapped and the anxiety of this is affecting me getting another job”.

    Another said:

    “The constant stress and worry has destroyed the relationship with my long term partner and as a result we have terminated our relationship. She could not handle living in a building that could kill us”.

    Another said:

    “The financial stress and feeling unsafe in my own home is taking a huge toll on our lives—we are also getting married in two months and this huge cladding bill has overridden everything. We want to move so we can start a family but are unable to as the flat is not sellable, and we can’t raise a family in such a flammable building.”

    Others have listed many examples of struggle and trauma. One resident said:

    “My partner and I need to sell our property to buy a bigger place because I am pregnant and expecting our first child in 1 month. However, we have been unable to do this due to the cladding. This has caused immense amounts of anxiety and stress. We have also had to put our wedding plans on hold.”

    Another said:

    “I can’t sleep very well. I think about my unsafe property daily. I can’t believe that I bought it in good faith, thinking I’d live in a safe and happy home. I’m stressed every day.”

    Others have talked about their health issues. One resident said:

    “I suffer from an auto immune condition. Stress and working long hours can make the symptoms worse. This is a stressful situation as I feel I may not be able to sell/remortgage my property. And now I’m not only worried about my family’s safety, I’m worried about our financial security. So now I’m working harder than ever.”

    Another said:

    “My boyfriend has moved to Italy without me as I cannot sell my flat… I have had to take a second job as I am unable to sell the property and release capital”.

    Another of the residents said:

    “This has been the worst 21 months of my life. I am struggling to get through each day. Gone is the enjoyment of life.”

    There are hundreds of these testimonies, and I have highlighted just some of the experiences of anxiety and fear, as well as devastation, that living in ACM-cladded properties has caused people up and down the country, as well as in my own constituency.​

    On 8 May, the UK Cladding Action Group will host a meeting to share its findings and concerns. I hope the Minister will be able to meet us at this very important meeting, and that Members from across the House will join the residents attending that meeting.

    Sandy Martin (Ipswich) (Lab)

    Does my hon. Friend share my anxiety for the leaseholders who, even when the freeholder has done the right thing and removed the cladding, are left in a negative-equity situation, where the value of their flat is actually less than the bill hanging over their head for the removal of the cladding?

    Rushanara Ali

    Absolutely. I fully agree because the leaseholders bought the properties in good faith; they did not know that these blocks had ACM cladding. If anyone is responsible, it is the Government because the ACM cladding should never have been used—it was dangerous—and that is why it is important that the Government deal with this issue to protect people from this predicament.

    Paul Girvan (South Antrim) (DUP)

    On that very point, a lot of the retrofitting that used this type of cladding was actually done to comply with EU regulations on the energy efficiency of those buildings. As a consequence, those involved fell through the loophole of having to obtain an energy efficiency certificate for a building to comply legally with the associated legislation without, unfortunately, the safeguard of putting on something that met all the fire regulations and complied accordingly.

    Rushanara Ali

    I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. He has weaved in the European perspective, but I would say to him that, fundamentally, the duty of care is with our Government—of whichever political colour—and there was nothing stopping the Government making sure that flammable cladding was not used, so to revert to blaming the EU is frankly unhelpful and not in the spirit of the purpose of this debate. This is about how we protect our citizens in this country, and how we learn from what has happened with the failure of regulation in our country to protect people in the future and deal with what is happening now for those who have dangerous cladding covering their blocks of flats.

    Last summer, after vociferous campaigning, Ministers announced £400 of funding for urgent fire safety repairs in social housing blocks that are at risk. This is welcome, but it did not come easy. The Grenfell survivors, having been through the most horrific trauma, campaigned with charities, local authorities and Members of Parliament. We had to fight tooth and nail to secure this funding, and it took a year. It should not have taken so long; the Government should have done it immediately. Now, we have to fight tooth and nail for a similar pledge for people to be protected in privately owned blocks. I hope the Minister will say something positive today about additional funding because this has gone on for two years, and it should not be like that.

    Of the 345 buildings that I have mentioned are awaiting repairs, 226 are in private hands, and Ministers have done too little to make them safe. Of course, fire does not discriminate between private and public ownership. There is no logic in safeguarding social housing while ignoring private housing. Ministers have said that they expect private building owners to pay for these measures, ​although this has been backed only by an appeal to their good will and good nature, rather stipulating it through legislation. The Government should make this a legal requirement.

    Where repairs are being carried out, some private owners, as the Minister is fully aware, are passing on the costs to the people living in the flats as a service charge under the terms of their leases. This can amount to thousands of pounds, and it is simply unacceptable. As we know, freeholders who own these blocks are often in the shadows, obscured by front companies, and under data protection laws they can remain anonymous because of the risk of arson. If there is no law to compel freeholders and no public scrutiny, it is hardly surprising that many will fail to act.

    In January, the Minister said that he could guarantee that people in high-rise flats with ACM cladding were safe to sleep at night, but thousands living in flats in high-rise buildings, encased in cladding that could spread fire with rapacious speed, do not feel safe and there is no good night’s sleep. The sleepless nights will continue until Ministers get a grip and move fast to take down the cladding.

    My local authority, Tower Hamlets, is among those with the highest number of blocks with dangerous ACM cladding in the country: 41 are privately owned blocks, and nine are social housing blocks. Victoria Wharf in my constituency, which has been in the press, has ACM cladding like that at Grenfell. Residents have been charged nearly £7,000 per flat for temporary safety measures, such as 24-hour fire wardens. They are very concerned that no real action has been taken yet, despite the fact that the dangers are well known. The freeholder is Vuillard Holdings, which is registered offshore.

    Currently, there are no legal means of forcing the owners to meet their obligations—and if there are any, they are not affordable for my constituents. Perhaps the Government could take legal action against these companies if they are not prepared to legislate to make the companies pay. Time and again, when Ministers have heard the anguished cries of people in this situation, they have offered no solace. Indeed, the Minister for Housing told the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee that he was “sorry to be opaque” when he was pressed on making funding available for private ACM-clad plots. I am sorry, too. This evening, instead of being opaque, I hope he will be transparent and demonstrate the urgency of the matter by announcing practical action backed by resources.

    Specifically, I ask the Minister to address the following. Will his Department commit to creating new national funding for the removal of dangerous cladding from private blocks, administered by either national or local government? That would mean that works could start straight away. The funding must be additional, given the crisis in local government finance. Will he agree a series of deadlines along a clear timeline to remove all dangerous cladding? Will he amend existing legislation to force freeholders to pay for repairs?

    I hope that we are about to hear an action plan about these important issues—making money available now, setting a timetable and making freeholders pay. In last year’s Budget, the Chancellor made £420 million of extra funding available to fix potholes. Do not get me wrong: fixing potholes is important—I tripped on one and had an injury—but the issue that we are debating is ​a matter of life and death for thousands of people up and down the country. For many in my constituency and the constituencies of Members across the House, urgent action is required.

    After Grenfell, the Prime Minister said:

    “My Government will do whatever it takes to…keep our people safe.”

    Two years on, her Government have completely failed to honour that commitment, even when people are living in utter fear and despair for their and their family’s safety and are trapped in properties with no end in sight. In fact, I would go as far as to say that if one more fatality like those at Grenfell occurs in a block with ACM cladding because of this Government’s failure to act, this Government will be absolutely liable. They will have blood on their hands if they do not take action and if some other disaster happens.

  • Nick Hurd – 2019 Statement on Disclosure of Evidence in Rape Cases

    Below is the text of the statement made by Nick Hurd, the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, in the House of Commons on 29 April 2019.

    There is widespread recognition that disclosure in criminal cases must be improved. As the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), whom I still call my friend, knows, disclosure of evidence is crucial for ensuring the public’s confidence in the police and in our criminal justice system. It is important to note that police forces have been using forms to request victims’ consent to review mobile phones in investigations, including sexual assault cases, for some time. What is new is the national form that was introduced today, which attempts to distil current best practice and to replace the individual versions being used by the 43 police forces, to ensure that there is consistency and clarity for complainants. That is the intention of the police.

    In considering seeking such consent, the police must consider what is a reasonable line of inquiry and ensure that their approach avoids unnecessary intrusion into a complainant’s personal life. In July 2018, the Director of Public Prosecutions issued advice on investigating communications evidence, making it clear that the examination of the mobile telephones of complainants should not be pursued as a matter of course and that, where it was pursued, the level of extraction should be proportionate.

    This Government have made protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence a key priority, and it is encouraging that more victims than ever before have had the confidence to come forward. However, it is surely critical that victims are not deterred from seeking justice by a perception of how their personal information is handled. They can and should expect nothing less than that it will be dealt with in a way that is consistent with their right to privacy and with the interests of justice.

    This is clearly a complex area, and while disclosure is an important component of the criminal justice system in ensuring a fair trial, the police have acknowledged that the use of personal data in criminal investigations is a source of anxiety. They will continue to work with victim groups and the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that their approach to this issue strikes the necessary, if difficult, balance between the requirement for reasonable lines of inquiry and the victim’s right to privacy. I can assure the House that the Government will continue to work with partners in the criminal justice system to deliver the recommendations in the Attorney General’s review designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure.

  • Nusrat Ghani – 2019 Statement on HS2

    Below is the text of the statement made by Nusrat Ghani, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, in the House of Commons on 29 April 2019.

    Completing HS2 is Government policy and is crucial to unlocking economic growth and improved productivity in the midlands and north. It is supported by Members on both sides of this House. I therefore have no intention of halting work on HS2 in Buckinghamshire or elsewhere. There are already 7,000 people and 2,000 businesses working to deliver the HS2 project, and early works are well under way. Once HS2 Ltd has reached agreement with its suppliers and the Government are satisfied about both affordability and value for money, we will make a full business case for phase 1. This will inform notice to proceed, which is the formal contractual process that enables each phase 1 supplier to move from design and development to construction. Notice to proceed is scheduled to take place later this year. The works that are now taking place are necessary to enable the construction of HS2 to move forward in accordance with the programme, following notice to proceed.

    We are aiming for HS2 to be one of the most environmentally responsible infrastructure projects ever delivered in the UK, and managing its impact on the environment during construction is a high priority. HS2 will deliver a new green corridor made up of more than 650 hectares of new woodland, wetland and wildlife habitats alongside the line. More than 7 million new native trees and shrubs will be planted, to help blend the line into the landscape and leave a lasting legacy of high-quality green spaces all along the route. It will include more than 33 sq km of new and existing wildlife habitat—an increase of around 30%, compared with what is there now. Many of the early works that are now taking place on HS2 are activities aimed precisely at creating this environmental legacy. They are being done now to ensure that they become fully established as early as possible, alongside construction of the railway.

  • Chris Skidmore – 2019 Statement on Tuition Fees for EU Students

    Below is the text of the statement made by Chris Skidmore, the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, in the House of Commons on 29 April 2019.

    The Government have repeatedly made it clear that we absolutely value international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of our vision for a global Britain. We believe that the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world-leading universities post exit.

    Over the weekend, the media reported on a leaked Cabinet document discussing Government policy on EU student access to finance products for the 2020-21 academic year and beyond. At this time, I want to tell the House that no decision has yet been made on the continued access to student finance for EU students. Discussions at Cabinet level are ongoing and should remain confidential. I will make no comment on this apparent leak, which is deeply regrettable.

    Students from the EU make a vital contribution to the university sector. It is testament to the quality and reputation of our higher education system that so many students from abroad choose to come and study here. As I stated earlier, since 2017 EU student numbers are up 3.8% and non-EU student numbers are up by 4.9%. In July 2018, we announced that students from the European Union starting courses in England in the 2019-20 academic year will continue to be eligible for home fees status, which means that they will be charged the same tuition fees as UK students and have access to tuition fee loans for the duration of their studies. Applications for students studying in academic year 2020-21 open in September 2019 and the Government will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students and the wider higher education sector on fee arrangements ahead of the 2020-21 academic year and the subsequent years, which, as I have just stated, will obviously reflect our future relationship with European Union and the negotiations on that going forward.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2019 Speech on Travellers

    Below is the text of the speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in the House of Commons on 25 April 2019 in response to the speech made by Paul Beresford.

    I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) on securing this important debate. Reading through the materials to prepare for this evening, I saw very clearly his long-standing ​commitment to standing up for his constituents on, as he described it, this vexing issue. It was also clear that he has consistently pushed the Government to support his residents, and I commend him for that.

    I am pleased to say that the Government take the issue of unauthorised encampments extremely seriously. Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing have listened extensively to the views of those in this House on this highly sensitive and important issue and recognise the strong feelings and concerns raised by many Members. Just as my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley has articulated powerfully about his own constituents, many other hon. Members have also highlighted the sense of unease and intimidation that residents feel when an unauthorised encampment occurs, the frustration at being unable to access amenities and premises and the waste left and cost once an unauthorised encampment has moved on. The Government were also troubled to hear about the widespread perception that the rule of law does not apply to those who choose a nomadic lifestyle and that the sense of available enforcement powers did not protect settled communities properly—all points that my hon. Friend has made on many occasions previously.

    The Government therefore sought evidence on this issue through a formal and substantive consultation. Our “Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments” consultation received more than 2,000 responses, and I am pleased to say that the Government published our response just a couple of months ago. Among the various concerns raised by colleagues in the House and members of the public, particular issues were highlighted regarding illegal activity, enforcement or the lack thereof, concerns about planning policy and the green belt, and concerns about outcomes for the travelling community.

    I am confident that I speak for everyone in this House when I say that we recognise that the majority of the travelling community are decent, law-abiding people, but we need to ensure that the system is fair for all members of our communities. That means ensuring that everybody has the same opportunities, is subject to the same laws and is free from the negative effects of those who choose to break the law.

    I am pleased to say that the Government response puts forward a package of measures to address those issues, including consultation on stronger powers for the police to respond to unauthorised encampments, practical and financial support for local authorities to deal with unauthorised encampments, support for Traveller site provision, and support for the travelling community to improve life chances. I thank ministerial colleagues in the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice for their assistance in this work.

    I will summarise the various strands of work that the Government are now undertaking. In doing so, I will respond to the specific points raised by my hon. Friend. I will first address my hon. Friend’s concern regarding intentional unauthorised development—in particular, how intentional unauthorised development should be taken into account when planning permission is sought retrospectively. In 2015, the Government introduced a policy that made intentional unauthorised development a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals. As set out in our response, we are concerned that harm is caused where the development ​of land has been undertaken in advance of obtaining planning permission; the Government have listened to my hon. Friend on this issue. The Government have now committed to consulting on options for strengthening this policy on intentional unauthorised development so that local authorities have the tools to address the effects of such development. This will help to ensure greater confidence and fairness in the planning system.

    On a related matter, I reassure my hon. Friend that the Government remain committed to strong protection of the green belt, which my hon. Friend has also championed many times in this place. The Government have been very clear, through the national planning policy framework, that inappropriate development—including Traveller sites, whether temporary or permanent —is harmful to the green belt and should only be approved in very special circumstances. The document “Planning policy for traveller sites”, which was updated in 2015, makes it clear that personal circumstances and unmet need are unlikely to clearly outweigh harm to the green belt.

    The planning system is of course continually reviewed, and I will take on board the comments made by my hon. Friend tonight as the Department looks at updating its guidance for Traveller sites to bring that in line with the national planning policy framework. Indeed, the Department always reserves the option of issuing planning practical guidance documents to fine tune our view on particular interpretations of planning guidance.

    This Government are also committed to continuing to address the disparities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. As a result, we have provided £200,000 of funding for six projects that aim to improve outcomes in the areas of educational attainment, health and social integration. We have also funded 22 projects that support Roma communities across England through the controlling migration fund. Interventions include improving access to services, improving health outcomes, outreach and supporting children and English language learning. We have also provided two projects with £55,000 each to tackle hate crime against GRT communities.

    I will finish by summarising our ongoing work on enforcement against unauthorised encampments, because I am aware that this has been a particular concern, as highlighted by my hon. Friend. I am pleased to say that we have identified a set of measures to extend the powers available to the police to enable unauthorised encampments to be tackled more effectively and hopefully to reduce the frustration felt by many constituents of my hon. Friend and others that these issues are not being dealt with as they would like.

    As highlighted in our response to the recent consultation, the Government will seek parliamentary approval to amend sections 61 and 62A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. These amendments will include increasing the period in which trespassers directed from land will be unable to return from three months to 12 months.

    Sir Paul Beresford

    Will that apply where the individuals concerned claim to own or actually own the land, or just on public-type land or other people’s land?

    Rishi Sunak

    This is a matter for the Home Office, which will soon be launching a public consultation on the specific nature of these measures. I am sure that it ​will welcome my hon. Friend’s views on how they should be implemented and the detail behind them. I would be happy to ensure that his views are passed on to the Department as it constructs the consultation.

    The amendments will also include lowering from six to two or more the number of vehicles needing to be involved in an unauthorised encampment before police powers can be exercised and enabling the police to remove trespassers from land that forms part of the highway, which is another very specific barrier that has been identified.

    My hon. Friend said that England should consider adopting the Irish model to criminalise unauthorised encampments. Like many others, he notes that this process in the Republic of Ireland had led to an increased number of Travellers in this country, and many have urged the Government to adopt the Irish model. I would like to reassure him and all those interested in pursuing this that the Government will conduct a review of how this can be achieved.

    My Department will support local authorities with up to £1.5 million of funding to support planning enforcement. Finally, my hon. Friend raised temporary stop notices. These allow local authorities to act swiftly ​to tackle unauthorised developments, and I am pleased to tell him that the Secretary of State has confirmed that he is minded to extend the period for which these temporary orders can be put in place.

    I am also pleased to tell my hon. Friend that the Secretary of State is looking forward to sitting down with him to discuss these issues in more detail and, in particular, to ensure we can learn from the experience of his constituents as we look to improve measures to tackle this greatly vexing issue.

    I thank my hon. Friend for all his contributions to this debate. He should without question be commended for ensuring that the views and needs of his constituents are raised in this House with force and power and repeatedly with Ministers so that we can act to improve the lives of his residents through changing these policies. I hope that he feels reassured that the Government are listening to his concerns and progressing the commitments we made in response to the consultation. I look forward to working with him on these issues in the coming months.

  • Paul Beresford – 2019 Speech on Travellers in Mole Valley

    Below is the text of the speech made by Sir Paul Beresford, the Conservative MP for Mole Valley, in the House of Commons on 25 April 2019.

    I thank the Minister for being here as the last man standing. It is an awful position, one I used to have, too. However, this is an opportunity to raise a vexing issue that has plagued my constituency and Surrey as a whole. We are now in what we call the summer Traveller season; it is like a disease. Mole Valley constituency consists of Mole Valley District Council south of the M25 and the eastern wards of Guildford Borough Council. It is close to London and to Epsom downs, so it is attractive to Travellers from afar, and many of those come with a distinct Irish accent.

    We have two distinct, different types of Traveller problem. The first involves those who suddenly appear and squat on a site. The second involves those who squat on a site that they say they own or have access to, and then proceed to openly defy planning regulations. The first group very occasionally have permission to camp—as I have noticed—use the site and then they leave it as it was found. That is rare, and normally things are quite different. This is exemplified by an incident at the end of March, when five caravans and various vehicles squatted on a public commuter car park near Leatherhead station. The council moved fast—or, rather, as fast as possible—and after a few days it served a section 77 notice for the caravans to move. Predictably, that was ignored and a couple of days later the police arrived in force and moved them on, with the council then doing the clean-up. This was a waste of time and money, and a blockage, with a loss of space, of a busy commuter car park.

    Last Traveller season, Surrey had hundreds of these incidents, and Mole Valley had more than its share. Surrey’s councils and the population accept the need for Traveller sites, but not without limit. Currently, the Surrey districts are working together to provide one or two transit sites, which will help the police and councils to justify their action. Elmbridge Borough Council, a Surrey council, has tried something revolutionary. It mapped every public space—churchyards, schools, playgrounds and so on—in Elmbridge and then obtained a three-year injunction against Traveller squatting on those mapped sites. That meant the police in Elmbridge could act straightaway, regardless of who the individuals were, and whom the vehicles and caravans belonged to. However, this approach has several downsides. As a member of the National Farmers Union, I note that no private land, including farm land, was covered by the injunction. The injunction was for only three years, and huge public efforts and expenditure went into setting up the maps. What this approach does provide is an indication that if such land squatting was criminalised nationally, as I believe applies in Ireland, direct action by the police could take place, whoever owns the land, although obviously at the landowner’s request.

    The second area of Traveller abuse relates to abuse of planning law. Mole Valley District Council and the Mole Valley constituency are smothered with building restrictions; we have sites of special scientific interest, areas of outstanding natural beauty, green belt and so on. ​This includes the Guildford wards next door. Any constituent from the settled community that builds without permission, particularly on land where these restrictions apply, can expect to be required to remove the development. Some of the Traveller community do not believe these laws apply to them—or they choose to ignore them. I wish to focus on how a very few of these Travellers manipulate the system in ways that would not be entertained by settled residents or by planning authorities. In saying that, I emphasise that there are a number of successful, popular Gypsy, Traveller sites in the constituency where there are no difficulties and no arguments, and where the community is integrated.

    First, I shall touch on two long-standing examples. One is in Guildford, on a site on a narrow little private lane off the A246. The A246 is a busy road, but the lane is tiny and narrow, with few properties. Development is severely limited as it is an area of natural beauty, with ancient forests—it is green belt and so on. A Traveller from outside Mole Valley inherited the land, or access to it, squatted on it and, over a short period, placed a number of caravans, trucks and cars there and ran several different businesses from the site.

    The second example is in Leatherhead, on green-belt pasture land. Since what I believe are Irish Travellers arrived at the site in 2003, which is a few days back, the area has been fenced, a fast-growing hedge has been planted, a number of caravans have been placed there and a few other buildings of a more permanent design have been built. To my amusement, two large, high, wrought-iron, electrically operated gates have been erected between pillars at the entrances. It looks like the entry to a minor stately home.

    On both sites, it is apparently the norm that all injunctions have been ignored; numerous applications have been made, rejected and appealed; and relations with the local community are fractious, with numerous threats to community members. As I said, the Travellers arrived in 2003, so this has been going on for years, without success in ensuring that the planning laws respected by the settled community are not ignored or dodged by devious legal means by the people who have squatted there.

    A third case commenced this Easter weekend in Capel. By chance, I drove past and came across the site. Going by the accent, it was probably a group of Irish Travellers, with two or three small caravans squatted on a two-acre field. They claim that they own the land, which may or may not be true. The land is accessed by a narrow agreed-access way over another person’s land. The squatters bought in a small digger and widened the access way, and they wooden-fenced the widened way without the landowner’s agreement. This morning, I observed that the fence has been taken down while the access is being further enlarged and re-fenced to allow through bigger vehicles, such as horse-carrying vehicles and bigger caravans. The standing passage right of way for this field specifically bans caravans.

    The individuals have brought in a number of lorry-loads of hardcore, which was laid and spread by a fairly large JCB digger. The wooden buildings were knocked down to make space for what I understand are going to be new buildings, including stables. A local neighbour I talked to was threatened by the individuals in respect of the water supply, which I understand has been accessed ​probably without the water company’s agreement. Moreover, other neighbours have been threatened and told not to interfere or they will suffer severe retaliation.

    The local council is seeking legal advice pending an approach to the courts. The Travellers have put in the usual foot-in-the-door planning application for caravans and stables for a horse business. This probably means that the council cannot act on any injunction until the application is heard, presumably reviewed, refused and then appealed. That will probably be followed by a further sequence of applications and appeals, and in around 20 years’ time these people will have continued to breed there, raised their horses, increased the whole site, or at least the number of vehicles on it, and added numerous caravans and more businesses.

    The behaviour is along the lines of what I have seen of the Mafia in Sicily. One might ask why these people would act in this way; the answer is, of course, because they can and nobody, including the courts, the police and the local authority, seems capable of stopping them. The Minister and his Department have being running a review for months, now running into years. It is time for a speedy and tough response.

    First, in cases of squatting on possibly-owned land and the ignoring of planning regulations, I would like the Government to change the legislation to enable local authority planning officers to place an immediate stop notice on even minor development, with heavy fines and ultimately jail for failure to comply and return the land to the condition it was in before. Leave it to the Travellers rather than the local authorities to go to court if they wish to oppose the stop notice. Where Travellers squat on other people’s land without permission, this should be made a criminal offence. That is how it is done in Ireland and it seems to work, enabling the police to take direct and immediate action.

    Next, will the Minister consider tightening up the legal definition of Travellers? It is too loose at the moment, and one thing that those who squat do not do is travel. Related to that is the extraordinary requirement that the claim to need to live in caravans should overcome the normal and understandable offer of bricks and mortar accommodation. That is particularly relevant where children and infants would by normal standards be accommodated in a better and healthier environment in a normal dwelling. I have a number of other suggestions, but I will test just one more. Will the Minister enlarge on the definition of repetitive similar applications, so that these can be accumulated and rejected at a stroke?

    There is a belief among many of the settled community who brush up against these individuals—that is a polite way of putting such contact—that such Travellers ignore normal law-abiding activity because the law is weak and ineffective. My experience supports that feeling. Change is years overdue; and, because of the Easter events, let me make a vain request: can any change be made retrospective to the day before last Easter? Over to you, Minister.

  • Robin Walker – 2019 Statement on the General Affairs Council

    Below is the text of the statement made by Robin Walker, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in the House of Commons on 25 April 2019.

    The UK and the EU have agreed an extension to Article 50, until 31 October 2019, which is legally binding in EU and international law. Until we leave the European Union, we remain committed to fulfilling our rights and obligations as a full Member State, and continue to act in good faith.​

    I represented the UK at the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg on 9 April 2019. A provisional report of the meeting and the conclusions adopted can be found on the Council of the European Union’s website at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2019/04/09/

    Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 – 2027

    The presidency presented a progress report outlining the latest developments on negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – related sectorial proposals. The presidency also highlighted that common understandings have been reached with the European Parliament (EP) on ten sectorial files. Cohesion and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continued to be the central pillars of the next MFF. However, the Commission noted that the proposed cuts to Cohesion and CAP were unavoidable due to the loss of the UK’s contribution.

    The Cohesion fund aims to reduce economic and social disparities and to promote sustainable development. Ministers discussed how the Cohesion policy and CAP can best support EU priorities. Some member states criticised the proposed cuts and supported maintaining funding for transition regions (where GDP per capita falls between 75% and 90% of the EU average). Other member states advocated for a stronger link of funds to the EU’s core business, such as tackling climate change, rule of law and migration. There was general agreement that cohesion funding should be predictable, whilst allowing for a level of flexibility to manage unexpected events.

    Ministers agreed that the funding priorities should be modernisation of the agricultural industry and securing support for young farmers. Some member states proposed a set target for expenditure contributing to climate change goals, while incentivising farmers to meet the goals.

    Conclusions on the Reflection Paper “Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030”

    Ministers adopted conclusions on the EU’s implementation of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are targets in 17 priority areas agreed between the members of the UN in 2015, with the aim of making the world a more sustainable place to live. The Council agreed that the SDGs are a key aspect of the EU’s Strategic Agenda 2019-2024, making clear reference to “leave no one behind”.

    The Council’s conclusions recognised the importance of the SDGs for the EU, stated that the UN 2030 Agenda was an overarching priority for the EU and stressed that it was in the EU’s interest to play a leading role in its implementation, recognising that delivery of this agenda is necessarily a shared responsibility between all stakeholders.

    Values of the Union – Hungary /Article 7(1) TEU Reasoned Proposal

    The Commission provided an update on the most recent developments regarding EU values in Hungary. Ministers discussed values of the Union in relation to Hungary.

    Rule of Law in Poland / Article 7(1) TEU Reasoned Proposal

    The Commission provided an update on the rule of law cases in Poland before the European Court of Justice, and its most recent infraction notification against Poland’s disciplinary procedures for ordinary judges. The presidency stated that the Council would return to the issue.

  • Philip Hammond – 2019 Belt and Road Forum Speech

    Below is the text of the speech made by Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in China on 26 April 2019.

    Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to be back in China for this second Belt and Road Forum. To take stock of how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has evolved over the past two years…

    …to discuss the next phase of the Initiative.

    To hear, as we have of China’s commitment to the BRI not only to deliver much-needed economic infrastructure, but to demonstrate leadership in addressing social and environmental ‎challenges too;

    We have all seen how China’s own development has lifted hundreds of millions of its citizens out of poverty in just four decades…

    …and none of us doubts that the Belt and Road Initiative has tremendous potential to spread prosperity and sustainable development – touching, as it does, potentially 70% of the world’s population.

    A project of truly epic ambition…

    …and I congratulate President Xi and the Chinese people on the scale of this vision…

    ..and the determination with which it has been pursued.

    The UK is committed to helping to realise the potential of the BRI – and to doing so in a way that works for all whose lives are touched by the project.

    The potential benefits are clear to all of us in this room;

    But to deliver them, it is essential that BRI operates to the highest international standards;…

    …with all parties working together‎ in partnership within the rules-based international system…

    …to create genuine win-win outcomes, in which host countries, investors and promoters alike benefit…

    …with fair terms…

    … sensitivity to local concerns and traditions…

    …and the highest environmental standards…

    …all delivered to international norms of good governance…

    …with full transparency around projects, and around the sustainability of the debt that partner countries are incurring to secure them;

    …Ensuring that Belt and Road is an example of how globalised, open economic cooperation can deliver benefits for all.

    And I welcome the “triple pledge” we heard from President Xi Xinping this morning to ensure the highest international standards in delivery of Belt and Road, to maintain China’s commitment to free trade and multilateralism; and to continue the reform and opening up of China’s economy.

    Two years ago, at the First ‎Belt and Road Forum, I spoke of the UK as a ‘natural partner’ in Belt and Road…

    …citing the complementarity of the UK and Chinese economies…

    …the potential of London’s deep capital markets to support the future financing needs of the BRI…

    …and of the strength of the UK’s legal, professional and technical ‎services sectors to support the design, development, contracting and delivery of BRI projects.

    And since then, I have worked to turn that vision of cooperation into a reality.

    In May 2018, I was pleased to appoint Sir Douglas Flint, former Chairman of HSBC, as HM Treasury’s Financial and Professional Services Envoy to the Belt and Road Initiative;

    Under his chairmanship, we’re bringing together UK business leaders from financial and professional services and China Development Bank, Bank of China, and China Construction Bank to establish a Belt and Road expert board in London.

    We have launched, in April 2019, a three year China Infrastructure Programme to work with China to improve infrastructure development outcomes in Africa and Asia.

    And we have worked with the AIIB to deepen our relationship and to support the development of a pipeline of high-quality infrastructure projects.

    It is clear that, to support the sheer scale of the BRI vision, private finance will need to play an ever greater role in these infrastructure projects.

    And to unlock that private finance, and reassure investors, we must create a recognised infrastructure asset class for Belt and Road projects…

    …with standardised contract terms and uniform reporting that global investors will recognise and trust.

    In doing so, we should, of course, draw on the work that G20 and other international organisations are doing to create frameworks for sustainable infrastructure investments; and I want to offer London’s world class expertise in project financing and the associated legal, professional and technical skills as a partner of choice in delivering these international-standard infrastructure projects.

    The BRI is an extraordinarily, ambitious vision. To turn that vision into a sustainable reality it must work for everyone involved.

    That means achieving the highest economic, social, governance and environmental standards;

    It means attracting the necessary private capital;

    It means ensuring that all partner countries and all their citizens can benefit.

    Our offer is to bring the best of Chinese manufacturing, engineering and construction with the best of British project design and legal, technical and financial services expertise…as we harness the “Golden Era” of UK-China relations…

    …to deliver world-class sustainable infrastructure for all for the twenty-first century.

    I look forward to working with all of you to make that happen…

    To deliver jobs, growth and higher living standards for all of our citizens.