Speeches by Smith.

“We have heard a number of perspectives during our hearings over recent weeks, particularly around whether the Bill should also include something around managing agents and regulation of managing agents, as well as around the Law Commission's recommendations around right to manage. I am interested to hear from anyone on…”

“My constituents consistently say to me that they support the Prime Minister’s decision not to take us into this war. My thoughts—and, I am sure, those of the whole House—are with our brave service people who are stationed in the middle east and across the Mediterranean. Will the Minister please update the House on disc…”

“Might resources invested in those alternatives be not the best use of public money, compared with the opportunity of a regulator?”

“You have clarified this to some extent, but if further provisions were to be included in the Bill, is your position to prioritise the code of practice, while still wanting all the recommendations from your working group to brought in?”

“Stepping back, if the main goal of this area of legislation is fundamentally to reduce the costs to the individual of owning and managing their property, if that is one of the driving priorities, what are the risks in going forward with the Bill as drafted, given the impact management agencies have on costs?”

“What areas would you point to that demonstrate how a regulator has enabled growth rather than been a barrier?”

“Hi. I am Sarah Smith, the MP for Hyndburn and also a leaseholder.”

“Like many Members, I have been supporting constituents who are seeking to return to the UK. Although it has not been simple, Janet and Hugh are due to be on one of those extra flights that the Minister has helped to secure with British Airways, which will get them back today. Will the Minister reiterate the importance …”

“To push back slightly, what we are weighing up here is the opportunity for millions of people across the country to access the rights that, as we have outlined, they deserve. What is the framework for the Secretary of State to consider when to take on that fight and take the risk that they may lose it in order to progr…”

“Lord Gove, you have spoken on the record about the cautionary advice you received particularly in regard to the Human Rights Act and A1P1. Given where both of you stand now and the hindsight you can bring, what would you recommend that the current Secretary of State and Housing Minister do to stand up to some of that c…”

“As a leaseholder who is involved in a property where we also have to oversee the managing agent ourselves, please tell me what I am doing wrong in seeking any service from my freeholder. All they do is write to me every year to tell me how much I owe them. There is zero service being provided to me and, no doubt, to ma…”

“I want to push a bit further on whether there is evidence you can draw upon, in other systems or countries, suggesting that the democratic power of the commonholders would have the effect of improving the deal that they receive from managing agents. Is there evidence that that has been enough to make a difference, or s…”

“I am Sarah Smith, the MP for Hyndburn and also a leaseholder.”

“An important element that maybe has not come through so far in the debate is the class impact of the current policy situation. Currently, 90% of paternity leave claims are made by the top 50% of earners. It is very rare that low-income earners are able to even access the current system. Unfortunately, the challenge of …”

“Will the hon. Member give way?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. Women are 10% more likely to report that they do the majority of childcare. Some 66% of people surveyed want care to be more equal, and 74% of men want it to be more equal. Does my hon. Friend agree that we can only achieve that greater equality by addressing …”

“What would either of the Ministers’ messages be to those speculative investors who might be sitting on empty homes because they depend on the return on the capital value? Is there any message you would deliver to those types of, particularly foreign, investors at this time?”

“I am sure we will come back to you on that as we progress with the inquiry. Minister Rigby, the Budget promised a consultation on reforming VAT to incentivise land development for social housing. Will the Treasury expand its VAT consultation to include equalising the tax treatment of retrofitting and new builds, as the…”

“It would be helpful to write to us about whether there is any consideration of that VAT review and, if not now, whether it would be in the future, given the opportunity for tackling this. Although it may be a small number, whether these sit empty or not is still a significant issue in communities. Back to you, Minister…”

“One specific area is the onus on councils to prove that they are empty, how high that threshold is and how challenging it can be to get over that. Will that be considered in this consultation, in terms of what you can change to make that easier, notwithstanding the resource challenges some councils might have?”