Speeches by Hinds.

“Would it be right to say that “one public estate”is a phrase? Is it anything more than a phrase?”

“Yes, so if you can’t do it by cutting the VAT rates on conversion, what else could you do instead to level the field between the two?”

“I will come back quickly to the VAT question. This VAT on new build versus conversion has been around in public policy for literally as long as I can remember and there will probably be a Committee sitting in this room in 30 years’ time having the same conversation. By the way, we also have conversations with lots of o…”

“Sorry, the industry structure thing about contractors to contractors and SMEs is true for construction in general, as well as for heritage. I am trying to understand what is the additional issue that you have in your part of the sector.”

“Is the pipeline question that you mentioned really the fundamental point? The volume of places on apprenticeship courses match demand. They will be provided where employers want to take on apprentices and young people and others want to become apprentices, but the fundamental point is will the employment opportunities …”

“Finally, if I might be allowed one more question, wearing your broader public sector stewardship hat, do you think it is right that you are effectively obliged always to sell to the highest bidder? Do you remember when County Hall was being sold? Do you remember the big question about whether it should go to the London…”

“Mark, I want to press you on something related but different, which is hotel room stock. You own some of the most valuable real estate in Europe on roads adjoining us here. You have done projects in the past. The Treasury Building in particular became a fantastic concentration of working space. I do not know what the r…”

“Another thing that comes up on property periodically and is perhaps particularly relevant to heritage sites is about offloading property, particularly to unlock housing development but it can be for other things as well. On the former REME site in Farnham and Borden, a constituency I used to represent, a substantial re…”

“There is usually nothing stopping anybody in any Government Department from working with any other. That does not mean that they necessarily get out and do it.”

“I am not saying that this is a brand new thing. That phrase has been around Government for quite some time, including when I was at the MOJ for a while. People talk about “one public estate” and sometimes in relation to meeting Government housing priorities but also just securing best value for taxpayers’ money. It sou…”

“Yes, so if you can’t do it by cutting the VAT rates on conversion, what else could you do instead to level the field between the two?”

“Would it be right to say that “one public estate”is a phrase? Is it anything more than a phrase?”

“I will come back quickly to the VAT question. This VAT on new build versus conversion has been around in public policy for literally as long as I can remember and there will probably be a Committee sitting in this room in 30 years’ time having the same conversation. By the way, we also have conversations with lots of o…”

“It is very good to see you, Mr Efford, presiding over this timely debate. Not only is this the 250th-anniversary year, but I think this is the first Backbench Business slot available after Jane’s actual birthday, which was on Tuesday. I congratulate the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Luke Murphy) not only on securing the…”

“I thank the Minister for his considered remarks and for his constructive approach to date—the cumulative effect, one might say, of the Minister’s approach. However, I hope that after today he will think further. The Government should issue guidance to local authorities to the effect that, at least in circumstances wher…”

“I will write to the Minister in more detail—but if, in adding to the stock, we raise the median house price, that has an adverse effect on affordability. We get this ironic situation where the more we build, the less affordable it looks.”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered the cumulative impacts of housing development. It is good to see you presiding once again, Mr Twigg. Let me start with the obvious statement that in this country, and in all of our localities, we need more housing. There has been population growth, and in our constituencies…”

“I know the hon. Gentleman’s constituency quite well—he is my mother-in-law’s MP. I know what a fantastic and beautiful area it is, as well as some of the challenges with the local economy. He makes a very good point.”

“The Minister is very good to give way; I thank him. To be clear, when I was talking about the mix, I was not talking solely or even mainly about the tenure mix, but about the price points and the way that the formula works—he gets the point.”

“Of course, I agree. It is sometimes frustrating to talk to people who say there is no link between aggregate supply and the price of housing. Of course there is, but there is also the question of the mix, which is what I want to come to. Other things being equal, the best returns for developers tend to be on larger, co…”