Speeches by Forster.

“Half a billion pounds. We have had that debt write-off and we have also had exceptional financial support—known as EFS. The lack of understanding of that issue was apparent in yesterday’s Select Committee. The Minister says that they want to get through the fair funding review so that they have a better idea of what mo…”

“I completely endorse the hon. Lady’s calls. I have talked about how we need reform to the family courts. Will she support my calls for the Government to support family contact centres? In my constituency, the Woking Family Contact Centre has been run by volunteers for 25 years, which is an amazing achievement. We need …”

“Minister, my constituency of Woking is going through LGR at the moment, and we have West Surrey Council being created next year. How is MHCLG supporting West Surrey and other areas going through LGR with the risk management of that? It is quite difficult to break up merged services. I am particularly concerned about se…”

“You cannot put a number on it. It is a gut reaction: this is a more efficient way of working?”

“T6. Byfleet, in my constituency, lost its doctor’s surgery in 2005, leaving residents having to struggle via the A245 to access basic health facilities, which are set to get busier due to a likely housing development. Will the Minister agree to meet me to ensure that we can bring health facilities back to Byfleet?”

“Alison, you said it is challenging to answer that question, so does that mean that we don’t fully know what the cost or the benefit of LGR will be to MHCLG or local councils?”

“Sophie, I am pleased you have mentioned funding. Now that we are further down the road of LGR, do we have a better idea of the up-front cost of transformation but also what I hope is not too long term—the potential long-term savings? Do you have an idea of how much taxpayers will benefit or where that saving could be p…”

“Thank you. You are quite right: obviously, we don’t know when the next election will be. It could be sooner than we thought. You don’t know exactly when the Parliament will end but you believe that MHCLG has the capacity to ensure that there are no two-tier authorities at the end of the next three and a bit years?”

“Good morning, Alison. Will you be able to end the two-tier approach in local government by the end of this Parliament? If not, do the Government risk creating a more complicated local government system than the one it inherited?”

“Will Forster, MP for Woking.”

“T6. Byfleet, in my constituency, lost its doctor’s surgery in 2005, leaving residents having to struggle via the A245 to access basic health facilities, which are set to get busier due to a likely housing development. Will the Minister agree to meet me to ensure that we can bring health facilities back to Byfleet?”

“You are looking at some options. Do you have a timescale on that, Minister? I am pleased you have mentioned council tax support. I am concerned with that. Despite my authority’s challenges, we have ensured that the most vulnerable people are not required to pay a big council tax. I know that a few years ago the next-do…”

“Again, I agree with you. Finally, we are in complete agreement, but the Government’s approach is I think—if I was going to be unfair—tinkering around the edges. You are changing it, but it is not a radical change. We still are stuck with the system that we both agree is unfair. However, you have not outlined a plan to …”

“Great. When are you going to reform it then, if you agree with me?”

“Minister, Buckingham Palace, or in fairness any other band H property in Westminster, pays £2,095 a year in council tax. That is roughly what a quite average band D property in my constituency of Woking pays and is over £100 less than a band C property in your constituency of Birkenhead pays. Council tax is unfair. Do …”

“Woking has EFS and will continue to have EFS for one more year. It is likely that West Surrey Council will have EFS. I have asked about alternative approaches, and you did not cover that. For Woking I want to thank you again. We have had genuine debt write-off of £500 million, and it is likely that that is tranche 1 of…”

“Minister, I understand that you have given councils more certainty with the financial settlement and that you are tackling some of the long-term issues such as SEND. Because of that, do you expect fewer councils to need EFS next year than have needed it this year and that you will see a genuine reduction in application…”

“Minister, I am going to talk about exceptional financial support and that side of local government finance. What progress have you and the Government made towards ending the reliance on exceptional financial support for local councils? Do you think we can get to the point by the end of this Parliament or by 2029, which…”

“The Government made assurances that they would not break up boroughs and districts and now they are. I understand your point about it is a balance between criteria but that was not the original statement. It was there would be assurances that we would not break up boroughs and districts. Now the Government are breaking…”

“This is our final question on LGR. The Government are pursuing plans for the next surge of LGR—particularly in Hampshire and the New Forest area—which breaks up borough and district councils despite previous assurances that that would not happen. Do you acknowledge that it is quite damaging to have changed that policy …”