Speeches by Ali.

“No. We are very serious about working with colleagues both in Parliament and in local areas to tackle these very serious challenges, which local authorities need us to address after 14 years of under-investment.”

“The hon. Member had his chance to make his point. He should have taken the opportunity to hear the response from the Minister. On the points about rural funding raised by the shadow Minister and other Members, this Government are absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. As I said, p…”

“Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will listen. The Minister tried to respond to his comments but he was not interested in the answers, so he will sit down and listen to my closing remarks. I want to respond to hon. Members across the House who have taken these issues very seriously. This Government have already invested £3.7 …”

“I thank the hon. Member for his invitation, and welcome him to send us information. He knows that I cannot be a member of the all-party group, but I recognise and commend its work. Having been a member of and chaired many all-party groups during my 14 years in opposition, I recognise the importance of their work. I tha…”

“I start by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) for opening the debate and by congratulating the Backbench Business Committee and the key Members on securing this debate. The UK’s democratic system and institutions are strong and are rightly held the world over as a strong ex…”

“The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point about the importance of the constituency connection. Hon. Members have made important contributions about alternative systems, outlining their merits and limitations. Each of those systems has its pros and cons, and that has been strongly and powerfully debated by many …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I thank the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) for securing this important debate and for highlighting his concerns about this project, and I thank other hon. Members for their interventions. As someone who spent many years securi…”

“I am grateful to the hon. Member, who is an extremely diligent Member of this House, with many years of experience, and a great campaigner. He makes important points about planning matters, which obviously I cannot go into, but I look forward to working with him. I thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. This G…”

“The hon. Member has set out his critique. What is important is that we get it right, and that requires close working, with him and other hon. Members, and my Department, and that is why the brokerage element of what we do is really important. He makes very important points; we can continue the conversation beyond this …”

“It is an honour to speak in this Holocaust Memorial Day debate, and I am grateful to hon. Members from all parts of the House for their powerful and moving contributions to this important debate. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (David Simmonds), who responded to the debate, and to my …”

“It is important that we all ensure that we are peacemakers at home. If we want to see peace and security both here at home and elsewhere in the world, we have to work together in solidarity and be fellow citizens. We have to practice what we preach. It is important that we keep our democracy safe, and that those of all…”

“We can follow up, but this is an initial meeting, setting out and agreeing the themes. Then, as I say, we have another meeting coming up. To reassure you all, we are not waiting for a strategy to develop. We have taken action in terms of legislative programmes in my Department, as you know. We can go on to it later. Th…”

“Our aim is to work across Government and make sure that those underlying issues that drive homelessness and rough sleeping are owned by the relevant Departments. That is a feature of a number of cross-governmental groups, for instance the violence against women inter-ministerial group, the child poverty inter-ministeri…”

“Good morning, Chair. To the Committee, I want to start with saying how delighted I am to be here in front of this Committee and at the fact that this Committee is looking at homelessness and rough sleeping, which I know is a subject close to all our hearts, given the challenges we face. For me, since I joined the team …”

“I am Rushanara Ali, Minister for Homelessness and Democracy.”

“As I say, the Deputy Prime Minister has already contacted local authorities, making clear what their responsibilities are.”

“The legislation is very clear that councils should place families, those they are responsible for, within their local area in the first instance. You will appreciate that, going back to the housing pressures, that is not always possible. I recognise that it is a growing problem. The Deputy Prime Minister recognises tha…”

“There are a number of existing requirements and provisions that local authorities need to follow, be that in relation to standards, safeguarding and so on, making sure that, where they are placing, including bed-and-breakfast accommodation, those they have a duty and responsibility over, they follow those obligations.”

“Local authorities have safeguarding duties. They have a wide range of statutory duties, including for vulnerable children and families. This links to out-of-area placements as well for those who are vulnerable.”

“That is the position of the Department.”