Highlights

The LGA was mentioned 24 times in Parliament this week.

The Education Select Committee

The Chair of the LGA Children and Young People’s Board, Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, gave evidence to the Education Committee, as part of its inquiry into school and college funding. Other representatives from local government gave evidence alongside Councillor Bramble including, Councillor Paul Carter, Chair of the County Councils Network, and Yolande Burgess, Strategy Director at London Councils. Councillor Bramble highlighted the funding pressures facing many schools and the particularly acute pressures in SEND budgets, including the £536 million shortfall for 2018-19, as outlined in the initial findings of LGA commissioned research. She called for a fairer funding system that adequately considered the wider impact on children and families.

For more information get in touch with Iredia.

Council finances

The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement is likely to be announced on 6 December 2018, and we continue to make the case for new investment into councils. During Local Government Questions in the House of Lords on Monday, LGA Chairman, Lord Porter pressed the Government to commit to ensuring no council is worse off than it currently is when the Government concludes its Fair Funding Review in 2019. In response, the Minister, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, referred to the additional funding allocated in the Budget and pointed towards next year’s Spending Review.

For more information get in touch with Tom.

Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee took evidence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Permanent Secretary, Melanie Dawes, and her team on the issue of local government spending. The session covered a range of topics, including definitions of financial sustainability, housing, social care funding, and children’s services.The Committee referred to our analysis of the funding gap facing local services, and officials from the MHCLG reiterated their intention to work with us and councils to assess financial sustainability. You can read our written evidence to the Committee online.

For more information get in touch with Tom.

Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill

The House of Lords agreed a range of amendments we supported as the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill was debated this week. These include measures to ensure greater consultation with the person in care and their representatives and to exclude care home managers from conducting pre-authorisation reviews. We support this Bill and our view is that it will bring long-awaited reform and is vital as the current situation is not sustainable for councils, individuals and their carers.

For more information get in touch with Iredia.

School funding

Peers debated school funding on Thursday. The debate was led by former Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Rt Hon Baroness Morris of Yardley. During the debate, Peers underlined the need for additional funding for schools and in addition, the need for leadership and good-quality teaching. Several Peers including, Baroness Morris and Baroness Eaton shared our concerns around the gaps in SEND funding and pointed to the initial findings of LGA commissioned research which found that councils face a funding shortfall of £536 million in their SEND budgets this financial year. Education Minister, Lord Agnew of Oulton said that the Government was putting more funding in schools and that it was vital that it was distributed fairly, and where it is most needed.

For more information get in touch with Iredia.

Education standards

On Thursday MPs held a debate on improving education standards. This highlighted some of our ongoing concerns regarding school funding, as well as championing the success of council-maintained schools compared to academies. MPs on both sides were particularly concerned with improving the fairness of funding allocations, while others highlighted the reductions in local government funding and the impact this is having on schools and pupils. Responding to the debate, the Minister, Anne Milton MP, highlighted the academic improvements that have been achieved in the last two years and recognised the funding pressures facing the further education sector. She also highlighted the Government’s work to reform apprenticeships and technical education.

For more information get in touch with Nina.

Violent crime and young people

Lord Harris of Haringey led a debate on the increase in violent crime and the case for a cross-governmental response for young people. Our concerns received broad support in the debate, including for our asks regarding multi-agency working, sustainable funding, the role of local government in working with young people, and the value of taking a public health approach to tackling violence. Responding to the debate the Minister, Baroness Williams of Trafford, advised that she supports a cross-Whitehall approach to tackling violent crime among young people. She also outlined how the Government is taking the Serious Violence Strategy forward and highlighted the current consultation on a new legal duty to underpin a public health approach to tackling serious violence.

For more information get in touch with Nina.

Health and Social Care Committee

The Health and Social Care Committee questioned the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP and Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care on the Budget and the NHS Long-Term Plan. The session focussed on resource allocations for the coming year with MPs querying whether this was expected to rise or fall. The Secretary of State confirmed an increase in funding for adult social care and the additional £20 billion for the NHS. During the session, Mr Hancock confirmed that the Department still intended to publish its green paper on social care in 2018 and added that the ten-year plan would also be published before the end of the parliamentary term.

For more information get in touch with Iredia.

Brexit 

The European Union and the UK Government have published their draft political declaration setting out the framework for their future relationship alongside the draft Withdrawal Agreement. The Prime Minister gave an update on her discussions with the other EU 27 countries in the House of Commons and announced that a ‘meaningful vote’ on the agreement will be held in Parliament on Tuesday 11 December.

For more information get in touch with Nina.

Private rented sector standards

MPs debated measures to improve the private rented sector on Thursday. The debate was led by Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which produced a report on the private rented sector following evidence from the LGA and local authorities. Several MPs urged the Government to work with the LGA on benchmarking for housing enforcement. The Minister highlighted the additional funding provided for enforcement, and reiterated the Government’s desire to make the private rented sector more secure and affordable.

For more information get in touch with Tom.

Finance Bill

The Finance Bill was debated  in the Commons this week and MPs were given two days to debate new clauses added to the Bill. Following the Government’s announcement last week that the introduction of a £2 maximum stake for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) will be brought forward to April 2019, the Government’s own amendment to the Bill was debated on Tuesday and agreed by the House. The remainder of the Bill will be considered by the Public Bill Committee next week and will be reported to the whole House before the Christmas Recess.

For more information get in touch with Nina.

PMQs

At PMQs this week, the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn MP, chose to focus his questions on the Government’s Brexit negotiations and asked if the Government would show the full legal advice they have received to the House. In response, the Prime Minister Theresa May MP stated that her deal is the best possible option available for the economy, and that the deal delivers on the result of the referendum. Backbench contributions of interest to local government include funding for fire services, recycling, police funding and supporting small businesses.

For more information get in touch with Nathan.

Consultations

Strategy for our veterans: UK government consultation paper

This consultation seeks views on how the Strategy for our Veterans could be implemented across the UK except for devolved matters in Scotland and Wales.

This consultation closes on 21/02/2018

Looking ahead

Monday 3 December

• Home Office Questions, House of Commons
• Debate on the e-petition 226071 relating to not holding a second referendum on E.U. membership, Paul Scully MP (Conservative, Sutton and Cheam), House of Commons
• Exiting the European Union Committee, the progress of the UK’s EU negotiations, evidence from Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP (Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union), Oliver Robbins (Prime Minister's Europe Adviser), House of Commons
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, high streets and town centres in 2030, evidence from Mike Ashley (Chief Executive, Sports Direct Group), Tony Ginty (Head of Public Affairs, Marks and Spencer), Richard Collyer (Chief Financial Officer, New Look), Martin Foster (Managing Director, Lakeland Leathers Limited), Maria Horn (Chief Operating Officer, Nando’s), Simon Emeny (Chief Executive, Fuller’s), House of Commons
• Health and Social Care Committee, first 1000 days of life, evidence from Dr Catherine Calderwood (Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government), Deidre Webb (Lead Children's Nurse, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland), Professor Charlotte McArdle (Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health, Northern Ireland), Professor Jean White (Chief Nursing Officer, Welsh Government), Karen Cornish (Deputy Director Children and Families Division, Communities and Tackling Poverty Department, Welsh Government), Professor Viv Bennett (Chief Nurse and Director of Maternity and Early Years, Public Health England), Dr Helen Duncan (Programme Director, National Child and Maternal Health Intelligence Network, Public Health England), House of Commons
• Transport Committee, local roads funding, evidence from Paula Claytonsmith (Managing Director, Gaist), Paul Fleetham (Managing Director Contracting, Tarmac), Richard Hayes (Chief Executive, Institute of Highway Engineers), Howard Robinson (Chief Executive, Road Surface Treatment Association), Alex Wright (Group Manager, Transport Research Laboratory, Road Condition Management Group), House of Commons
• Question on encouraging UK airports to provide appropriate facilities for disabled people, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton (Crossbench), House of Lords
• Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, Report Stage, House of Lords

Tuesday 4 December

• Science and Technology Committee, digital government, evidence from Councillor Peter Fleming (Chairman of the LGA Improvement and Innovation Board, Local Government Association), Sam Smith (Coordinator, medConfidential), Professor Vishanth Weerakkody (Professor of Information Systems Management and Governance, University of Bradford), Robert McLaren (Head of Industry, Technology and Innovation, Policy Connect), Professor Helen Kennedy (Professor of Digital Society, University of Sheffield), Dr Fiona Lugg-Widger (Research Associate for Routine Data, Centre for Trials Research), Tom Smith (Managing Director of the Data Science Campus, Office for National Statistics), Joel Bellman (Partner, Deloitte), House of Commons
• Home Affairs Committee, Serious Violence Strategy, evidence from Councillor Simon Blackburn (Chair - Safer and Stronger Communities Board, Local Government Association), Deputy Assistant Commissioner Duncan Ball (Lead for Gangs, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Sebire (Bedfordshire Police and NPCC Serious Violence Co-ordinator), Steve Rodhouse (Director General (Operations), National Crime Agency), Simon Ford (Director, Violence and Vulnerability Unit), Evan Jones (Head of Community Services, St Giles Trust), Lucy Dacey (National Programme Manager, Disrupting Exploitation Programme, The Children's Society), House of Commons
• Motion on the proceedings on a Business Motion relating to Section 13 (1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, Day 1, House of Commons
• Treasury Committee, the UK’s economic relationship with the EU, evidence from Dr Mark Carney (Governor, Bank of England), Ben Broadbent (Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Bank of England), Sir Jon Cunliffe (Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, Bank of England), Sam Woods (Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation, Bank of England and Chief Executive Officer, Prudential Regulation Authority), House of Commons
• Ten Minute Rule Motion on Planning (Appeals), John Howell MP (Conservative, Henley), House of Commons
• Debate on the effect of ATM closures on towns, high streets and rural communities, Ged Killen MP (Labour, Rutherglen and Hamilton West), House of Commons
• Debate on cared-for children educated out of area, Gordon Henderson MP (Conservative, Sittingbourne and Sheppey), House of Commons
• Debate on mental health and wellbeing in schools, Layla Moran MP (Liberal Democrat, Oxford West and Abingdon), House of Commons
• Education Committee, special educational needs and disabilities, evidence from George Holroyd (Parent), Kathleen Redcliffe (Parent), Carl Rogers (Parent), Mrunal Sisodia (Co-Chair, National Network of Parent Carer Forums), Penny Hoffman-Becking (Trustee and steering group member of SEND Family Voices), Beth Foster (Education Lead, Hampshire Parent Carer Network), House of Commons
• Finance (No.3) Bill, Committee Stage, House of Commons
• Questions on the regulation in the tourism sector, Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat), House of Lords
• Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities Committee, Regenerating Seaside Towns, evidence from (at 3:20 pm) Mark Latham (Regeneration Director, Urban Splash), Wayne Hemingway (Co-Founder, Hemingway Design), (at 4:10 pm) Tim Morris (Chief Executive, UK Major Ports Group), Richard Ballantyne (Chief Executive, British Ports Association), Dafydd Williams (Humber Head of Communications, Associated British Ports), House of Lords
• Economic Affairs Committee, social care funding in England, evidence from (at 4:30 pm) Dominic Carter (Policy Manager, Alzheimers Society), Kari Gerstheimer (Director of Advice and information, Royal Mencap Society), Tracey Loftis (Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Versus Arthritis), House of Lords

Wednesday 5 December

• Motion on the proceedings of a Business Motion relating to Section 13 (1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, Day 2, House of Commons
• Debate on future of free schools and academies in England, Greg Hands MP (Conservative, Chelsea and Fulham), House of Commons
• Debate on reforming the regulation of shisha lounges, Shabana Mahmood MP (Labour, Birmingham, Ladywood), House of Commons
• Debate on provision of affordable credit for people on low incomes, Frank Field MP (Independent, Birkenhead), House of Commons
• Debate on the Gender Pay Gap, Stella Creasy MP (Labour, Walthamstow), House of Commons
• Treasury Committee, the UK’s economic relationship with the EU, evidence from Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer), House of Commons
• Work and Pensions Committee, pension costs and transparency, evidence from Colin Meech (National Officer, UNISON), Jonathan Lipkin (Director of Policy, Strategy & Research, Investment Association), Yvonne Braun (Director of Policy, Long-Term Savings and Protection, Association of British Insurers), Nigel Peaple (Director of Policy, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association), House of Commons
• Women and Equalities Committee, tackling inequalities faced by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, evidence from Win Lawlor (Deputy Director, Irish Community Care), Kim White OBE (former police constable, Kent Police), Janie Codona OBE (Manager, One Voice 4 Travellers), Councillor Jerry Wickham (Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Public Protection, Wiltshire Council), House of Commons
• Tenant Fees Bill, Report Stage, House of Lords
• Debate the negotiated withdrawal agreement laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title ‘Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community’ and the framework for the future relationship laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title ‘Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom’ (day 1), Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), House of Lords
• Question on public awareness of health impacts of diesel fuel emissions, Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat), House of Lords

Thursday 6 December

• Debate on Section 13 (1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, Day 3, House of Commons
• Exiting the European Union (including Topical Questions), House of Commons
• Debate on the use of Section 21 evictions in the private rented sector, Karen Buck MP (Labour, Westminster North), House of Commons
• Finance (No.3) Bill, Committee Stage, House of Commons
• Debate on effect of the UK's withdrawal from the European External Action Service as a result of leaving the European Union, Lord Balfe (Conservative), House of Lords
• Debate on the negotiated withdrawal agreement laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title ‘Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community’ and the framework for the future relationship laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title ‘Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom’ (day 2), Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), House of Lords

Get in touch

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.