Results 1-20 of 3,871 for in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates' speaker:Bob Neill
- Planning (Mottingham) (21 May 2013)
Bob Neill: It is a pleasure to raise this issue in the Chamber, and I am delighted to see several hon. Members still here as we approach closing time—an appropriate metaphor, perhaps, given the subject of this debate.
- Planning (Mottingham) (21 May 2013)
Bob Neill: No, I hope not for the Porcupine. I want briefly to set out what seems to be the particularly worrying pattern of behaviour that the proposal to demolish the Porcupine public house in Mottingham in my constituency highlights. It is obviously of great concern to residents of Mottingham, which, it is worth saying, is not an amorphous part of London suburbia, but a genuine village with a real...
- Planning (Mottingham) (21 May 2013)
Bob Neill: I am grateful to hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I welcome his support for the campaign, and I agree. Enterprise Inns has a debt of £296 million and is running down its estate to pay it off. It does not seem to be interested in running its pubs, as they can be run, as going concerns. The community in Mottingham was denied the opportunity to make an application to have the Porcupine...
- Planning (Mottingham) (21 May 2013)
Bob Neill: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I understand my hon. Friend’s point, and I am grateful to him for his intervention. You will know of the importance that all communities attach to their local public house, Mr Speaker, and this behaviour is particularly reprehensible. It has denied people the opportunity to step in, unlike what has happened at other places nearby, such as the Baring Hall public...
- Planning (Mottingham) (21 May 2013)
Bob Neill: I understand that, and it is an issue that we may need to think about, particularly given that the local authority boundaries in some urban areas do not necessarily follow the community ties with an area. I hope that even though Bromley council is not statutorily obliged to do so, it will none the less be aware of the strength of feeling from across the other side of Mottingham. The other...
- Business of the House: Rehabilitation of Offenders (9 May 2013)
Bob Neill: I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. From my 30 years’ experience as a practitioner at the Bar of the criminal courts of this country, I know that the disconnect to which he refers has existed for many years, but has not previously been acted on. On the specific steps, can my right hon. Friend reassure me that the proposed local partnership arrangements will fully...
- Business of the House (9 May 2013)
Bob Neill: The Leader of the House will be aware that the Government’s provisions to enable assets of community value to be listed have already proved useful in saving valued community services such as village shops and public houses from closure. He may, however, share my concern that some of the major public house operators—known as pubcos—are seeking to circumvent the proposals by...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: As a former sous-chef in the Department, I have no doubt that if my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State says he wishes to achieve a workable and viable compromise, he means it. I trust him and believe him because I know him, and I hope all my hon. Friends think the same. Very little weight can be attached to the Opposition’s cynical approach. Having spent nearly two and a half...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: I will make some progress before giving way. It is well known that throughout the history of planning legislation in this country there has been a concept of permitted development. That is not new; it goes back to 1947. It has always been accepted that it is legitimate, for reasons of public policy, from time to time to adjust the criteria that determine what constitutes permitted...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: There is a real issue in Newham and other parts of the country about developments in back gardens. When I was in the Department, it was my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), then the Housing Minister, who did more to tackle the issue than any Minister before him, and that is now being carried on by my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Nick...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: My hon. Friend raises an important point, and I accept the basis on which he does so. Equally, however, there is no doubt a great deal set out in the consultation. I very much hope that the consultation contains some constructive proposals on how we might make an article 4 system work more effectively in practice. I understand his point, but the details are particularly indicative and...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: I understand my hon. Friend’s genuine concerns—I do not doubt the good faith with which they are raised—but, equally, I hope he accepts that my problem with the Lords amendment is that it would import a blanket approach to something that has always been adjusted nationally, although however much it should or should not be is a matter for debate. If we are going to change...
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: Will the right hon. Gentleman answer this very simple question? Given his new-found concern for back gardens, will he explain why his Government persisted in regarding back gardens as brownfield development, resisted attempts to reclassify them and permitted more building on back gardens, which was reversed by this Government?
- Business without Debate: Development orders: development within the curtilage of a dwelling house (16 April 2013)
Bob Neill: I agree that to permit a local authority to opt out entirely from permitted development measures would be draconian, but does my right hon. Friend accept that there are underlying concerns that article 4 directions may not operate as well in practice as in theory? Is he therefore prepared to consider what further steps might be taken by his Department and local authorities to refine the way...
- Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools): Local Government Finance (England) (13 February 2013)
Bob Neill: The speech made by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) reminded me of a certain type of popular film. It was technically proficient, but it really ought to have been transmitted in black and white, because it was so full of dated thinking. It was reminiscent of those films that we sometimes see at the British Film Institute or of the re-runs of 1970s sitcoms that we see on...
- Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools): Local Government Finance (England) (13 February 2013)
Bob Neill: That is a good try but the hon. Gentleman must realise that we have a persistent inheritance of underperformance by Labour Governments, and there is an unwillingness—demonstrated by his intervention and many others—to move on with the serious issues about how we deliver the best services for local authorities. For example, it was significant that the right hon. Member for Leeds...
- Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools): Local Government Finance (England) (13 February 2013)
Bob Neill: I have a lot of time for the hon. Gentleman but he does not do himself justice by that intervention. He is in no position to criticise given that we inherited the lowest ever level of housing starts in peacetime thanks to his Government. I do not think that works. Given the area he represents, I am tempted to suggest that he might like to take on board a further note from the helpful Library...
- Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools): Local Government Finance (England) (13 February 2013)
Bob Neill: Durham is in the unitaries. I was glad to hear recognition of local authorities as among the most efficient parts of the public sector. That may have something to do with the political control of the majority of local authorities. In reality, this settlement is not just about the important level of funding for this year and next year, but about setting a course that rewards local authorities...
- Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools): Local Government Finance (England) (13 February 2013)
Bob Neill: Does the right hon. Gentleman stand by the £52 billion of cuts for 2014-15 that appeared in his Government’s Treasury pre-Budget report in 2009? If not, what cuts would he make, and where?