Speeches by Perteghella.

“Does the hon. Lady agree that the heart of the issue is actually choice? In this brave new world of unitary councils, local councils should have the ability to choose and shape their own future governance model.”

“I would like to press the amendment to a vote, because it is important to mandate that the Secretary of State consider these criteria. They will have many proposals from the same area, so these criteria would give guidance on how we can keep the cohesion of communities that hon. Members have discussed before. Question …”

“I beg to move amendment 5, in schedule 24, page 246, line 27, after “government” insert — “having particular regard to the need for the new single tier of local government, or new unitary council, to— (a) be of an appropriate geographical size, giving consideration to— (i) economic zones, (ii) physical geography, (iii)…”

“In Warwickshire, too, four of five district and borough councils proposed a South Warwickshire—they wanted two unitary councils, rather than one huge, single unitary. That put them in collision with the county council proposal that was just voted through. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that we need flexibility and the p…”

“These amendments are interlinked. First, I would like to speak in support of the Bill’s provisions to protect assets of community value under the new sporting category. Those are important, and we are all delighted to see them in the Bill. These are key community hubs, including for our grassroots sports clubs and part…”

“In my constituency, Stratford-on-Avon district council will be abolished. I worked as a district councillor there, and I know how close district councillors are to their communities. They know their area best, and all that expertise and knowledge will be wiped out. Residents are really worried. For example, they do not…”

“Amendments 40 to 42 and 249 seek to improve how the assets of community value system works in practice. Amendment 40 would require the Secretary of State to ensure that local authorities are adequately funded to carry out assessments of whether land is a sporting asset of community value. Amendment 41 makes the same po…”

“I want to look briefly at international students in the context of the UK’s immigration policies. The Government have expressed a wish to reduce net migration. How can they do that while not only ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the higher education sector, but ensuring that the international standing…”

“Before we go to Rachel, because I was not here at the beginning, I need to declare that I worked as a university lecturer before being elected to the House.”

“The next question is about the international education strategy, of which the Government have promised reform or a review. What should be in such a strategy?”

“Some students do not go back because they go on to a postgraduate and PhD route. That is how scholarship works. They could be offered a scholarship to stay on because of their contribution to research. Universities work in a different way. They are places of scholarship. They are places of research. They are places of …”

“Before we go to Rachel, because I was not here at the beginning, I need to declare that I worked as a university lecturer before being elected to the House.”

“The next question is about the international education strategy, of which the Government have promised reform or a review. What should be in such a strategy?”

“Some students do not go back because they go on to a postgraduate and PhD route. That is how scholarship works. They could be offered a scholarship to stay on because of their contribution to research. Universities work in a different way. They are places of scholarship. They are places of research. They are places of …”

“I want to look briefly at international students in the context of the UK’s immigration policies. The Government have expressed a wish to reduce net migration. How can they do that while not only ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the higher education sector, but ensuring that the international standing…”

“I beg to move amendment 359, in schedule 19, page 200, line 17, at end insert— “(2A) In preparing a local growth plan, a mayoral combined authority must make specific reference to the proposed benefits of the plan on areas which are rural, remote, or coastal.” This amendment would require local growth plans to make spe…”

“The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. If a district council is to be abolished, parish and town councils are asked to take on assets or sites that could be development sites, so they become stakeholders in the local growth plans. They will be the landowners, so not to engage with the parish and town councils that tak…”

“No, I do not accept that. We are saying that there have to be minimum standards for engagement. In fact, amendment 354, reinforced by amendment 357, would allow the Secretary of State to create guidance on minimum standards for engagement. It would then be up to the mayor, but at least the engagement with our first tie…”

“I am hearing a lot from the Labour Benches about there being 800 or 350 parish councils, so we cannot engage with them, but there are different ways to engage, such as online consultations or parish fora to which representatives and clerks can be invited. That the mayor cannot engage because there are so many parish co…”

“I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”