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1175880

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>BEIS has funded the development of a modelling tool that enables local authorities to set carbon reduction targets, model the impact of various emission reduction interventions and report progress against their targets.</p><p>There are also reporting requirements that are relevant to energy use, for example the requirement in the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 that all 326 local authorities in England submit and publish reports once every two years, demonstrating what energy conservations measures have been adopted to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation.</p><p>BEIS uses the data submitted within these returns to inform policy development on energy efficiency.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 04/02/2020 15:27:55 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank

1236506

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is aware that there are significant disparities in the financial and non-financial support available for people across the UK. The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, in her role as Paymaster General, is working with HM Treasury, the Department of Health and Social Care and health departments in the devolved administrations to take forward the actions necessary to address these disparities.</p><p> </p><p>Cabinet Office officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the devolved administrations on the progress of this work. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of such discussions are not normally disclosed. However, the Paymaster General has committed to updating the House, the Inquiry, and those infected and affected as soon as these considerations have been concluded.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire answering member printed Simon Hart question first answered 22/09/2020 15:14:26 answering member 3944 label Biography information for Simon Hart

1236507

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>Organisers of package holidays are required to comply with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Consumers are entitled to a refund if they cancel a package holiday due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occurring at the place of destination or its immediate vicinity which would significantly affect the performance of the package or transport to the destination, or if the organiser terminates the contract because of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Given the evolving situation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its guidance for businesses to help them understand their legal obligations. This can found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds</a>. If the CMA finds evidence that companies are failing to comply with the law, the CMA will take appropriate enforcement action. For example, recent action from the CMA has led to an undertaking from TUI to refund affected customers by the end of September.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 22/09/2020 15:17:07 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully

1236516

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to supporting jobs in Wales and throughout the UK. The MOD recognises how important RAF Valley is to both the local economy and community. As the centre of our fighter pilot training, it is also incredibly important to the MOD, and the MOD continues to invest in RAF Valley.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 22/09/2020 15:43:17 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey

1236517

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The most recent figures for the number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is based on the school census for January 2020. The number of children eligible for and claiming FSM in January 2020, by major ethnic group and for Vauxhall constituency, London and England, are provided in the attached table. Education and free school meal provision is a devolved responsibility, so figures for the United Kingdom are not available.</p><p>Further information can be found in the annual 'Schools, pupils and their characteristics' publication, available at:<br><a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 22/09/2020 16:54:48 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford attachment 1 file name 91750 table showing pupils from major ethnic groups eligible for free school meals in 2020.doc title 91750 Table Attachment

1236754

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department has not had any discussions or meetings with National Health Service trusts regarding the implementation of the framework. It worked with NHS England and NHS Improvement to finalise the ‘Framework to assist NHS trusts to reintroduce access for partners, visitors and supporters of pregnant women in English maternity services’ developed in collaboration with the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Society and College of Radiographers.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 24/09/2020 16:02:31 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 49221 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

1236755

	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Long Covid
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>NHS England launched its online ‘Your COVID Recovery’ service to expand access to COVID-19 rehabilitation treatments for those who had the virus but are still experiencing difficulties, including mental health issues. This includes advice on how to manage fear and anxiety, coping with frustration and tips on how to look after your wellbeing.</p><p>National Health Service mental health services have remained open for business throughout this time and have deployed innovative digital tools to provide ongoing support, including for people experiencing mental ill health as a result of the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection.</p><p>The Chief Executive of NHS England wrote to NHS organisations on 31 July setting out the third phase of the NHS response to COVID-19. This includes that the 24 hours a day, seven days a week crisis helplines established by all NHS mental health services during the pandemic should be retained.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 25/09/2020 15:00:25 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 49220 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

1236757

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/10/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has previously held discussions to better understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19 with clinicians, academics and individuals who have long-term symptoms of the disease.</p><p>The National Health Service and the wider scientific community are currently working to better understand the disease course of COVID-19 infection, including the prevalence, severity and duration of symptoms, and how best to support recovery. The National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation have invested £8.4 million in the Post-HOSPitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID), led by the University of Leicester.</p><p>The research currently underway will continue to inform future NHS service design and provision.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 06/10/2020 16:32:01 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 49219 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

1236771

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any discussions with Cabinet Colleagues regarding the implementation of the NHS England and NHS Improvement Framework published on 8 September 2020 to assist all NHS trusts to reintroduce access for partners, visitors and other supporters of pregnant women in maternity services in England. The Framework is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/09/par001599-framework-for-the-reintroduction-of-visitors-throughout-maternity-services-sep-2020.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/09/par001599-framework-for-the-reintroduction-of-visitors-throughout-maternity-services-sep-2020.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 24/09/2020 15:52:45 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 49222 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries

1237341

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to building back better and investing in the green infrastructure that will help us to achieve our climate change objectives and level up the country. At the Plan for Jobs 2020, the Government announced an ambitious £3.05 billion package including the Green Homes Grant, designed to aid homeowners and landlords retrofit to upgrade the energy and cost efficiency of their homes. At Spring Budget 2020 the Government announced at least £800 million to support Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in two initial industrial clusters, the first by the mid-2020s and the second by 2030. CCS has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and factories. And on Tuesday (22 September), Dogger Bank Wind Farm announced the creation of almost 250 jobs in the North East on a project that will be capable of powering up to 4.5m homes when complete.</p><p> </p><p>Our upcoming National Infrastructure Strategy will set out our long-term economic infrastructure ambitions, focusing on decarbonisation and levelling up the nation.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is a global centre for sustainable finance with an established reputation in green finance and a frontrunner in the structuring, underwriting, and listing of green bonds, with more than 100 bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange, raising over $26 billion across eight currencies</p><p> </p><p>The government has been carefully considering the potential issuance of a UK sovereign green bond and will keep this under review. The government remains open to the introduction of new debt instruments, but would need to be satisfied that any new instrument would meet value-for-money criteria, enjoy strong and sustained demand in the long term and be consistent with wider fiscal objectives.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 91742 question first answered 24/09/2020 09:16:48 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen

1237457

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has been clear that the scheduled expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo in October 2020 would have major implications for regional security and stability. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with Secretary Pompeo during his recent visit to Washington and with his French and German counterparts on 10 September. The UK Government continue to engage regional partners, the US, and others, to find a solution to Iranian proliferation in the region, whilst upholding the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council. We will also continue to enforce sanctions regimes including those under UNSCRs 1540, 1701, and 2216 which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK encourages all states to implement national export control best practice in support of these regimes. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions on Iran will also remain in place until at least 2023.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 91734 question first answered 24/09/2020 13:47:40 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly

1237458

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK has been clear that the scheduled expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo in October 2020 would have major implications for regional security and stability. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with Secretary Pompeo during his recent visit to Washington and with his French and German counterparts on 10 September. The UK Government continue to engage regional partners, the US, and others, to find a solution to Iranian proliferation in the region, whilst upholding the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council. We will also continue to enforce sanctions regimes including those under UNSCRs 1540, 1701, and 2216 which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK encourages all states to implement national export control best practice in support of these regimes. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions on Iran will also remain in place until at least 2023.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 91735 question first answered 24/09/2020 13:47:40 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly

1239134

	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2020 answer text <p>Deaths are monitored on the Abortion Notification (HSA4) form and will be recorded and included in official abortion statistics.</p><p>Any complication known to the practitioner terminating the pregnancy should be reported to the Chief Medical Officer on the Abortion Notification (HSA4) form. All serious incidents should be reported by the provider to their commissioner, the Care Quality Commission and other relevant organisations in line with the serious incident framework published by NHS England and NHS Improvement at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/serious-incident-framework/" target="_blank">https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/serious-incident-framework/</a></p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 30/09/2020 13:59:07 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately

1313649

	hansard heading	Insects: EU Countries
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to action for pollinators, globally and at home. We regularly discuss and share information on research, policy and practical activities with a number of countries, in and beyond Europe, on reported declines and how best to address them.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is a member of ‘Promote Pollinators’, an international coalition of the willing, with 60 members, including countries in Europe and across the world, committed to action to protect pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>We have also supported collaborative international research which has underpinned such initiatives, including a major global review of the status and threats to insect pollinators, published in 2015 by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.</p><p> </p><p>The UK continues to play a leading role in the development of an ambitious post-2020 global framework for biodiversity to be adopted at the 15<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. We will be supporting ambitious targets to bend the curve on biodiversity loss by 2030 - including in areas which will help to recover insect populations, such as ecosystem restoration and species recovery - supported by strengthened reporting and review mechanisms to help facilitate the implementation of the targets.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 25/05/2021 11:25:28 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1313660

	hansard heading	Taxation: Treaties
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2021 answer text <p>The tax treaty between the UK and Canada does not override the provision of UK law that treats members of the House of Commons and House of Lords as domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.</p><p> </p><p>UK law also treats members of the House of Commons and House of Lords as resident in the UK for tax purposes. Where an MP or peer was also resident in Canada for tax purposes under Canadian law, a tie-breaker in the tax treaty would determine the state in which the member was considered to be resident for the purposes of applying the tax treaty.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 20/05/2021 14:26:15 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton

10021

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of losses to the public purse arising from applying the current accounting officer conventions in the period leading up to the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Gregg McClymont
	uin	154017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.</p><p>The UK Government is not planning for independence as it believes that people in Scotland will vote to remain within the UK. As such, the Government has made no assessment of the risk of losses to the public purse, and has no plans to change accounting officers conventions</p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander grouped question UIN 154018 question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
	tabling member	3949 label Biography information for Gregg McClymont

10022

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with officials in his Department on how the accounting officers' conventions would apply to investment in Scotland in advance of the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Gregg McClymont
	uin	154018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.</p><p>The UK Government is not planning for independence as it believes that people in Scotland will vote to remain within the UK. As such, the Government has made no assessment of the risk of losses to the public purse, and has no plans to change accounting officers conventions</p> answering member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey answering member printed Danny Alexander grouped question UIN 154017 question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1535 label Biography information for Danny Alexander
	tabling member	3949 label Biography information for Gregg McClymont

11895

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to consult on eligibility for free school meals ahead of the introduction of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	153906
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2014 answer text <p>We are working very closely with other departments, including the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, to simplify free school meals criteria under universal credit, while ensuring that free lunches continue to be available to the families who need them most. These discussions, which include consideration of a phased implementation timetable, are in recognition of the significant number and complexity of passported benefits across Government, most of which have different eligibility criteria.</p><p>We will allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new entitlement criteria for free school meals under universal credit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 26/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

5107

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the rate of underemployment in each UK parliamentary constituency in Scotland in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
	tabling member printed	Margaret Curran
	uin	153939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name Letter from ONS for uin 153939.docx title Letter from Office for National Statistics
	tabling member	3982 label Biography information for Margaret Curran

5108

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the total loss to the economy as a result of underemployment in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
	tabling member printed	Margaret Curran
	uin	153940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>This is not a matter for Cabinet Office Ministers.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	3982 label Biography information for Margaret Curran

5741

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department scrutinises the Fundraising Standards Board; when a review was last conducted; and what the outcome was of this review.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Glamorgan
	tabling member printed	Alun Cairns
	uin	153902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>Lord Hodgson assessed the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) as part of his review of the Charities Act 2006 and concluded in his report &lsquo;Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities&rsquo; that it had broadly met 10 of the 12 success criteria set out when it was established in 2006. The FRSB and Cabinet Office are members of the Steering Committee established in response to Lord Hodgson's recommendations to drive forward further progress in strengthening self-regulation.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns

7952

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed on zero-hours contracts in each government office region.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	154029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name Letter from Glen Watson.docx title Letter from ONS
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

9

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2013
	answering body	Deputy Prime Minister
	answering dept id	58
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the outcome of his Department's matching of the electoral register with Department for Work and Pensions data in communities with (a) seaside towns and (b) towns with high student populations; and what effect this work will have on the size of electorates in these constituencies.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	154454
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2014 answer text <p>As part of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration (IER), entries on the electoral register will be matched against data held by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the purposes of confirming existing electors, a process which will simplify the transition for the majority of existing electors. Last year the Cabinet Office undertook pilots to test this process and we published our evaluation of these pilots earlier this year which is available to download from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/simplifying-the-transition-to-individual-electoral-registration</p><p> </p><p>The evaluation report includes an analysis of match rates by population groups and while no specific analysis was undertaken of seaside towns, the results did suggest that match rates were lower in areas with high student populations. However, anyone who cannot be confirmed will still be invited to register individually and will retain their ability to vote in the 2015 general election. By using confirmation to simplify the process for the majority of electors it means resources can be focused on maximising registration among those people who cannot be confirmed, including individuals who are not currently registered. We are also currently running a separate set of pilots exploring whether data matching against DWP and other trusted national data sets can be used to find potential electors who are not currently registered but may be eligible to do so, in order to invite them to register. The results of the pilots, which are specifically targeted at boosting registrations among students, attainers and home-movers, will be published in the summer.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 25/02/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

447

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2013
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers and freedoms relating to (a) skills and employment, (b) housing and (c) economic development have been devolved since May 2010 to (i) local government and (ii) local enterprise partnerships.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	162343
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>[Holding Reply: Monday 1 July 2013]</em></p><p>The Government is taking considerable steps to devolve power and freedom to local government and Local Enterprise Partnerships.</p><p>Through the Localism Act, councils now have the general power of competence that enables them to do anything that an individual might do, apart from that which is specifically prohibited. In addition we have radically reformed the local government finance system putting levers and incentives in the hands of local authorities, for instance:</p><p>· The removal of ring-fencing from local government grants has given councils the freedom and flexibility over the money they receive and allows them to work with their residents to decide how best to make their spending decisions to fit their local priority needs.</p><p>· rewarded places that deliver growth, through the New Homes Bonus and Business Rate Retention.</p><p>· Local authorities now directly retain 50% of business rates locally which amounts to nearly £11 billion, instead of returning it to Whitehall.</p><p>· We established five pilot Rural Growth Networks aimed at tackling the barriers to economic growth in rural areas, such as a shortage of work premises, slow internet connectivity and fragmented business networks. These pilots expect to create up to 3,000 new jobs and support up to 700 new businesses, offering a local approach to local problems. We will share the lessons they learn with other Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Authorities to help them promote growth in other rural areas.</p><p>We have also given councils the ability to borrow against their Housing Revenue Account.</p><p>Through the city deals programme we have devolved powers and responsibilities to 26 cities. For example we have:</p><p>•provided levers to deliver the skills and jobs that local businesses and people need;</p><p>•created joint investment programmes; and</p><p>• devolved greater financial powers and incentives to invest in growth to all cities.</p><p>As we made clear in our response to Lord Heseltine's review of Growth, we intend to go further. We have committed to negotiating Growth Deals with every Local Enterprise Partnership through which we will allocate the Local Growth Fund and negotiate broader powers, freedoms and flexibilities where a strong case for decentralisation can be made. The Local Growth Fund brings together funding from skills, housing and transport and we have committed £2 billion in 2015/16 and it will continue to be at least £2 billion a year up to 2021. The Local Growth Fund includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>over £6 billion of transport funding;</li><li>£300 million of additional Housing Revenue Account borrowing;</li><li>£50 million of Local Infrastructure Funding for housing developers; and</li><li>£300 million skills capital funding.</li></ul><p>We are also for the first time putting £5 billion of European Structural Investment Funds for the 2014-20 period under the strategic direction of Local Enterprise Partnerships, bringing the total resource (including the Local Growth Fund) under the control of Local Enterprise Partnerships to over £17 billion up until 2020.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

18743

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2013
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding was allocated from Homes and Community Agency to (a) develop new affordable housing and (b) bring empty homes back into use in Harrow in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Mr Gareth Thomas
	uin	174351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>[Holding Reply: Thursday 7 November 2013]</em></p><p>The figures for affordable housing are as follows for the London Borough of Harrow area:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>£22 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>£45 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>£26 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>£15 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>£13 million</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Since April 2012, allocations from the Affordable Housing Programme have been overseen by the Greater London Authority rather than the Homes and Communities Agency. There have been no specific allocations on empty homes over this period.</p><p>As outlined to the hon. Member in the answer of 7 January 2013, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 121W, I would note that the new Affordable Rent model now allows for more affordable housing to be delivered with lower levels of taxpayer capital subsidy and lever in more private investment.</p><p>As the National Audit Office has observed: “The Department selected the best delivery model open to it for the funds it had available” and “The Department has so far achieved its policy objective to maximise the number of homes delivered within the available grant funding” (National Audit Office, “Financial viability of the social housing sector; introducing the Affordable Homes Programme”, 4 July 2012, HC465, pp.6-7).</p><p>I also note that the Mayor's proposed Housing Strategy states: “£1.8 billion of public funding has been secured by the Mayor which will unlock an estimated additional £3.7 billion of other investment for London to enable 55,000 affordable homes to be delivered between 2011-15” (Mayor of London, “The Revised London Housing Strategy”, December2011, p.35).</p><p>Across England, 170,000 affordable homes have been delivered so far since April 2010, and a total of £19.5 billion of public and private investment is being spent on affordable housing over the current Spending Review period.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas