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Chris Williamson response to the Home Office’s statement on adding fire and rescue inspections to HMIC’s responsibilities
Chris Williamson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, commenting on the Home Office’s statement on adding fire and rescue inspections to HMIC’s responsibilities, said:
“After an unclear Home Office statement, Ministers must tell the public exactly what extra resources, staff and expertise will actually be provided.
“If today’s statement is really a cloak for cuts to existing fire and rescue inspectors, and over-stretching the inspectors of the police services, it will be strongly opposed. The police and the fire service both need expert and thorough inspection, and the public will be right to demand that they have it. Labour will oppose any cuts to the inspection regimes under the guise of efficiency and savings.”
read moreFive weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government’s system of fire safety checks is not fit for purpose – John Healey
John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to the release of new information on fire safety tests of tower blocks, said:
“Five weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government’s system of fire safety checks on tower blocks is not fit for purpose.
“The latest statement from Ministers, smuggled out yesterday evening as the Commons finished for the day, confirms that there are still 52 tower blocks with the same type of cladding as Grenfell Tower that have not been tested. Even worse, it confirms there are still thousands of other tower blocks around the country which may not be safe but which Government tests have ignored.
“These fire safety tests are vital to reassure residents that their homes are safe, but the testing process to date has failed to do this. The tests are too slow, too narrow and confused. Residents are still worried and landlords are in the dark. Secretary of State Sajid Javid must report fully to Parliament tomorrow before the summer recess and explain how he is going to get a grip of this mess.”
read moreOnly a Labour government will fully protect the independence of DFID and its world-class expertise and leadership – Kate Osamor
Kate Osamor MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting on the release of the National Audit Office report into aid spending, said:
“We should be proud that British aid is transforming millions of lives and working to make the world more peaceful and secure. This watchdog report shows that DFID has become a world leader in preventing fraud and managing aid effectively and transparently. But under this divided Conservative government, Ministers are fighting each other for control of the aid budget.
“This report highlights how the ever-increasing proportion of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) now being spent by other government departments isn’t subject to the proper scrutiny or effective management that we know the Department for International Development (DFID) brings. The Conservative government needs to quickly make sure all aid spending by all departments meets key transparency criteria and is subject to scrutiny by Parliament’s International Development Committee.”
“Only a Labour government will fully protect the independence of DFID and its world-class expertise and leadership. We will keep to our commitment of spending 0.7% of national income, and ensure that we spend that we do so responsibly and effectively.”
read moreSNP CAP slowdown sees 1300 farmers still waiting for payments
19 Jul 2017
The Scottish Conservatives have accused the SNP of letting progress on CAP payments stall, following reports that the Scottish Government may escape fines due to UK-wide progress.
1300 farmers are still to receive CAP payments. Just 126 payments were made last week, which represents a significant drop from the previous rate of 1745 in the week before the deadline of 30th June.
Last week £1m of payments were made – compared to £59 million in the week before the deadline.
Under European rules 95 per cent of payments should have been made by 30 June, but the Scottish Government fell short, only reaching 90.4 per cent.
The Scottish Government was forced to request an extension from the European Commission for the second year running.
In contrast, Defra made 99.2 per cent of payments in England by the end of June deadline.
Media reports suggest that this UK-wide progress could spare Scotland heavier fines.
Audit Scotland recently warned that European fines of up to £60 million are possible if the troubled CAP IT system does not work.
Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Peter Chapman said:
“The SNP has clearly taken their foot off the accelerator when it comes to delivering CAP payments.
“It is the ultimate irony that no sooner had it emerged the UK situation could spare the SNP’s blushes, progress in Scotland has now stalled.
“These payments can’t get into the rural economy quickly enough, but for a second year running many farmers are still being made to wait.
“It was humiliating for the Scottish Government to have to beg the European Commission for a deadline extension due to their shambolic handling of these important payments.
“Audit Scotland warned that even next year the IT system may not be working as it should and many farmers will now be wondering if it will ever be fit for purpose.”
The Scottish Government provides weekly reports on CAP payments showing that in the week ending 14 July 126 payments had been processed. There are 17980 eligible applicants for payments and 16686 have been processed to date. The report can be accessed here.
Audit Scotland’s June 2017 report on the CAP IT system can be accessed here.
The Scottish Conservatives have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to fix the CAP payment system (see press releases below)
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/2017/06/sturgeon-must-come-clean-on-second-cap-crisis/
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/2017/06/now-snp-must-publish-its-own-damning-cap-report/ #
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