The summer who was known to us and was tortured by the taliban and killed in the middle of august. I am well aware of these issues and we will do everything we possibly can to make sure we act in a timely manner. ,. , manner. On friday i had the privilege manner. On friday i had the privilege to manner. On friday i had the privilege to visit manner. On friday i had the privilege to visit in manner. On friday i had the i privilege to visit in birmingham manner. On friday i had the privilege to visit in birmingham the refugee privilege to visit in birmingham the refugee centre. Willie paid tribute to the refugee centre. Willie paid tribute to the great work they are doing in housing to the great work they are doing in housing afghan evacuees . The issue they are housing afghan evacuees . The issue they are having now is that rents have they are having now is that rents have gone they are having now is that rents have gone up significantly and they are finding it difficult to house people are finding it difficult to house people they want to urgently and to ive people they want to urgently and to give them people they want to urgently and to give them some kind of normality. We look at give them some kind of normality. We look at this give them some kind of normality. We look at this issue . The give them some kind of normality. We look at this issue . Look at this issue . The pressures on housin look at this issue . The pressures on housing across look at this issue . The pressures on housing across the look at this issue . The pressures on housing across the uk look at this issue . The pressures on housing across the uk are look at this issue . The pressures on housing across the uk are well look at this issue . The pressures on | housing across the uk are well known and thats why we have designed quite a clever scheme combining with local Authority Funds to make sure that we can deal with those increases. This is not a fan to forget issue. We have a commitment of these families and we want to get them into settled accommodation which gives them the best opportunity to get a job. They have a right to work and build a life in the uk. These are talented people and i pay tribute to all across the country for those who take on this task. I country for those who take on this task. ,. ,. , task. I commend the government on the wa in task. I commend the government on the way in which task. I commend the government on the way in which they task. I commend the government on the way in which they set task. I commend the government on the way in which they set up task. I commend the government on the way in which they set up the the way in which they set up the ukraine the way in which they set up the ukraine family the way in which they set up the ukraine Family Scheme the way in which they set up the ukraine Family Scheme within i the way in which they set up the ukraine Family Scheme within ai the way in which they set up the i ukraine Family Scheme within a week of the ukraine Family Scheme within a week of the russian ukraine Family Scheme within a week of the russian invasion. Ukraine Family Scheme within a week of the russian invasion. But ukraine Family Scheme within a week of the russian invasion. But the i of the russian invasion. But the parallel of the russian invasion. But the parallel family of the russian invasion. But the parallel Family Reunion of the russian invasion. But the i parallel Family Reunion mechanism for afghans parallel Family Reunion mechanism for afghans resettled parallel Family Reunion mechanism for afghans resettled or parallel Family Reunion mechanism for afghans resettled or called i for afghans resettled or called forward for afghans resettled or called forward under for afghans resettled or called forward under the for afghans resettled or called forward under the evacuation. For afghans resettled or called forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still not forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still not implement forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still not implement it. Forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still not implement it. I forward under the Evacuation Pathway is still not implement it. I have is still not implement it. I have over is still not implement it. I have over 450 is still not implement it. I have over 450 afghan is still not implement it. I have over 450 afghan families is still not implement it. I have over 450 afghan families in i is still not implement it. I have over 450 afghan families in my constituency over 450 afghan families in my constituency who over 450 afghan families in my constituency who are over 450 afghan families in my| constituency who are desperate over 450 afghan families in my. Constituency who are desperate to over 450 afghan families in my constituency who are desperate to be reunited constituency who are desperate to be reunited with constituency who are desperate to be reunited with their constituency who are desperate to be reunited with their family. Constituency who are desperate to be reunited with their family. Two reunited with their family. Two years reunited with their family. Two years on reunited with their family. Two years on these reunited with their family. Two years on these families reunited with their family. Two years on these families still. Reunited with their family. Two. Years on these families still have no way years on these families still have no way of years on these families still have no way of bringing years on these families still have no way of bringing their years on these families still have no way of bringing their loved i years on these families still have. No way of bringing their loved ones to safetv no way of bringing their loved ones to safetv i no way of bringing their loved ones to safety. I believe no way of bringing their loved ones to safety. I believe the no way of bringing their loved ones to safety. I believe the minister to safety. I believe the minister may know to safety. I believe the minister may know of to safety. I believe the minister may know of the to safety. I believe the minister may know of the case to safety. I believe the minister may know of the case i to safety. I believe the minister may know of the case i have i to safety. I believe the minister may know of the case i have spoken about may know of the case i have spoken about before, may know of the case i have spoken about before, one may know of the case i have spoken about before, one of may know of the case i have spoken about before, one of my may know of the case i have spoken. About before, one of my constituents who sent about before, one of my constituents who sent me about before, one of my constituents who sent me the about before, one of my constituents who sent me the photograph about before, one of my constituents who sent me the photograph of about before, one of my constituents who sent me the photograph of his. Who sent me the photograph of his 15yearotd who sent me the photograph of his 15 year old daughter who sent me the photograph of his 15 year old daughter who who sent me the photograph of his 15 year old daughter who had i 15 year old daughter who had committed 15 year old daughter who had committed suicide, 15 year old daughter who had committed suicide, a 15 year old daughter who had i committed suicide, a photograph of her in committed suicide, a photograph of her in her committed suicide, a photograph of her in her coffin. Committed suicide, a photograph of her in her coffin. She committed suicide, a photograph of her in her coffin. She committed i her in her coffin. She committed suicide her in her coffin. She committed suicide for her in her coffin. She committed suicide for fear her in her coffin. She committed suicide for fear of her in her coffin. She committed suicide for fear of what her in her coffin. She committed suicide for fear of what the i her in her coffin. She committed. Suicide for fear of what the taliban would suicide for fear of what the taliban would do suicide for fear of what the taliban would do to suicide for fear of what the taliban would do to her. Suicide for fear of what the taliban would do to her. But suicide for fear of what the taliban would do to her. But her suicide for fear of what the taliban would do to her. But her four would do to her. But her four sisters would do to her. But her four sisters and would do to her. But her four sisters and their would do to her. But her four sisters and their mother would do to her. But her four sisters and their mother are i would do to her. But her four. Sisters and their mother are still there sisters and their mother are still there afghans sisters and their mother are still there. Afghans here sisters and their mother are still there. Afghans here on sisters and their mother are still there. Afghans here on pathway| sisters and their mother are still there. Afghans here on pathway one have been there. Afghans here on pathway one have been given there. Afghans here on pathway one have been given indefinite there. Afghans here on pathway one have been given indefinite leave i there. Afghans here on pathway one have been given indefinite leave to i have been given indefinite leave to remain have been given indefinite leave to remain but have been given indefinite leave to remain but that have been given indefinite leave to remain but that means have been given indefinite leave to remain but that means they have been given indefinite leave to remain but that means they cant i remain but that means they cant avail remain but that means they cant avail themselves remain but that means they cant avail themselves of remain but that means they cant avail themselves of the remain but that means they cant avail themselves of the refugee i avail themselves of the Refugee Family Avail themselves of the refugee Family Reunion avail themselves of the refugee Family Reunion and avail themselves of the refugee Family Reunion and anyone i avail themselves of the refugee i Family Reunion and anyone applying under Family Reunion and anyone applying under that Family Reunion and anyone applying under that is Family Reunion and anyone applying under that is told Family Reunion and anyone applying under that is told their Family Reunion and anyone applying under that is told their application. Under that is told their application has been under that is told their application has been rejected under that is told their application has been rejected as under that is told their application has been rejected as invalid. I under that is told their application has been rejected as invalid. Willl has been rejected as invalid. Will the minister has been rejected as invalid. Will the minister please has been rejected as invalid. Will the minister please increase i has been rejected as invalid. Will the minister please increase thel the minister please increase the number the minister please increase the number of the minister please increase the number of officials the minister please increase the number of officials dealing i the minister please increase the number of officials dealing with| number of officials dealing with Family Number of officials dealing with Family Reunion. Number of officials dealing with Family Reunion. Its number of officials dealing with Family Reunion. Its a number of officials dealing with Family Reunion. Its a matter. Number of officials dealing with Family Reunion. Its a matter of| Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour but Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour but its Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour but its also Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour but its also a Family Reunion. Its a matter of honour but its also a matter. Family reunion. Its a matter of| honour but its also a matter of huge honour but its also a matter of huge Personal Honour but its also a matter of huge personal commitment. I i honour but its also a matter of. Huge personal commitment. Lam huge personal commitment. I am alwa s huge personal commitment. I am always looking huge personal commitment. I am always looking at huge personal commitment. I am always looking at what huge personal commitment. Always looking at what more we huge personal commitment. always looking at what more we can do and i think its easy to forget the depth of the carnage thats going on in afghanistan. We had somebody on the scheme who was forced to sell one of their children and e mailed us and said i am going to have to sell my child tomorrow. It is horrific. That is why we need to lean in and work as hard as we can. What has happened there is extraordinary and we will continue to lean into that and do what we can in these horrific situations. The minister said in these horrific situations. The minister said he in these horrific situations. Tue minister said he looks in these horrific situations. Tta minister said he looks forward in these horrific situations. Tt2 minister said he looks forward to welcoming more of those who stood up for British Values at great personal risk and i wanted to draw his attention to one of those, my constituent who has been in fear of his life since 2021. He has at last been provisionally accepted on the par 33 and on uk government advice was told to travel with his wife and young family to pakistan for final checking but they have been left there since may. Their passports are due to run out in a matter of weeks and they are petrified they will be sent back to afghanistan was the victim and documented. Its not right they have been left there. I have not been successful in raising this by e mail so can i ask if the minister would be willing to agree to meet with me so we can try and resolve the urgent case. T to meet with me so we can try and resolve the urgent case. To meet with me so we can try and resolve the urgent case. I would ask my honourable resolve the urgent case. I would ask my honourable friend resolve the urgent case. I would ask my honourable friend to resolve the urgent case. I would ask my honourable friend to send i resolve the urgent case. I would ask my honourable friend to send me i resolve the urgent case. I would ask. My honourable friend to send me that after this. My honourable friend to send me that afterthis. I my honourable friend to send me that after this. I am well aware of the strategic situation in afghanistan and pakistan. The Prime Minister asked me to do a specificjob at these hotels which we had to do before we could even think about bringing people over from afghanistan. We have now done that and the government recognises its commitments and will have more to say on it in due course. Mr; say on it in due course. My constituents say on it in due course. My constituents fought a uk forces. Can the minister confirm how many afghans the minister confirm how many afghans have been relocated to third countries afghans have been relocated to third countries in the par threes two and three countries in the par threes two and three of countries in the par threes two and three of the countries in the par threes two and three of the Resettlement Scheme and explain three of the Resettlement Scheme and explain why his government still requires explain why his government still requires these allies to seek new documentation from the men trying to kill them documentation from the men trying to kill them or documentation from the men trying to kill them or to arrive small boats . Those kill them or to arrive small boats . Those schemes clearly lie with the Immigration System and the home office and they will have heard his questions today and i think its clear there remain challenges and we are dealing with particularly horrific consequences for getting it wrong. We recognise our commitments and will continue to work hard to achieve them. And will continue to work hard to achieve them. , ~ ,. ,. Achieve them. Thank you very much minister for achieve them. Thank you very much minister for your achieve them. Thank you very much minister for your statement achieve them. Thank you very much minister for your Statement Today i minister for your Statement Today and for minister for your Statement Today and for responding to the questions. Statement, Birmingham City council intervention, michael gove. With intervention, michael gove. With our intervention, michael gove. With your permission intervention, michael gove. With your permission mr intervention, michael gove. Tn your permission mr speaker, i intervention, michael gove. Trt your permission mr speaker, i would like to make a statement about Birmingham City council. Birmingham is a great city with a wonderful diverse creative and enterprising population. It is real cultural and educational strengths. But Birmingham City council has not served the citizens of that great city as it should have. For years now the city has suffered as the council has failed to grip underperformance. Poor leadership, weak governance, Woeful Mismanagement of Employee Relations and an Effective Service delivery have harmed the city. Senior leaders both elected members and officers have come and gone but the one constant has been a failure to deliver for residents who deserve better. I believe strongly in Local Government, local Decision Making and the devolution of power to local communities but i also believe that when failures in Local Government occur we must act. As we devolve more power to Local Government overall so we must demand sharper accountability and the need for action in birmingham is pressing. 0n The 5th Of September the chief Financial Officer at the council issued a section 114 notice which set out the full gravity of its financial situation. As a result, i am satisfied that Birmingham City council is failing to comply with its best value duty. In line with the local Government Act 1999 i can announce i am today writing to the council to set up my proposal to intervene and appoint commissioners and that i intend to launch a local inquiry in due course. I do not take these decisions lightly but it is imperative in order to protect the interests of the residents and taxpayers of birmingham and to provide ongoing assurance to the Local Government sector. Copies of the letter have been provided to devote office and will be in the House Library and published on give. Uk. It may be helpful to the house if i outline how we in government have arrived at this position. In 2014 the independent cus lake report commissioned after the trojan horse investigation into a number of birmingham schools found that successive administrations had failed the city. It wont the council warned lacked a clear vision and was not doing enough to provide significantly quality services. The reports author also highlighted the culture of sweeping problems under the carpet or blaming them on others rather than tackling them on others rather than tackling them head on. The problems he identified have unfortunately endured. In april 2023 my honourable friend the ministerfor endured. In april 2023 my honourable friend the minister for Local Government asked the then Council Leader ian ward to commission an independent governance review. He was. The Local Government and social care ombudsman, the housing on the demon and the Department For Education commissioner for special Educational Needs and disability at the council. The scope of the review was extended to include two further serious issues which subsequently came to light. The flawed limitation of a new financial ledger system and the council is handling of its significant equal pay liabilities. The council is responsible for shoes has caused concern highlighting significant shortcomings in It Governance Arrangements and in its ability to identify and resolve areas of weakness. Last month my honourable friend wrote again to the leader seeking assurances about whether the council were compliant with the best value duty in relation to decisions on equal pay. To date there has been no response. We understand that a number of factors led the chief Financial Officer of the council to issue the section 114 notice last tuesday as laid out in the report and these included concerns raised by the external auditors and the provisions for equal pay and prior year accounts. The independent Auditors Assessment was that the revised estimated equal pay liability is likely to be more than £760 million and there is a risk it could be higher. This means in turn the 2021 and the 2021 22 accounts were materially misstated and the council did not have a fit sufficient reserves to mitigate the cost of the liability to for those years. In addition to the acute financial position stemming from equal pay the council is dealing with other difficulties and these include the cost of resolving the botched oracle of limitation which has estimated at £100 million. The residents and businesses of birmingham deserve better. The Intervention Package i am proposing today has two parts. First i propose today has two parts. First i propose toissue today has two parts. First i propose to issue statutory directions of the council and to appoint commissioners to exercise certain functions of the council as required. And second, i intends to launch a local inquiry to consider the more fundamental questions around how birmingham got to this position and options for how it can become a Sustainable Council moving forward that he was best value for its residents. I am proposing the transfer of the exercise of all functions associated with the Councils Governance and scrutiny of strategic Decision Making. And as part of the proposed direction the council would under the oversight of the Commission Prepare and agree an Improvement Plan within six months which would set out the council because michael plans to make the necessary improvements of the whole counsel to return it to a sustainable financial footing. The commissioners will challenge the council across operations and will have powers to make decisions directly should they deem it necessary. My hope is that the commissioners would not need to use all of these powers, nonetheless they must in my view have the necessary mandate to deliver the reforms required in the commissioners will of course give me and i will give the house a Progress Report at regular intervals. Ijudge that the scale and nature of the failings of the council is precarious situation and its failure to provide sufficient assurance to government that it is taking adequate actions are all highly concerning. I acknowledge the council is working with local Government Association on its own proposals on improvement and i have met with the leader of the council to hear his plans. But in accordance with the legislation i have now informed the council that i am minded to implement the package i have set out today to protect the interests and services of the people of birmingham and i have given the council five working days to make representations on the proposals i have set out. I am specifically minded to appoint max kohler and experienced Local Government professional commissioner to lead the intervention and also welcome representations from members of this house and others that may wish to contribute their views. Can i also thank birminghams mps for their engagements over the last week and especially my honourable friend the member for northfield who has especially my honourable friend the Memberfor Northfield who has been particularly engaged with this issue. It is important we all get to the bottom of how we found ourselves in this position and that is why as well as sending in commissioners i am also making it clear that we need am also making it clear that we need a local inquiry which can look at all of the deep questions including assessing the councils ongoing management of issues. And the subsequent Non Statutory intervention and we will consider options for how birmingham can improve in the future. I should make clear that everything i am seeing todayis clear that everything i am seeing today is not a reflection on the many hard working staff at Birmingham City council to continue to deliver Front Line Services for birminghams residents. Birmingham is not the only council where we have seen significant local failure. They have been problems in liverpool, slough, nottingham, woking and croydon. This government has not hesitated to act where poor Decision Making has been identified in the newly established Office Local Government will have an Important Role to play in the future where local authorities id identified as at risk of potential failure. It will bring Council Leaders together with others in Local Government to explore problems in more detail. Tougher scrutiny is vital when more budgets are passing on of hands of local politicians and officials. When local leaders fail to citizens were let down whose rubbish is not collected, whose Vulnerable People are not adequately protected. Birmingham is record is of ineffective and inefficient and unaccountable government despite our best efforts and significant support. This needs to change. I will take whatever steps are necessary to uphold the good name of Local Government, to protect the residents of the great city and i commend this statement of the house. Can i thank the Secretary Of State for an advanced copy of a Statement Today. Its been a while since we faced each other, 804 days exactly. A lot has changed since then. We are in our third a lot has changed since then. We are in ourthird prime a lot has changed since then. We are in our third Prime Minister, were fourth chancellor and i were different minister housing. They have crushed the economy, families face the worst Cost Of Living for a generation in Mortgage Rates have increased. But one thing has not changed. Local government has been pushed to the brink. Birmingham is the biggest, latest example. This is a deeply worrying time for people in the city. The issues facing the council are difficult and complex and administrations of all three Major Political parties have grappled with them in the years since they emerged. Since may, the new leadership in birmingham have been working urgently on this issue and have been clear they will take responsibility for tackling the problems facing their city. But they can only make that progress if he treats them as partners are not as political football so i welcome the comments he has laid out today in regards to the action and support he will give birmingham but can he assure us the commissioners will work with the citys elected representatives and leadership to tackle these problems together and can i ask whether his department is considering a similar approach to other struggling councils and will his officials be taking a deep dive into the areas he mentioned in his statement previously . In birminghams casey has mentioned that the large equal pay settlement as the straw that broke the camels back but he also told us that governance and Service Delivery concerns were raised by three independent sources. And of course that came after lord kerslakes review which found successive administrations had filled the city. He provided no support until the section 114 notice. Why does it take that for the government to take action on this scale . Like the rest of the country birmingham is facing the shock of spiralling inflation and battling a Cost Of Living crisis. In the face of all this the government stripped away birmingham as reserves. Can you confirm that amounts of £1 billion has been taken from the pockets of local communities over the last decade . You surely cannot deny that birmingham has experienced some of the most over the last 13 years and he must recall it was the Prime Minister who boasted of changing the funding for millers to take money away from deprived urban areas. Now faced with an eye watering equal pay claim which the leadership are rightly dealing with, birmingham has been pushed over the edge. He has admitted this by no means is a single case. Local authorities across the country are struggling and after 30 years he cant seriously say its all very own fault. Perhaps he can confirm only one council issued section 114 notice before his party to govern in 2010 but since then eight councils haveissued 2010 but since then eight councils have issued notice with warnings another 26 councils are at risk of bankruptcy over the next two years. So can he tell us why have so many local authorities of all political stripes already issued section 114 notices on his watch and this isnt a one off. So can i ask him what work his department is doing to support local authorities that are warning of financial distress now . The truth is this crisis in Local Government has been caused by the conservatives wrecking ball, with every swing another local council is pushed to the brink and another local Community Falls over the edge. Thats the difference between us. A Labour Government would oversee sustainable long term funding for councils and we would work with local authorities and push power and wealth and opportunity out of westminster. He finished his statement by talking about opposing the good name of Local Government, surely we can all agree Central Government has real questions to answer and will he finally grasped the nettle and take responsibility or is his message to local councils today that this is just the start of more misery to come . Tts today that this is just the start of more misery to come . Today that this is just the start of more misery to come . Its a great leasure more misery to come . Its a great pleasure to more misery to come . Its a great pleasure to be more misery to come . Its a great pleasure to be reunited more misery to come . Its a great pleasure to be reunited with i more misery to come . Its a great pleasure to be reunited with the i pleasure to be reunited with the honourable lady. 800 days apart, it seemed much longer. We have certain things in common. Addressing the situation in Birmingham City council which is suffering financial crisis, in particular as a result of the prospect of a £760 million bill to settle equal pay claims. Lets bring in our Midlands Correspondent who joins this from birmingham. We had lots of comments from michael gove with regard to the situation in birmingham. Just bring it up to speed as to how birmingham ended up effectively declaring itself bankrupt . Effectively declaring itself bankrut . � ,. ,. ,. ,. Bankrupt . Its a long story and if the struggle bankrupt . Its a long story and if the Struggle For Bankrupt . Its a long story and if the struggle for more bankrupt . Its a long story and if the struggle for more than i bankrupt . Its a long story and if the struggle for more than a i bankrupt . Its a long story and if i the struggle for more than a decade. It remains the largest local authority in britain. It has a population of 1. 2 million and some argue and have argued repeatedly that its too big to be run as a single local authority. They have been various moments in the past when it oughta be split into three orfour when it oughta be split into three or four parts so it is when it oughta be split into three orfour parts so it is more manageable and certainly one of the problems the city has is managing such a Large Population and a young population in such a deprived population in such a deprived population with all the problems that brings. They have constantly said a lot of this is down to Austerity Cuts which meant its funding has dropped over the past decade. But critics have said you havent managed the situation well. You heard michael gove referring to its equal pay bill and that is to do with the employed people in differentjobs for the with the employed people in different jobs for the council with the employed people in differentjobs for the council but who are on the same trade and jobs that were predominantly done by women whipping less than jobs done by men so that led to historic equal pay claims. I remember standing here in 2012 reporting that the council then owed £757 million in backdated equal pay claims. Today, that figure is at least £760 million and in the intervening 11 years they have paid out 1. 1 billion. Intervening 11 years they have paid out1. 1 billion. So intervening 11 years they have paid out 1. 1 billion. So the problem hasnt gone away. They still have issues with paying people at the same grade at Different Levels which means there are fresh claims coming over time and along with that and you mentioned the article it Computer System that was supposed to be introduced and it cost £100 million and failed. Lots of Little Things have happened had it meant they havent had to do a lot in the past decade, they sold off the crown jewels of birmingham back in 2015, that included the Nec Group Out near the airport, but they will have to sell off more and that might include some of the landmark buildings. It will involve lots of parts of the city which they own, like parks and buildings and shopping centres, they might come up for sale as a result to get some income in. That is the council is behind me and this work has been going on for ages and its costing £25 million. People might argue whats the point in this, why are you spending money on things like this when there are other things you could be spending money on. So its been a very difficult time. I have been talking to people today, people pay their council tax, one lady who lives in a Council House with her son and her disabled mum said its terrible that she would gladly hope they sell off those Council Houses to Housing Associations because she thinks it would be better run. We associations because she thinks it would be better run. Associations because she thinks it would be better run. We heard from the conservative would be better run. We heard from the Conservative Minister the Conservative Minister Criticising and attacking the labour city Council Leadership and is part of the statement from michael gove he announced he was intervening in the city and appointing commissioners would have wide ranging powers and establishing an inquiry to see what learnings can be made and how to effectively install a stable footing birmingham. Learnings or lessons as we used to say, commissioners will take over the running of the city council from next week. The city council is a Budget Meeting on monday, im not sure what the point of that would be if they are no longer in charge of Financial Decisions which is part of what the government commissioners will take over control of. We have gone through numerous chief executives, senior officials have come and gone, sometimes within weeks and months because itsjust been a very difficult place to run. Children services was failing for so long here that it had to be given over to an independent trust to run a few years ago and actually since then its turned a corner and is doing much better. The problem is there is a political element to this, the conservative government, Labour Run Local Council and it has been labour run since 2012. Before that it was run by the conservatives and the lib dems any coalition and the problems date back to that period. I again come back to the point that weve argued and heard lots of arguments which is is birmingham just too big and is it perhaps time to break up the city as a city council . We perhaps time to break up the city as a city council . A city council . We also saw a response a city council . We also saw a response from a city council . We also saw a response from the a city council . We also saw a response from the jeopardy l a city council . We also saw a i response from the jeopardy leader a city council . We also saw a response from the jeopardy Leader Of The Labour Party and she welcomed the labour party and she welcomed the comments by michael gove but also criticised the tenure of the conservative party saying the number of councils Notjust Birmingham also effectively announcing they are Ineffectively Bankrupt had risen under the tenure of the conservatives. Under the tenure of the conservatives. , conservatives. You will remember austerity came conservatives. You will remember austerity came in conservatives. You will remember austerity came in with conservatives. You will remember austerity came in with the conservatives. You will remember| austerity came in with the Coalition Government in 2010 when they had to make a lot of savings and that led to a contraction of what Local Government had to offer but also in other authorities that had to go through the same process that birmingham is brave had poor decisions made financially. Theyve invested in funds and in property thatjust hasnt invested in funds and in property that just hasnt worked invested in funds and in property thatjust hasnt worked well and thatjust hasnt worked well and that has caused problems. But there is no doubt that you will hear time and time again the attack on the conservative government is that it was austerity that got us to this place not for local management. And i remember standing here in 2012 when they first started saying we are going to make severe cuts and at that time because of austerity measures. The then leader of Labour City Council here told me this is the end of Local Government as we know it and i think he was right but its possible that a lot of local authorities have failed to adapt and failed to see the writing on the wall. , ~ failed to see the writing on the wall. ~ ,. , failed to see the writing on the wall. ~ i. ,. ,. , wall. Thank you. Just a reminder of what we have wall. Thank you. Just a reminder of what we have been wall. Thank you. Just a reminder of what we have been listening i wall. Thank you. Just a reminder of what we have been listening to i wall. Thank you. Just a reminder of| what we have been listening to over the last 20 minutes or so, the levelling of secretary michael gove addressing the commons and addressing the commons and addressing the commons and addressing the financial crisis and Birmingham City council, keeper of thatis Birmingham City council, keeper of that is the fact of the council is facing the prospect of a £760 million bill to settle historic equal pay claims. The council has already spent over 1. 1 billion addressing a similar issue. We heard from michael gove that he intends to intervene in the situation in the city that he will appoint commissioners who will have wide ranging powers, they they will also be an inquiry easy to see what learnings can be taken from the situation to improve the ongoing prospect of birmingham and Birmingham City council. Plenty more details on our website. Paying for access elon musk has suggested that all users of x may be charged to use the platform formally known as twitter. And black gold saudi arabia insists its Oil Production cuts are not about raising prices, as brent crude hits a year high. Welcome to World Business report. Im lukwesa burak. Lets start in the united states, where elon musk has suggested that all users of the ex platform, formerly known as twitter, may have to pay to use the service. The billionaire made the remarks at an event in california, where he appeared in conversation with israels Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu. Mr musk argued that a Payment System was the only way to counter bots, or automated accounts. 0ur north America Business correspondent, erin delmore, joins us. What it is a feeling where you are . Will or maybe installing this pay wall . , will or maybe installing this pay wall . , will or maybe installing this pay wall . , , will or maybe installing this pay wall . ,. ,. , will or maybe installing this pay wall . ,. , ~ , wall . There may be is one of the key oints. It wall . There may be is one of the key points it is wall . There may be is one of the key points. It is hard wall . There may be is one of the key points. It is hard to wall . There may be is one of the key points. It is hard to say wall . There may be is one of the key points. It is hard to say whether i points. It is hard to say whether elon muskjust