Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

65948

registered interest
date	07/07/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Home Improvement Agencies
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total number of home improvement agencies in (1) the United Kingdom, and (2) in each local authority area.
tabling member printed	Lord Swinfen
uin	HL875
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect this information. The Department funds Foundations, to act as the national body for home improvement agencies in England, and they maintain information on home improvement agency coverage across England. Further information on Foundations can be found at: <a href="http://www.foundations.uk.com/home/" target="_blank">http://www.foundations.uk.com/home/</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 14/07/2014 14:51:23 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	2235 label Biography information for Lord Swinfen

64604

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing to promote housebuilding.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>This Government has delivered over 445,000 new homes since 2010 and housing starts in the past year are up 31 per cent and the highest since 2007. I refer the noble Lord to my comprehensive Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2014, <em>Official Report,</em> Col. WS40, which details the measures that this Government is taking to promote housebuilding and increase housing supply across the country.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition to these measures, we are creating new dedicated Housing Zones to support housing development on brownfield sites in London and across the country. £200 million investment each from the government and the Mayor of London will create 50,000 new homes in twenty Housing Zones across London, and a further £200 million of government money will create ten Housing Zones outside London.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 09/07/2014 12:42:11 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

64633

registered interest
date	30/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Letting Agents
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will identify the redress schemes approved to accept complaints against letting agents, under the Redress Schemes for Letting Agency Work and Property Management Work (Approval and Designation of Schemes) (England) Order 2013; and what were their reasons for the selection of such schemes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL716
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In April 2014 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government approved 3 redress schemes, these are: The Property Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services Property and The Property Redress Scheme. The schemes were selected as they have met all the conditions for approval including demonstrating that they are independent, fair, effective, transparent and accountable.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 03/07/2014 16:25:34 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

63775

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Help to Buy Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have bought a house with the assistance of the Help to Buy scheme.
tabling member printed	The Earl of Courtown
uin	HL559
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>This Government is committed to supporting people's aspirations to own their own home. That is why we have introduced schemes like Help to Buy: Equity Loan, Help to Buy: Newbuy and Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee. The latest figures show that so far 35,317 families have bought a house with the assistance of the Help to Buy schemes.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 03/07/2014 16:25:01 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown

63101

registered interest
date	23/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Local Government: Audit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what local authority studies corresponding to those previously undertaken by the Audit Commission are planned for 2014–15.
tabling member printed	Lord Christopher
uin	HL510
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Commission will produce its final report under Section 33 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 in October 2014: Protecting the Public Purse 2014. The Comptroller and Auditor General was given new powers on 9 April 2014 to carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which relevant local authorities have used their resources in discharging their functions, under section 35 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 01/07/2014 14:49:25 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	3395 label Biography information for Lord Christopher

62810

registered interest
date	19/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Electoral Register
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in calculating the Local Government Finance Settlement, they make any assumptions about the sums that will be spent by local authorities on electoral registration.
tabling member printed	Lord Wills
uin	HL490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates are un-hypothecated, and no assumptions of spend on any particular service were used in the settlement calculations. The methodology for the Local Government Finance settlement for 2014-15 was set out for consultation in the technical consultation of July 2013 and the consultation on the provisional settlement of December 2013.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 01/07/2014 14:47:46 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	260 label Biography information for Lord Wills

62477

registered interest
date	18/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Affordable Housing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define affordable housing in terms of (1) maximum proportion of after-tax income of those on average earnings needed to pay rent, and (2) multiple of gross income needed to buy a house.
tabling member printed	Lord Marlesford
uin	HL406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We do not define affordable housing in those terms. The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (sections 68 – 70) defines social housing as low cost rental accommodation and low cost home ownership accommodation. In the Act, a low cost rent is simply defined as below the market rate. Low cost home ownership is defined by its availability for occupation on a shared ownership or equity percentage basis. This provides flexibility to support a range of people with different housing needs through our affordable housing programmes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For planning purposes, the definition set out in the National Planning Policy Framework is as follows:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>“ Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Social rented housing is owned by local authorities and private registered providers (as defined in section 80 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008), for which guideline target rents are determined through the national rent regime. It may also be owned by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the Homes and Communities Agency.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Affordable rented housing is let by local authorities or private registered providers of social housing to households who are eligible for social rented housing. Affordable Rent is subject to rent controls that require a rent of no more than 80% of the local market rent (including service charges, where applicable).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Intermediate housing is homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent, but below market levels subject to the criteria in the Affordable Housing definition above. These can include shared equity (shared ownership and equity loans), other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent, but not affordable rented housing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Homes that do not meet the above definition of affordable housing, such as “low cost market” housing, may not be considered as affordable housing for planning purposes.“</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 30/06/2014 12:37:21 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	1854 label Biography information for Lord Marlesford

62439

registered interest
date	17/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Forests
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what effect they consider that the provisions contained within clause 21 of the Infrastructure Bill will have onthe policy stated in their response to recommendation 27 of the Independent Panel on Forestry's Final Report.
tabling member printed	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
uin	HL377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There has been some uninformed and misleading speculation on this issue, as I am happy to make clear that the Infrastructure Bill's provisions will have no impact on the Public Forest Estate. This point was also made by my noble Friend, Baroness Kramer, during Second Reading on 18 June 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 899.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Clause 21 of the Infrastructure Bill is completely unconnected to the Government's stated policy to establish a new public body to hold the Public Forest Estate.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has no intention of transferring land from the new body to the Homes and Communities Agency, as the Public Forest Estate is currently in use and not declared surplus. As such, the powers will not be used in relation to this body and will therefore have no effect on it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Instead, Clause 21 simply enables surplus land to transfer directly from named public bodies directly to the Homes and Communities Agency, rather than being transferred into the ownership of a Whitehall department first, saving unnecessary bureaucracy. The underlying policy intention is to make it easier for surplus and redundant brownfield land to be sold and help build more homes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Clause 21 arrangements will only apply to public bodies included on a list set out in secondary legislation. I can confirm that this list will not include the new body to hold the Public Forest Estate.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 30/06/2014 12:54:39 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	3703 label Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

61944

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many households have been formed and how many housing units have been built in England in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member printed	Lord Patten
uin	HL362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Annual statistics on house building completions by tenure in England are published in the Department's live tables 209 (financial year) and 244 (calendar year), which are available at the following link.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building" target="_blank">http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Estimates of numbers of households in 2001 and 2011 are published in the Department's live table 401, which is available at the following link.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-household-projections" target="_blank">http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-household-projections</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Annual statistics on net housing supply in England, which as well as house building include change of use and conversions, are published in the Department's live table 120 (financial year) which is available at the following link.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing" target="_blank">http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 30/06/2014 15:59:39 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

61565

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Private Rented Sector Taskforce
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 6 May (WA 392), with which organisations representing private tenants the Private Rented Sector Task Force has engaged since its establishment.
tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
uin	HL334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>The Private Rented Sector Taskforce work closely with my officials in developing our policies in relation to the private rented sector. Together they engage with a wide range of private sector tenant groups including Shelter, Crisis, Generation Rent and its predecessor the National Private Tenant's Organisation, the National Union of Students, as well as individual private tenant organisations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 25/06/2014 13:53:36 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow