Jim makes his debut at Commons dispatch box

MAKING his point . . . Jim McMahon

OLDHAM MP Jim McMahon made his debut as shadow local government and devolution minister this week, asking questions from the House of Common's dispatch box.

The Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton asked Sajid Javid, secretary of state for communities and local government, about discussions regarding the role local government will play in leaving the European Union.

He said: "In July the secretary of state highlighted the importance of local government having a say on leaving the EU.

"He committed at that time to having a conversation with the secretary of state for exiting the EU.

"It would be great today to get an update on those conversations and exactly what role local government would play."

Conservative MP Mr Javid replied stating that there would not be a running commentary and that leaving the EU was an "ongoing process that will take a number of months if not years".

Mr McMahon continued: "Local government want to know what part they are going to play and at the moment it is fuzzy to say the least."

He added that uncertainty over EU structural funds, around £5.3 billion of investments, was preventing local governments from being able to plan.

Mr Javid replied that Chancellor Philip Hammond had provided "significant certainty" on the structural fund and applications made before the autumn statement and provided a further update recently at the Conservative Party conference.