General Election and purdah
MPs have agreed to the Prime Minister’s request for a
General Election on 8 June 2017. General Election purdah
is due to begin on 22 April and
you may find it helpful
to read our guidance. Although the
guidance published yesterday relates to the Civil Service, it means local
government is in a period of ‘heightened sensitivity’ as set out in the local government code governing publicity.
In line with the principles set out in the code,
extra care should be taken when undertaking anything which could directly, or be
perceived to, affect support for a party or candidate. Meanwhile a full timetable covering key dates leading up to 8 June has been published by the House of Commons Library.
If you would like further information, please contact Lee.
Government statement on concluding legislation
The announcement of the General Election on 8 June has meant that the current parliamentary session will be concluding over two months ahead of schedule. As a result, the Government has decided which legislation currently progressing through Parliament will be rushed through, in order to receive Royal Assent before Parliament dissolves on 3 May.
The allocation of parliamentary time to conclude these Bills has now been brought forward, and the Government has indicated that they will receive Royal Assent by Thursday 27 April at the latest.
What we know about our remaining priority legislation:
- The Bus Services Bill will be concluded in the House of Lords on Tuesday 25 April, and should pass into law by Thursday 27 April.
- The Children and Social Work is awaiting Royal Assent, and should pass into law by Thursday 27 April.
- The Digital Economy Bill will be concluded in the House of Commons on Wednesday 26 April, and should pass into law by Thursday 27 April.
- The Homelessness Reduction Bill is awaiting Royal Assent, and should pass into law by Thursday 27 April.
- The
Local Government Finance Bill will fall, as it is early in its progress through Parliament. The legislation will need to
be re-introduced by the next Government, if the proposals are to go ahead.
-
The Neighbourhood Planning Bill will be concluded in the House of Lords on Tuesday 25 April, and should pass into law by Thursday 27 April.
We will be producing a short guide to each Act shortly after it becomes law, setting out the implications for local government. You can read all of our briefings on these Bills on our website.
Sajid Javid evidence on Housing White Paper and business rates
On Wednesday the Secretary of State for Communities and
Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, and Ministers Gavin Barwell MP and Marcus
Jones MP, gave evidence to the Communities and Local Government Committee on
the Housing White Paper and business rates. During the session Helen Hayes MP
(Labour, Dulwich and West Norwood) pressed the Government on giving more
flexibility for councils to borrow for housing, a key priority for the LGA. Mr
Javid stated that he was “quite open minded” about councils approaching them to
seek a bespoke deal. On business rates, LGA Vice-President Bob Blackman MP
(Conservative, Harrow East) led questioning on the responsibilities which might
be devolved to local government in the move to 100 per cent business rates
retention, asking how the Government will ensure no authority loses out, how
the needs of councils will be met and how social care might be funded. The
Secretary of State confirmed that work is being undertaken on the spending
profile of different responsibilities and that this requires further consultation.
He reiterated throughout the session that any future policy decisions will be a
matter for the next Government.
If you would like any further information, please contact Melanie.
PMQs
Following the announcement of an early General Election, this week's session focussed
largely on the economy, public spending and living standards. The Leader of
the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn MP (Labour, Islington North) began by asking
the Prime Minister, Theresa May MP (Conservative, Maidenhead), why
living standards have fallen under her Government, including wages being lower
and child poverty being higher than a decade ago. He also asked what the
Government’s new target for removing the budget deficit is, stating that since
2010 the date of eradication has repeatedly been pushed back. The Prime
Minister told the House that the UK now has a stronger economy, with record
levels of employment, and that her Government has taken 4 million people out of
income tax altogether. On the budget deficit, the Prime Minister said the
Labour Party would add to it by borrowing an extra £500 billion, which would
mean the doubling of income tax, VAT and national insurance. Mr Corbyn turned
to schools and health funding, asking why the richest corporations are
receiving tax giveaways while £3 billion will be cut from schools by 2020 and
the NHS is in crisis, while social care is unavailable for many
hospital-leavers. In response, the Prime Minister stated there is currently a
record level of funding in education and the health service, while NHS staff
levels have risen, and that the Labour Party does not want any choice or
improvement in schools provision.
Other
highlights for local government include:
- Several MPs
asked questions about the reforms to school funding, including Michelle
Donelan MP (Conservative, Chippenham) and Jeff Smith MP
(Labour, Manchester Withington). Mr Smith referred to schools having to
cut teaching staff, while Maria Caulfield MP (Conservative, Lewes)
raised concerns about small rural schools losing funding, and Ms Donelan
called for a reform of the pupil premium. The Prime Minister responded to
all questions by stating that the previous funding formula was unfair, out
of date and needed reform, and that the Government would be considering
the responses to its consultation.
-
John
Stevenson MP (Conservative, Carlisle)
praised the Government’s plans for an industrial strategy, but asked that
local and regional strengths – such as those in Cumbria – be supported and
harnessed for the nation’s benefit. The Prime Minister agreed that the
industrial strategy must be made to work for every region in the country,
including the North-West.
-
Gerald Jones
MP (Labour, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) spoke of the
effects on young people of recent changes in housing benefit, calling for
the Government to offer greater financial support for those at risk of
homelessness. The Prime Minister defended the general principle behind the
reforms, arguing that the system is now fairer for everyone, but agreed
that the Government should re-assess the level of support given to the
most vulnerable.
If you would like any further information, please contact Tom.
Monday 24 April
-
Communities
and Local Government Questions, House of Commons
-
Motion on
the remaining Business of the House, House of Commons
-
Motion to
approve Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2017, House of Commons
Tuesday 25 April
-
Justice
Questions, House of Commons
- Neighbourhood Planning Bill, consideration of Commons amendments
- Bus
Services Bill, consideration of Commons amendments
Wednesday 26 April
-
Digital Economy Bill, consideration of Lords
amendments and Ways and Means motion, House of Commons
-
Debate on Whirlpool and the product safety
system (Andy Slaughter MP, Labour, Hammersmith), House of Commons
Thursday 27 April
-
The House of
Commons is expected to sit until all legislation has received Royal Assent
-
Exiting the
European Union Questions, House of Commons
-
Consideration of Lords amendments for all remaining legislation, House of Commons
- Consideration
of Commons amendments for all remaining legislation, House of Lords
- Question on
the provision of parking spaces, specifically for disabled people (Lord
Shinkwin, Conservative), House of Lords
If you have queries in relation to the items above
or any other parliamentary issues, please feel free to get in touch with the Public
Affairs team.
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