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1216331

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that rough sleepers who have been granted accommodation for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak will be able to remain housed safely, in the long term.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	62294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Almost 15,000 vulnerable people, including those who were street homeless, have been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown period, according to returns from local authorities to MHCLG.</p><p>Building on the considerable success so far, we announced that Dame Louise Casey is spearheading a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during this pandemic.  The Taskforce has one overriding objective: to ensure that as many people as possible who have been brought in off the streets in this pandemic do not return to the streets.</p><p>On 24 May the Government announced radical plans to provide thousands of long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during this pandemic. This ambitious commitment will be backed by £160 million this year through accelerating plans for the £381 million announced for rough sleeping services at Budget, bringing the total to £433 million over the lifetime of this parliament.</p><p>This funding will support up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation, with 3,300 units of this accommodation becoming available in the next 12 months. Homes England, in partnership with MHCLG, have pledged to work hand-in-hand with leading housing associations and local authorities to deliver this.</p><p>However, we are going even further. On 24 June we also announced that we are providing local authorities with a further £105 million to enable them to best support the nearly 15,000 people placed into emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This commitment will help to ensure that as few of these people as possible return to the streets. The funding will cover a range of interventions, from moves into the Private Rented Sector to procuring interim accommodation such as hotels or student accommodation.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 30/06/2020 13:08:42 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1216332

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Evictions: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to prevent evictions in the long term for those who have lost income as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	62295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has introduced an unprecedented financial support package to help renters continue to pay their living costs, including rent, by supporting businesses to pay staff salaries, strengthening the welfare safety-net with a £7 billion boost to Universal Credit, and increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates so that they are set at the 30th percentile of market rents in each area.</p><p>Emergency measures are also in place to ensure that tenants do not have to be concerned about being evicted at this time. All possession procedures in the courts are currently suspended until after 23rd August 2020 and the Coronavirus Act 2020 requires landlords to provide three months notice of their intention to seek possession.</p><p>The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary on arrangements, including new rules, to ensure that when the moratorium on evictions ends, the courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. This judicial-led work is to ensure that judges will have all the information necessary to make just decisions in the current framework and that the most vulnerable tenants will get the help they need.</p><p>The Department regularly engages with other Government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Work and Pensions, and HM Treasury, regarding private renters.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 30/06/2020 15:51:26 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1197551

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Temporary Accommodation: Domestic Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that victims of domestic abuse in all locations of the UK are provided with alternative emergency accommodation.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	49589
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>My Department’s priority remains for refuges to stay open, up and running, so victims can access support and safe accommodation.</p><p>On 2 May, the Government announced an unprecedented £76 million package of support from the Charities Fund to ensure the most vulnerable in society get the support they need during the pandemic. My Department secured £10 million of this package specifically for safe accommodation in England.</p><p>Where charitable services are devolved the Government has applied the Barnett formula in the normal way. We expect the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to receive at least £60 million as a result and we encourage them to use this funding to support victims of domestic abuse.</p><p>Where safe accommodation charities in England judge hotels and other alternative emergency accommodation to be necessary, safe and appropriate, they have been able to apply to fund such costs through this £10 million fund which closed on 21 May.</p><p>In addition, we have also put in place a system to enable local authorities who need additional accommodation to meet demand during the pandemic to book rooms for domestic abuse victims through a centralised system.</p><p>We will continue to engage with the sector as the emergency unfolds, to understand the additional challenges they are facing and how best to help them support victims and their children during the pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 04/06/2020 13:16:58 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1197555

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Planning Permission: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure public consultation on local planning decisions during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	49592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has made clear that local planning authorities should continue to prioritise decision-making during these challenging times to ensure that the planning system continues to function, especially when this will support the local economy</p><p><br>Local planning authorities are still required to undertake a formal period of public consultation of no less than 21 days, prior to deciding a planning application. Effective consultation allows local planning authorities to identify and consider all relevant planning issues associated with a proposed development. Where relevant considerations are raised by local residents, these must be taken into account by the local authority. Local planning authorities can choose to extend the consultation period if they consider it necessary</p><p><br>The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure, Listed Buildings and Environmental Impact Assessment) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 has introduced temporary regulations to supplement the existing statutory publicity arrangements for planning applications, listed building consent applications and environmental statements for EIA development in response to the coronavirus.</p><p>Local planning authorities (and applicants of EIA development under the Town and Country Planning Act) now have the flexibility to take other reasonable steps to publicise applications if they cannot discharge the specific requirements for site notices, neighbour notifications or newspaper publicity. These steps will notify people who are likely to have an interest in the application and indicate where further information about it can be viewed online. These steps can include the use of social media and other electronic communications, such as local online news portals, and must be proportionate to the scale and nature of the proposed development.</p><p>The Government has also introduced legislation to allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period. The Planning Advisory Service has produced guidance for local planning authorities on how to adapt their planning services in response to covid-19, including information on planning committees.</p><p>These measures will ensure sufficient public participation in the planning process is maintained.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 02/06/2020 14:19:41 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188336

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all non-essential retail stores are closed in order to (a) encourage consumers to comply with social distancing measures and (b) help protect retail store employees during the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>My Department led the preparation of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 which enforces the closure of certain businesses and venues, including many retail premises. This is to minimise the risk of transmission of novel coronavirus by encouraging the public to stay at home wherever possible. Only categories of retail business which provide vital services to the public such as food and groceries, hardware for home repairs, and medicines remain physically open. These closures are enforceable by law. Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers within local authorities have the power to issue prohibition notices to non-compliant stores and potentially issue fixed penalty notices to store owners or managers and begin prosecutions where necessary.</p><p>The Government remains clear that online retail can continue to operate, supported by the postal and delivery services which enable it. The public are using online retail as well as the stores that do remain open to access the products they need to provide for daily needs, to remain connected and to support upkeep of the home.</p><p>Where stores do remain open, we strongly advise them to continue to follow specific Public Health England guidelines for customers and employees. To ensure retail workers are protected under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, these measures will be monitored by Health and Safety Executive Officers or Local Environmental Health Officers depending on the premise.</p><p>The British Retail Consortium has also developed sector specific guidance on social distancing in warehouses and distribution centres aligned with the Public Health England advice that supports safety of employees who are enabling the retail sector to continue.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 15:02:18 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188391

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Council Tax: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to provide financial support to people in the process of selling property that have to pay council tax on two properties during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Council tax plays a vital role in funding the delivery of essential frontline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Where councils consider it appropriate, they have the discretion to offer council tax discounts of up to 100% on empty properties in their area. They also have powers to agree alternative payment arrangements with individual taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 15:00:44 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188564

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Rents: Students
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing support for students in rented accommodation through Government subsidies for (a) rent holidays and (b) a freeze on rent payable during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>We have announced a radical package of measures to protect renters, including students, affected by coronavirus. Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the current, 2019/20, academic year and we understand that most universities maintain hardship funds, which can be accessed where necessary. The Government has also announced unprecedented measures to support workers, including students who are workers under PAYE, during this period by paying up to 80 per cent of their wages.</p><p>The Department is actively engaging with stakeholders across the student accommodation sector, including private student accommodation providers, to understand the challenges posed by the current crisis and to establish the most effective means of supporting the whole of the sector.</p><p>The negotiation of early releases from contracts is a matter between the parties concerned. The Government encourages student accommodation providers, landlords, letting agencies and tenants to act flexibly and adopt a common-sense approach to issues that may arise in the current circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 28/04/2020 15:23:22 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1187187

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Rents: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the feasibility of introducing a ban on rent increases for (a) social and (b) private rented housing for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	33423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government have no plans to ban rent increases during the COVID-19 outbreak as we have already announced extensive measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus. Through the Coronavirus Act 2020, we have introduced legislation to delay when landlords are able to evict tenants. The legislation does this either by extending the notice period that a landlord is required to serve on a tenant to at least three months or, in some cases, creating a three months’ notice requirement where a requirement to give notice does not currently exist.  The Master of the Rolls, with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, suspended all ongoing housing possession cases for 90 days from 27 March 2020.</p><p>All tenants remain liable for their rent and those who can afford to should continue to pay it. At the end of this period, if arrears have built up, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account the tenants’ individual circumstances. For tenants in social housing, landlords will continue to work closely with residents to help them manage their rent and ensure they can access all benefits they are entitled to.</p><p>Alongside this legislative protection, the Chancellor has put in place an unprecedented support package including support for business to pay staff salaries, as well as a strengthening of the welfare safety-net with a £7 billion boost to Universal Credit, income tax and VAT deferrals. And we’ve increased Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they are set at the 30th percentile of market rents in each area. These significant financial measures will help to support tenants to continue to pay their living costs, including rental payments. We have also extended the three month mortgage payment holiday to landlords with Buy to Let mortgages whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties due to coronavirus.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 21/04/2020 13:17:31 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1179375

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Affordable Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the homes funded by the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2021 since 2016 are for (a) shared ownership and (b) rent to buy.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	18489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to increasing the supply of social housing and has made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to March 2022 to deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes in a wide range of tenures, including shared ownership.</p><p>Over 82,000 new shared ownership homes have been delivered since 2010.</p><p>Since 2016, over 48,000 new shared ownership and over 4,000 new intermediate rent homes, including Rent to Buy, have been delivered. Further information on this may be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply</a>.</p><p>The Government is committed to introducing a new, reformed Shared Ownership model, making buying a share of a home fairer and more transparent. This new model will be simpler to understand and will better enable shared owners to buy more of their property and eventually reach full ownership.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 27/02/2020 17:16:22 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1179377

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Affordable Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities meet the requirement for major planning developments to contain 10 per cent affordable home ownership, as set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published July 2018.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	18490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The National Planning Policy Framework was revised in July 2018 to make it clear that planning policies and decisions should expect at least 10 per cent of homes on major housing sites be made available for affordable home ownership.</p><p>The Framework does not represent a mandatory approach and local authorities are best place to assess what is needed in their communities. However, local authorities are expected to comply with the policy and secure the delivery much needed affordable homes for sale, unless they are able to provide evidence that justifies a different approach.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 02/03/2020 16:25:05 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman