Sep142017

Speech: Leader of the Commons addresses Institute for Government

HM Government

Introduction

It’s a great pleasure to be here this evening, to share with you my belief that this will be a cooperative and collegiate Parliament.

In spite of the, at times, very heated exchanges in the Chamber, which can oddly extend to my choice of clothing(!) –

I get on very well with Valerie Vaz, the Shadow Leader of the House.

And, the same is true for many front benchers, on all sides of the House.

The cut and thrust of debate in the chamber does not always reflect the efficient work going on ‘behind the scenes’.

Where in fact, Val and I work closely on a number of House projects, and are both driven by a shared desire for a functioning parliament.

This gets to the very heart of what I would dearly like to see.

And that is a parliament that can work together for the good of the country.

Our late colleague, Jo Cox, was so right when she said, ‘we have far more in common than that which divides us.’

The need to work together means that the Government will be listening, and taking into account all views right across the House.

It’s often said that the Leader of the House of Commons has two jobs – that of Parliament’s representative in Government, and Government’s representative in Parliament.

So in the last two weeks, at the request of many different Members across the House:

  • We got the Select Committees up and running early;
  • I extended the second reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill;
  • And provided government time for a debate on illegal traveller encampments, which again, is a topic of concern across the House.

These are all examples of where Members share common ground, and where my role helps to bridge Government and Parliament.

This is a historical time

Now, it won’t have escaped anyone’s notice that we, in parliament, will be incredibly busy over the coming years.

I suspect that the period between 2016 and 2022 will be the stuff of future PHDs and political textbooks –

And will no doubt shape the next phase in the history of our great country.

Very rarely does the opportunity come along to build on our longstanding principles of tolerance, democracy, and the rule of law – to seize fresh opportunities and forge partnerships with new and old friends alike.

These are exciting and challenging times, in a parliament of great opportunity.

And the job of this Parliament will be to deliver on the vision set out by Theresa May, of a country that works for everyone.

The Government’s legislative agenda

So what does that mean for our legislative agenda?

Firstly, crucially, legislation that allows us to deliver a successful Brexit – providing continuity and paving the way for a prosperous future.

Secondly, tackling social injustice and discrimination, to improve life opportunities.

Thirdly, building an economy of higher skills, greater productivity and more rewarding jobs.

Fourthly, to strengthen the precious ties of our union.

And vitally, the fifth challenge is to continue tackling the threat of terrorism, and to keep our country safe.

The Queen’s Speech set out an ambitious programme of 27 bills and draft bills.

And so to accommodate the workload of parliament, we have agreed an extended session, that takes us beyond the point at which we leave the European Union.

Brexit

Despite the different views expressed in the referendum, we all share a desire for the United Kingdom to succeed.

In leaving the EU, we will have:

  • Control of our own money
  • Control of our own laws
  • Control of our borders
  • And, as the Prime Minister has said, we will be a global leader in promoting free trade

And we have a very positive story to tell:

  • The UK is the fifth largest economy in the world;
  • Three of our Universities are in the World’s Top 10;
  • The UK’s contract law is world-class, something that is critical for international business;
  • The UK is the world’s leading financial centre;
  • And whilst we all know London is the best capital city in the world, it’s been confirmed for several years in a row by the Global Power City Index.

There have been lots of unhelpful metaphors created in the wake of the referendum –

But I prefer to look at the evidence – and the evidence is encouraging.

Since June last year:

  • Deutsche Bank have signed a 25 year commitment to a new London headquarters;
  • Nissan and Toyota are all investing millions in production;
  • Amazon and Google are both expanding their UK operations;
  • And Apple, Dyson and ARM are just a few tech companies that have recommitted to their UK HQ’s.

Business confidence is critical to our economy, and a strong economy is the only way to keep the excellent public services we all rely on.

So, passing Brexit legislation is a key step towards this new phase in our country’s history.

And, I was delighted that this week, we made significant progress – both in passing the 2nd reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill –

And enabling the smooth functioning of parliamentary committees.

Domestic

But as the Prime Minister has made clear, this parliament is about so much more than just leaving the EU.

A strong economy and a fair society is at the heart of a country that works for everyone.

And we are bringing forward wide-ranging legislation to reflect this:

  • Such as, new opportunities in emerging technologies;
  • Better services for those struggling with mental health conditions;
  • And greater support for our armed forces families.

As Chairman of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee, which is known as PBL, it’s my job to make sure legislation like this is ready.

You could call it the parliamentary Dragon’s Den -giving the business managers and key cabinet colleagues the chance to stress test and scrutinise all the legislation my colleagues plan to bring forward for introduction.

The level of scrutiny on the legislative programme is greater now than at any time in the last four decades.

My role isn’t only to ensure Bills are shipshape – but to make sure they reflect the views of backbenchers, Select Committees, and that MPs know exactly what the legislation will achieve.

As a respected former Leader of the House Lord Young said in an interview with the IfG a couple of years ago – ‘one of the lessons, if you are coming to PBL, is “don’t wing it.”’

Conclusion

Now, before I conclude my remarks, I want to come back to where I started.

The result of the general election is a parliament that quite simply must work together.

We have a huge task of delivering Brexit, and the opportunity to shape the kind of country we want to be after we leave the EU.

Frankly, the public do expect us to conduct our debates in a grown-up fashion.

I’m not suggesting for a moment that political disagreement will somehow fade away –

but I do hope Parliament can achieve proper debate, that reflects the seriousness of the task ahead.

So my message at this historic time is a very simple one:

The Government stands ready to listen and engage with all parties, to work in the best interests of the country.

There will be challenges ahead.

But we can all come together to work towards a stronger economy, a fairer society, and taking a central place on the world stage.

Sep142017

EU must maintain duties on sugar

EU

When beet sugar production quotas end in October this year the European sugar industry will find itself in a completely new situation. Whether this new challenge will turn into a success story with the sugar industry profiting from unlimited sugar production for export and food use is largely dependent on how the EU supports Europe’s beet sugar processors and sugar beet farmers.

Just ahead of the abolition of quotas in sugar beet production on 1 October 2017, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an own-initiative opinion on Industrial change in the EU beet sugar industry.

The opportunity of unlimited sugar exports

The end of beet sugar production quotas will provide the EU’s sugar industry with the possibility of unlimited sugar exports. “This is an enormous chance for Europe’s sugar producers, but in order to fully profit from this liberalisation, they need the European Commission’s full support”, says José Manuel Roche Ramo, rapporteur for the EESC opinion.

“Therefore it is necessary for the Commission to be more active in supporting Europe’s sugar industry”, says Mr Roche Ramo. “When negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs), the Commission needs to focus on opening the sugar markets of net sugar importers and eliminating duties on exports of EU high sugar-containing products. At the same time it should back strong rules of origin for such products to ensure that EU sugar producers benefit from increased exports”.

Sugar beets – a job creator with a positive impact on the environment and the soil

“The EU beet sugar industry contributes decisively to job creation and economic activity, particularly in rural areas where jobs are rare. We therefore propose to include market tools in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) that support continued sugar production in the EU Member States”, says co-rapporteur Estelle Brentnall. Coupled support may be necessary to reduce the risk of a decline or abandoning of beet sugar production, while direct support for farmers should be supplemented by better access to risk management. Aid for private storage must be better defined and alternative outlets for sugar beet should be promoted.

Furthermore, beet sugar production is environmentally sustainable: sugar beet is always grown in rotation with other field crops. Crop rotation helps conserve soil fertility and reduce levels of soil-borne pathogens and pests and thus reduces the requirement for plant-protection products. Sugar beet growers are usually located in close proximity to the factories that process it in order to reduce transport costs, which is also beneficial for the CO2 balance.

EESC calls for caution regarding trade liberalisation in FTAs

Already, EU market availability for cane sugar for refining from the EU’s FTA partners – namely Central America, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and South Africa – stands at 420 000 tonnes. Raw and white sugar from the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and from the least-developed countries may be imported duty-free and quota-free. Moreover, the annual availability of raw sugar for refining under the reduced-duty CXL quota totals over 700 000 tonnes, set to rise to 800 000 tonnes in 2017/18.

In the EESC’s view the EU would be well advised to be more cautious regarding trade liberalisation in negotiations for new free trade agreements (FTAs). “The Commission must treat sugar as sensitive in its free trade negotiations by maintaining the EU’s duties on sugar.”

The EESC particularly calls on the Commission to challenge the arbitrary imposition of trade-defence instruments by third-country importers and to be more assertive in the fight against the trade-distorting support policies of the world’s major sugar producers.

Background

With an annual output totalling around 17.2 million tonnes, the EU is the world’s leading producer of beet sugar. Sugar-producing companies purchase around 107 million tonnes of sugar beets every year from some 137 000 European growers. Beet sugar factories are usually located in rural areas with low levels of industrial activity. The EU sugar industry provides 28 000 direct jobs and 150 000 indirect jobs and is therefore an important pillar of regional employment.

Over the last decade, Europe’s sugar industry has experienced a painful phase of consolidation. Nearly half of its sugar factories have closed, leading to the loss of 4.5 million tonnes of production capacity, over 24 000 jobs and 165 000 farm suppliers.

For more information, please contact:

Silvia Aumair

E-mail: pressateesc [dot] europa [dot] eu

Tel: +32 2 546 8141

@EESC_PRESS

VIDEO: How has the EESC made a difference

Sep142017

European Union steps up efforts to prevent violent extremism and counter-terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa

EU

Terrorism and radicalisation leading to violent extremism continue to pose a significant threat to states and societies in the Middle East and North Africa. This three-year programme will address drivers and threats from terrorism in the region to foster human security and build resilience in both states and societies.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative/Vice-President, said: “We are increasing as a priority our work and cooperation on counterterrorism with partner countries. We have developed a network of counterterrorism experts that are deployed in key countries and a series of counterterrorism dialogues with our partners to exchange best practices and to learn from each other. The best way to address radicalisation and violent extremism effectively is by working together, in a comprehensive and concerted way.“

The programme will include a first component to contribute to strengthening the capacity of state actors that play a key role in countering terrorism and violent extremism. The second component of the programme will focus on partnerships between authorities, youth and communities to address underlying factors that can make communities vulnerable to violent extremism.

The European Union’s security is directly linked to the security and stability of its neighbourhood. In order to ensure prosperity, stability and security for all, the EU has been working towards enhancing the coherence between internal and external security policies, as outlined in the Global Strategy for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy. This programme will be coordinated with other initiatives in the region, including from EU Member States, and feed into EU counter-terrorism, as well as bilateral and regional dialogues.

For More Information

Council Conclusions on Counter Terrorism, 19 June 2017

More information on the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace

Sep142017

Vice-President Šefčovič at the 67th International Motor Show 2017 (IAA)

EU

Speech by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, in charge   for Energy Union, at the CLEPA (European Association of Automative Suppliers) stand, at the 67th International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be with you for the opening of this year’s International Motor Show – the largest and perhaps most important event of its kind in the world.

It is incredible to realise that it has been 120 years since the first IAA. Such an anniversary is an opportunity to reflect back on the impact of the automobile industry: back to the time when horses and carriages were replaced by “automated mobile machines”. The constant progress in the automobile world shaped the course of the 20th century.

  • It emancipated job seekers and brought them (literally) closer to the labour market;
  • It changed the nature of our commerce and trade, the structure of our cities and suburbs.
  • It restructured global trade and geopolitics with the rising demand of oil.
  • It created an industry of an unimaginable size, where Europe is a huge player.
  • But it also brought about devastating side effects, like car accidents, air pollution and climate change.

This 67th International Motor Show is therefore also an opportunity to think about the future; about the next century and the role that automobiles will continue to play in our lives, in our economies, in our environment, within our climate.

As President Juncker pointed out in the State of the Union yesterday, it is essential to invest in the cars of the future to keep Europe at the forefront of innovation and digitisation. To this end, President Juncker announced a new industrial policy strategy.

So, we have great reasons for being optimistic about this future. As we all know, the word ‘automobile’ is being redefined. What used to be automatic will be autonomous. The original word meant a ‘self-propelled motor’ but for our children, it will be about self-driving.

This is clearly the spirit here, with the moto of this year’s conference being “Future now”. It is enough to look around this conference to see that the future is being invented, presented, and implemented right here, right now.

I am convinced that the European car industry can pave the way of the global transition to clean and connected mobility. I am convinced that Europe can become THE continent of smart and clean car infrastructure. We are better equipped to make that giant leap than any other part of the world.

Just in the past few days and weeks we’ve been hearing from companies like Daimler, VW, Volvo, or BMW about their ambitious stepping up their shift to electric cars. We have also been hearing from more and more national governments who set themselves ambitious targets on the share of clean cars on their roads or cities announcing a future restriction on diesel cars altogether.

This is very reassuring to the citizen that has come to realise also that things need to change. It shows that Europe is on the right track. But we need to accelerate this process or we will be overtaken by others.

To put it in a wider context, the European Commission set the objective of reaching a socially fair transition towards clean, competitive and connected mobility for all. So this is our finish line. Now the question is how do we get there – and how do we get there first so we enjoy the first mover’s advantage.

A lot is at stake. The automotive sector employs no less than 12.6 million Europeans, who make up almost 6% of our workforce or 11% of EU manufacturing employment. We are also talking about over 11 million Europeans who work in the transportation, accounting almost 5 per cent of EU GDP.

The framework we put in place includes all sorts of measures, including legislation, funding, and steering platforms. Many of those were explained in detail in the legislative packaged we presented before summer, titled: “Europe on the move”.

We are in the midst of preparing a second mobility package for later this year which will include new carbon dioxide standards for cars and vans, modernisation of public procurement rules for green vehicles. It will also assess alternative fuels infrastructure amongst other. Finally, next year we will conclude with a third package, this time covering CO2 emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, and addressing safety features of road infrastructure.

Let me focus for a moment on our proposal on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans. Rolling out low and zero-emissions vehicles in Europe is critical if we are to stay competitive on the global market – and at the same time reach our climate targets. We are currently considering different possibilities on how to reach this goal in the most cost-effective and technologically neutral way. And of course the devil is in the detail.

I have mentioned funding, and indeed we are blending grants and financial instruments in order to support the infrastructure for alternative fuels, connected and automated driving, as well as research and innovation of batteries. These financial sources include the Connecting Europe Facility, Trans-European Transport Networks, Horizon 2020 etc.

But this transition is not only about being the best in the world but also about being the most fair and inclusive. That is why we are also looking into how to smoothen the transition through our Skills Agenda, as well as promoting initiatives and cooperation between European Cities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have mentioned some of the major milestones of the past and some of the ambitious objectives for the future. But I will not conclude without addressing also the big elephant in the room: the emission scandal.

Consumer and public trust have been badly hurt. We must still act collectively to restore this trust. It is now up to concrete and decisive measures by authorities at all levels, and most importantly: by the automobile industry itself.

We, at the Commission, reacted swiftly to the weaknesses which were identified in the Type Approval framework and emission testing. We are reviewing applicable legislation and implementing a broader European strategy for Low Emission Mobility.

Member States like Germany, France and The Netherlands are investigating irregularities on their territories. We are tightening our cooperation in coordination of the next steps.

I am not sure I can say that the industry itself has done as much to regain consumer trust. That is not for me to judge. European citizens have the right to receive clear answers, not only from the relevant regulatory authorities but also from their car-manufacturers. Beyond answers: they should receive acceptable solutions. In the US they received compensation, in Europe they received an apology. We cannot put this story behind us without a proper and fair closure. I am confident we can reach one. We are monitoring this closely to ensure all mistakes are fixed, starting with the software updates. As the Commission President said yesterday, car industry must come clean and make it right. They should invent the world-class clean cars of the future. That would be the most convincing response.

Let us be and stay proud of our car industry in every single aspect.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Now I am myself impatient to visit the stands and discover the latest inventions in this New Mobility World.

Let me therefore conclude by thanking you for bringing your latest technologies and innovation to present them here in Frankfurt. This international event is a fascinating display window to Europe’s extraordinary automobile industry.

There is no way of visiting this place without feeling a sense of pride of Europe’s innovation and industrial force. This is thanks to all of you, present here!

Thank you.

Sep142017

Speech: RESI Conference 2017

HM Government

[Political content has been removed]

Thank you for inviting me today. It is an absolute pleasure to be here at Celtic Manor.

The last time I was here was with my family a few years ago for a weekend stay. Little did I know that four years later, I would be returning to speak to you at this brilliant venue as Housing and Planning Minister!

You will know better than I that over the past 5 years, there have been 5 planning Ministers. A bit like Doctor Who, I am the latest incarnation.

However, I very much hope to be in place for a decent length of time, to see through many of the reforms which are laid out in the Housing White Paper.

It is fair to say that it has not been the easiest of starts. The day after I was appointed, we had the terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower.

Those terrible events have raised concerns right across the country. And have led many of us connected with housing to think very deeply about the issues that we need to address.

As you know, the Government is committed to making sure that we get help to those affected. I and other ministers, including the Secretary of State, meet regularly with the individuals affected to try to focus this help. We are ensuring that buildings across the country are safe.

We have carried out extensive tests, issued building owners with guidance on fire safety, announced an independent review of building regulations and fire safety led by Dame Judith Hackitt, and a full independent public inquiry into the tragedy is taking place. In headlines today there’s a lot about the start of this.

I will also be meeting with and hearing from social housing tenants in the Grenfell area and up and down the country over the coming years to build up a full picture of some of the immediate issues facing tenants. And identify any common concerns that must inform a national approach.

I have already spoken with national tenant organisations to listen to their views and understand some of the main issues that may be raised.

I will be announcing further details about where I will be going, and when, very shortly.

But stepping back from that initial start and reflecting on what I have learned, what has been absolutely clear to me and that is that we absolutely need to build more homes. And faster. Whether the homes are to buy, or to rent.

We also need to improve the quality and design of those homes.

We need to change the public mind set towards new development.

We need to make sure individuals who need help to buy a home, get that help. And that housing, whether to buy or rent, is more affordable.

We need to support small and medium sized builders to access the market.

And, we need to encourage innovation and choice, and make sure that the skilled workforce that we need is in place to build homes at the rate that we want.

Above all, I believe that everyone should feel a sense of fairness about the housing market. Whether they are home buyers, or they are renting. And whether they are in the private or social sector.

To coin a phrase: we need a housing market which works for everyone.

Ahead of this Conference, the well-known publication Property Week, which is going to become part of my essential weekend reading, threw down a gauntlet listing what the industry wanted from me.

They wanted to me to do five things.

First, turn the Housing White Paper into action –I absolutely agree, that is precisely what my department is engaged in doing.

Second, I was asked to breathe down the necks of local authorities – I agree local authorities need to get their local plans in order. The Secretary of State will be making a statement to Parliament later this morning, setting out our plans to consult on an open and honest approach to assessing local housing need.

Thirdly, address the future of Help to Buy – again, I agree. The industry needs certainty.

Fourth, I’ve been asked to bang the drum for the construction industry and Brexit talks – yes, I very much understand the importance of access to the labour that you need.

And finally, I was told to be bold on the Greenbelt. As you know, the Housing White Paper is clear that Green Belt land can be released, but only in exceptional circumstances.

So there you have it. That could be the end of the speech.

But I guess you probably want a bit more detail.

So let’s start with turning the White Paper into action. Our Manifesto made our commitment to delivering this clear.

We consulted on some of the proposals in the White Paper in May this year. As I said earlier, the Secretary of State will today set out plans to consult on proposals to agree on a clear, open and transparent approach to assessing local housing need.

This consultation will need to be read alongside our other White Paper proposals, so we will publish our combined consultation response early next year, alongside the draft new National Planning Policy Framework.

We believe the sum total of these changes will mean that plans will start from an honest assessment of the need for new homes. More land and a more diverse range of sites will be brought forward in places that people want to live. And we want to see greater focus on getting sites built-out.

How many of you are developers – let’s have a show of hands! And how many of you are connected with the private rented market in some way? And how many of you are financiers? And is there anyone in this room that has walked in by mistake and too embarrassed to leave?

Let’s talk about the developers first. I believe that the Housing White Paper sets out lots of carrots for the development players. We have been vigorous in our promotion of our £3 billion Home Building Fund.

This provides £1 billion in loans for small and medium sized builders, custom builders and for offsite construction. And £2 billion of long term loan funding for infrastructure. It has proved extremely popular. Conversations that I have had with the industry suggest that this is precisely what people want.

Now obviously it is too early to see homes completed through this fund, but I am confident that over time it will unlock around 200,000 new homes.

So turning to the private rented sector, I believe the Housing White Paper has something for you connected with that sector as well. We will promote increases in new and quicker methods of quality construction, and increase in the number and quality of homes for private rent.

Many of you will have a crucial role to play in this. For example through increasing the numbers of build to rent homes.

My predecessors did sterling work getting this ball rolling, through the Montague Review. And the Government has supported the sector with funding.

You told us that planning is the biggest obstacle to moving forward. We’ve consulted on options to change planning policy on build to rent, and published those results last month.

People were positive about making the changes. Our next step will be to spell out the necessary changes in the revised NPPF.

And on build to rent finance, let’s not forget we’ve done a lot already. We have put the Government balance sheet on the line by supporting build to rent schemes through our £3.5 billion PRS guarantee scheme. It is going from strength to strength and approvals have already topped £1 billion.

I recently visited Wembley Park in North West London, the biggest Build to Rent site in England. Here we have announced a £65 million infrastructure debt financing package for this site, under our Home Building Fund. This will help to unlock almost 7,000 quality new rented homes. Wembley Park is a great example of where we have been taking action to create a bigger and better private rental market. Boosting the choice and quality of homes on the market, and meeting the needs of renters.

This comes on top of a £39 million bond guarantee under the PRS guarantee scheme, for the first two PRS blocks at Wembley Park.

We hear that the market is ready to support far more build to rent. This is fantastic news, and we will support you in making this happen.

Although build to rent as a concept is relatively new in the UK, there is an opportunity to build on lessons from the established “multi-family housing” sector internationally. As you will know, the US is now delivering around 300 thousand multifamily homes every year.

But it took them 30 years to get there. We have the opportunity to develop the sector more quickly here, by welcoming international investment and hearing from others.

Having said that, I want to see more UK investors coming into this market as well. So we are listening to your concerns and tackling the problems.

For example, I know some of you have concerns that rent controls may destroy future markets. Let me be absolutely clear, under this Government rent controls are not going to happen.

Turning to local authorities, they have a crucial role to play in housing delivery, and we’ve set out the tools they need to deliver.

We launched a £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund in July this year, designed to support the infrastructure underpinning delivery of new homes. Infrastructure such as roads, healthcare centres and schools.

It will help ensure that more homes mean better, not more stretched, local infrastructure and community facilities.

This is an opportunity for local authorities to come forward with infrastructure proposals that show real ambition for the future. It will support local authorities to step up their plans for growth, release more land for housing and get homes built at pace and scale.

So far, I can tell you over 150 local authorities have applied. I want to encourage more local authorities to place their bids by the 28th September deadline.

Local authorities say they need more resources. So the Government is offering higher fees and new capacity funding to develop planning departments.

The White Paper outlined a 20% planning application fee increase for local authorities that commit to invest the additional fee income in their planning department.

All planning authorities have accepted, and we are bringing forward the necessary regulations in the autumn to apply the increase.

We are also minded to allow an increase of a further 20% for those authorities who are delivering the homes their communities need and we are going to be consulting further on the detail of this as part of the local needs consultation.

What I have heard from the developers that I have talked to, both small and large, is that they welcome this as a way of speeding up decision making.

In response, I expect authorities to step up to the challenge of delivering more homes in their areas. There are currently 34 local authorities without a plan. And only a third have adopted a plan since the NPPF came out in 2012. Frankly, this just isn’t good enough.

The winds of change are blowing.

And local people need certainty. They don’t want speculative applications being approved because local authorities haven’t planned properly.

We must also make sure that new homes being built are well designed, good quality and respond positively to the local context. We want to create places, buildings and spaces that work well for everyone.

We have suggested changing the NPPF so that local and neighbourhood plans are expected to set out clear design expectations. And community engagement in early design stages must also improve.

So coming now to the future of the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. From its launch in Spring 2013 until March this year, Help to Buy: Equity Loan has helped over 120,000 people purchase a new-build home. It also assists builders to build more homes.

It is a huge success.

As we said in the Housing White Paper, the government has committed £8.6 billion for the scheme to 2021, ensuring it continues to support homebuyers and stimulate housing supply.

We also recognise the need to create certainty for prospective home owners and developers beyond 2021 and so we are committed to working with the sector to consider the future of the scheme.

And so, on to Brexit – I don’t think any speech would be complete without Brexit. In my discussions with fellow Ministers, I am making the construction industry’s case. There are many issues. Not least supply chains and investment. But one of our key interests is in respect of skills, training and modern methods of construction.

Once again the White Paper set out plans to change the way the Government supports training in the construction industry.

We want to have the best arrangements to ensure strong industry leadership to address the skills challenge, and to diversify the housing market.

And actually it’s really good to see so many of these themes reflected at this conference.

And frankly it is absolutely in the sector’s interest to play a part in resolving the long-standing manpower and skills shortages.

I’m very pleased that the sector has committed to bringing forward 45,000 new skilled workers by 2019/20. But we need to see progress. In the same way that you have quite legitimately asked of Government in this area, we are asking of you.

Something that has struck me in recent weeks is that yours is an incredibly fragmented sector. There are very many layers of sub-contractors.

And I do wonder whether developers in the sector needs to think harder about employing people direct. Helping to ensure quality and providing an incentive to ensure the workforce is trained properly. And I can tell you from discussions I have had with developers, I know that some of them are thinking along these lines already. One of the other things that will help to speed up building is modern methods of construction.

Countries like Germany and Sweden are far ahead of us in realising the benefits of this.

I am encouraged that many sectors of the market are starting to embrace new technology – from some of the new Build to Rent apartment buildings to housing associations and small builders.

I recently visited – last week in fact – the Graven Hill development in Bicester, where I saw for myself custom built homes delivering greater choice for consumers. And modern methods of construction delivering entire homes much more quickly and cheaply. For me, the benefits were pretty clear.

The last challenge Property Week gave me was to be bolder on the Green Belt.

As I said earlier, the Housing White Paper does allow for development on the Green Belt.

However, I think it is important to say here that there is an onus on the sector to also recognise the legitimate concerns that people have about development on Green Belt land.

Good design is something that people are very concerned about, and it really does make a difference. And overall, changing minds about what new development looks and feels like is what is needed to create real change. Development must be something that local people welcome.

I mentioned earlier that I want to go further than the White Paper. We don’t just expect more, and faster build out. We also expect quality.

Over the past couple of months, one fact in particular has really stood out to me. The latest housing survey carried out by the Home Builders Federation found that 84% of new home buyers would recommend their builder to a friend. This figure has fallen steadily from 90% four years ago.

This means 16% of new home buyers would not recommend their builder to a friend.

In any other market, this would spell the end of the most poorly performing companies. We have seen this dynamic play out for some companies in the sector. But overall the sector has not really been impacted.

I want to see the quality of new homes, and levels of customer satisfaction, improve across the industry.

A new home is one of the largest financial commitments that people make. Home builders need to step up and make this a priority.

This includes making sure that, where something goes wrong, house builders and warranty providers fulfil their obligations to put this right.

There are mechanisms in place for redress – such as the Consumer Code for Home Builders – but these can be complex and don’t always provide full coverage.

And those of you who follow what’s happening in Parliament there is a growing number of calls for the Government to introduce a New Homes Ombudsman.

The HBF has commissioned an independent report to look at consumer protection in the new homes market. I will review all of the recommendations and suggestions that are coming forward through this report and from others with an interest in this area.

At the end of the day this is about providing fairness for new home owners. I know that many of you, as long term investors in rented housing, have a strong interest in the quality of what is being built.

You bear the long term consequences of how the properties you buy are built.

The Government also wants to see all tenants receiving a good, fair and affordable service from landlords and letting agents.

So we will publish a Bill to ban letting fees paid by tenants in England. I know many of you in the build to rent sector do not charge upfront fees to your customers.

But a ban will help to deliver a more competitive, more affordable and more transparent lettings market across the rest of the sector.

We are also committed to improving standards. In April we brought in tougher measures targeting rogue landlords, including civil penalties of up to £30,000 and an extension of rent repayment orders.

These powers give authorities the tools to crack down on the minority of landlords who disregard the law and take advantage of tenants.

They will also help address any lingering reputational issues for you and those interested in investing in build-to-rent.

We will go further over this Parliament and we intend to introduce a database of rogue landlords and property agents convicted of certain offences. There will also be banning orders for serious and prolific offenders.

So in conclusion, my remarks today have I hope provided you with an insight into what we are doing. And our direction of travel.

As we all know, everyone is affected by the housing crisis. Everyone has an interest in solving this problem.

This must be a combined effort between Government and the Sector.

And we need to ensure that we are bringing people with us, through encouraging good quality, well designed development that changes how people feel about new development.

The Government set out in February our strategy for fixing the broken housing market. This has not changed. It is vital to see through the job of implementing the excellent reforms, some of them longer term, which were set out in the White Paper.

However, the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower has shown us that there is much more to be done in the short term. The backdrop upon which we carry out our work has fundamentally changed.

We are taking the steps necessary to ensure that something like this can never happen again.

As I said at the start of this speech, we want a housing market which works for everyone.

The Prime Minister is committed to this. The Secretary of State is committed to this. And I am committed to this.

As the Housing and Planning Minister, let me give you a categorical reassurance that I will not rest until we have not only turned the White Paper into action. But gone further. Improving fairness, safety, standards and redress for all home owners and tenants. And of course building more high quality homes.

I ask for your support on this shared journey.