Business of the House

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 10:41 am on 19 April 2018.

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Photo of Barry Sheerman Barry Sheerman Labour/Co-operative, Huddersfield 10:41, 19 April 2018

On a lighter note, the sun is shining and it is obvious it is now spring. I always feel it is spring when the London marathon takes place. So many people run the marathon—not me, thank goodness—to raise money for charities, particularly heart and cancer charities. May we, from across the House, congratulate them all?

Many hon. Members, including Mr Liddell-Grainger, are calling for a debate on local democracy. Local democracy is fundamental to this country. We are all part of local democracy and products of it. May we have an urgent debate on local democracy? There is a big decline in social and community networks in our towns and cities, because, due to cuts to their budgets, local authorities are no longer able to support them.