Results 1-20 of 879 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Shahid Malik

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Wirral Borough Council (Asset Review) (27 Oct 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: Through the advancing assets demonstration programme, which my Department funds, support has been given to Wirral borough council and its community partners since mid-2008 for implementation of the strategic asset review. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his sterling campaigning work, not least in regard to saving library services.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Wirral Borough Council (Asset Review) (27 Oct 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: This is an important development, which is why, between 2007 and 2011, we shall have invested £5 million in it. A number of organisations are supporting Wirral, including Community Matters and the Development Trust Association. All those organisations can provide access to practical advice and guidance, as well as links to other organisations throughout the country and case studies. I...

Gypsies and Travellers (14 Jul 2009)

Shahid Malik: It is a pleasure to be engaging in this debate under your stewardship, Mr. Cummings. I congratulate the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb)—I hope that I have pronounced his constituency correctly; we were discussing how to say it earlier—on securing the debate. The location of sites for Gypsy and Traveller caravans is important to the hon. Gentleman and his constituents, and...

Gypsies and Travellers (14 Jul 2009)

Shahid Malik: I fully understand where the hon. Gentleman is coming from. I hope that I have dealt with some of his genuine concerns about how the maths works within the local authority. He asked me to meet him and other colleagues to discuss that in more detail, which I am certainly willing to do, because not only is that issue affecting the council in his constituency, but there are things that we can...

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategies (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: The Department has had a number of recent representations from Members on the timetable for further reviews of regional spatial strategies. Margaret Beckett— [Interruption.] Sorry.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategies (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) answered questions in the House on the point on 2 June 2009. In addition, the regional spatial strategy for the south-west has been subject to extensive consultation; there were 35,000 responses on its proposed changes.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategies (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: The hon. Gentleman misses the point about regional spatial strategies, which are absolutely essential in ensuring that the Government meet their target of 240,000 extra homes by 2016. He should support that, given that 161,000 people in his region alone are on the waiting list for homes.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategies (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: That is precisely why the regional spatial strategies—and, shortly, the regional strategies—are being developed. They are to ensure that there is an integrated, holistic approach that takes stock of the challenge of climate change.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategies (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: Seldom have I heard such a lot of rubbish in such a short space of time. The regional spatial strategies are crucial in ensuring that we get the housing outcomes that we want. With respect to the east of England judgment, small procedural elements needed to be readdressed, and the issue has been remitted to the Secretary of State. We will put it right and we will learn the lessons from the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Migration Impacts Fund (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: I am pleased to say that we received some 330 proposals for funding. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly announce the successful projects.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Migration Impacts Fund (7 Jul 2009) has video

Shahid Malik: My right hon. Friend is right to point out that the fund is derived from increases in immigration fees and is intended to alleviate pressures on local services from transitional changes. There are a number of examples of projects we would like to fund that would benefit the whole community. One is tackling rogue landlords, which would have a direct impact on both migrants and other people in...

Wind Farms (Northamptonshire) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: It is a double pleasure today, Mr. Jones. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on securing this debate on an interesting and important subject that I know is significant to him and a number of his constituents, as well as to the constituents of other hon. Members here. I am sure that the whole House appreciates the need to address climate change even more given the...

Wind Farms (Northamptonshire) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: I will come to the local level shortly. The general principle and rule is that the Government have no power to prevent applications from coming forward. That is critical. Furthermore, the Government may intervene in the plan-making process if they consider that the constraints being proposed by local authorities are too great or are poorly justified. The policy also states that local planning...

Wind Farms (Northamptonshire) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: I think that Northamptonshire should be applauded for the amount that it does. It stands to reason that we cannot expect each part of each locality to contribute the same amount to this fight. As the hon. Member for Kettering said, some areas are better suited to this kind of technology. Some people will always feel that they are doing more than their fair share. That is why I am looking at...

Wind Farms (Northamptonshire) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: It is clear that those examples are like apples and pears; the two cannot be compared. Having said that, I do not suppose that that could not happen, but we do not do it currently. There are good reasons for that. Like most other planning applications, wind farm proposals are a matter for local determination. However, renewable energy and the development of wind farms are important to the...

Strategic Development Area (Eastleigh) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: As ever, Mr. Jones, it is an absolute pleasure to serve under you. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) on securing the debate on an issue that is important to him and to a number of his constituents and others living in the area. Having listened to his remarks at the end of his speech, I would be extremely concerned if conflicts of interest over political donations had...

Strategic Development Area (Eastleigh) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: I can certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that there were distribution difficulties. He talked about Hampshire Now and said that many of those on whose behalf he has articulated the arguments complained that they had not received a copy of the paper. I accept that there were distribution difficulties with it, but it was made available in public libraries, citizens advice bureaux, museums,...

Strategic Development Area (Eastleigh) (30 Jun 2009)

Shahid Malik: I have some sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's point of view, but the way in which individual planning applications are dealt with is a separate issue from the way in which we dealt with the case in question. Despite the distribution difficulties that I have outlined, the handling of the matter is viewed as, on balance, adequate. However, for a number of people it will not have been adequate,...