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671118

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Written Questions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House whether the failure on 10 January of the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice to answer Questions for Written Answer which had been tabled in November 2016 was in part due to those departments not being fully staffed to normal levels in the days following the bank holiday on 2 January.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jopling
	uin	HL4521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2017 answer text <p>As Leader of the House I take very seriously the responsibility incumbent on all Ministers to provide full, timely and comprehensible answers to Questions for Written Answer (QWAs). My office immediately approaches departments who have not responded to questions after 10 working days, and remains in contact with them until the questions are answered.</p><p>I am informed that due to ongoing technical problems with software used by the Home Office for processing answers to QWAs, the usual clearance process has experienced delays since October which have caused a backlog. I have been assured that steps have now been taken to safeguard against the problem reoccurring.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice recognise recent reductions in performance with regard to QWA responses, which I am informed is due to a reduction in resources​ ​as ​a result of process and system changes. The Department has assured me that they have taken steps to rectify this, including making further process improvements.</p><p>I have written to the Secretaries of State for both Departments to stress the importance of providing full and timely responses to QWAs and have written to my front bench team to reiterate the House’s expectations in the light of recent performance.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 23/01/2017 15:09:22 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	883 label Biography information for Lord Jopling

670707

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Homelessness: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to Centrepoint's statement to The Independent newspaper of 9 January 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of zero-hour contracts on the ability of young homeless people aged between 16 and 25 to escape homelessness in the long term.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	59370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2017 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling youth homelessness and ensuring that young vulnerable people get the help they need to secure accommodation and find employment.</p><p>That is why the Government has taken a range of steps, including investing £15 million in the Fair Chance Fund programme, which is currently supporting around 1,900 homeless 18-25 year olds with complex needs into accommodation, education, training and employment. We have also invested in other initiatives designed specifically to support young homeless people into accommodation so they have a stable platform for work. A great example of this is the £40 million Platform for Life programme, which provides affordable shared accommodation for homeless young people.</p><p>We have also taken steps to ensure that zero hours contracts are used appropriately and not abused. Measures in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 prohibit the use of exclusivity clauses or terms in any zero hours contract, which means employers cannot stop an individual looking for work or accepting work from another employer. On average, people on zero hour contracts work 25 hours a week and nearly 70 per cent of people on zero hours contracts do not want more hours, according to ONS figures.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 01/02/2017 15:05:53 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones previous answer version 29856 answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

670699

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Opportunity and Integration Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government's response to the Casey report includes providing extra resources to councils to fund ESOL provision.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	59394
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2017 answer text <p>Dame Louise Casey's report is comprehensive and covers a wide range of important issues, including the need for every community in Britain to speak English.</p><p>It is right that Government should take the time necessary to consider her findings.</p><p>In the spring, we will come forward with our plans for tackling the issues raised by Dame Louise, so that we can continue to build a country that works for everyone.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 02/02/2017 14:43:56 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones previous answer version 29837 answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

670688

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Public Sector: Migrants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the differences are between the purpose and use of the Migration Impact Fund and the Controlling Migration Fund; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	59253
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2017 answer text <p>As set out in the published prospectus, we have been clear that the new Controlling Migration Fund is about supporting established resident communities coming under pressure from migration, and reflecting locally identified priorities. It also specifically supports action to tackle issues associated with illegal migration, by better enabling local authorities to inform immigration enforcement priorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 16/01/2017 17:03:31 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones previous answer version 29828 answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

670698

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support high streets around the country.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that high streets throughout the country remain at the heart of their community and we have taken significant actions to help high streets adapt and thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists.</p><p>At Budget 2016 we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates – worth £6.7 billion across the next five years. The Government is permanently doubling the level of Small Business Rate Relief and increasing the thresholds to benefit a greater number of property occupiers. Eligible properties with a rateable value of £12,000 and below will receive 100% relief. This means that 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all. Furthermore, the revaluation of Business Rates will ensure business rate bills more closely reflect the property market and that all businesses are getting a fair deal.</p><p>We have also given over £18 million to town teams since 2010, funding successful initiatives such as “Love Your Local Market” and the “Great British High Street Competition”, which aims to recognise and celebrate some of the great work that is being done by local councils and communities around the country to help celebrate their high streets. The finalists for the 2016 Competition, which received over 900 applications and 500,000 public votes, included Thame, who were runners-up in the Small Market town “Place” category, and Chris Hurdman, who runs Thame weekly market, was a runner-up in the Market Champion “People” award.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brigg and Goole answering member printed Andrew Percy question first answered 18/01/2017 17:25:37 answering member 3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy previous answer version 29836 answering member constituency Brigg and Goole answering member printed Andrew Percy answering member 3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670880

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Public Lavatories: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of changing places facilities in shopping centres across the UK.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	59285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2017 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to support increased provision of Changing Places toilets and in 2013 guidance on changing places was introduced in to Part M (Access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations in England which states that:</p><p>&quot;In large building developments separate facilities for baby changing and an enlarged unisex toilet incorporating an adult changing table are desirable. Facilities incorporating adult changing tables are more commonly known as Changing Places Toilets and further guidance is available from the Changing Places Campaign website (<a href="http://www.changing-places.org/" target="_blank">www.changing-places.org</a>) or by reference to guidance in section 12.7 and Annex G of BS8300&quot;</p><p>In 2015 the UK Government and the devolved administrations provided a grant to MENCAP and the British Toilet Association, to develop a website mapping the location of every changing places toilet in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 22/02/2017 14:00:33 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell previous answer version 30236 answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

670697

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Planning Permission
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure pre-commencement conditions do not delay development.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2017 answer text <p>Imposing unnecessary or otherwise unacceptable pre-commencement conditions on a grant of planning permission can result in unnecessary and avoidable delays and costs to the completion of new development. That is why, as part of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, we are pursuing measures to ensure that these conditions do not cause unreasonable delays to the delivery of new homes.</p><p>The measures in the Bill are two-fold. First, to require local planning authorities to seek the written agreement of the applicant to the terms of any pre-commencement conditions before granting permission subject to such conditions. Second, we are seeking a power for the Secretary of State to prescribe descriptions of conditions and circumstances when such conditions may not be imposed. These provisions are aimed at ensuring that any planning condition meets the well-established policy tests for conditions as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 12/01/2017 16:50:57 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts

670712

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible properties.
	tabling member constituency	North Tyneside
	tabling member printed	Mary Glindon
	uin	59472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2017 answer text <p>The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that local planning authorities should consider the current and future needs of disabled people in setting their housing policies. In October 2015, new Building Regulations came into force which include an Optional Requirement for new homes to be wheelchair accessible or adaptable. This requirement can be applied by local authorities where justified by need and provided that the viability of new development is not compromised. Compliance with the requirement will be checked by a building control body.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 13/01/2017 14:13:51 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon

670705

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Right to Buy Scheme: Newcastle upon Tyne
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that Right to Buy does not reduce the supply of family and specialist council housing in Newcastle.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	59396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2017 answer text <p>The Reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme increased maximum discounts to realistic levels in 2012 and, for the first time ever, introduced a requirement that for every additional sale, a new affordable home will be provided nationally through acquisition or new supply. Under the scheme there are exemptions for certain types of properties, including sheltered housing.</p><p>Under the terms of the voluntary agreement on extending Right to Buy discounts, housing associations have committed to provide an additional home for each property sold on a one-for-one basis, nationally. They will also have the discretion not to sell a tenant the home in which they live in particular circumstances, which could include specialist housing.</p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 13/01/2017 14:11:43 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

670711

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2017
	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	Non-domestic Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on 100 per cent business rate retention.
	tabling member constituency	Witney
	tabling member printed	Robert Courts
	uin	59371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2017 answer text <p>By the end of the Parliament, local government will retain 100% of taxes raised locally, giving councils control of an additional £12.5 billion of business rates to spend on local services. To ensure the reforms are fiscally neutral, some existing grants will be phased out and responsibilities will be devolved to local authorities. This move towards self-sufficiency and away from dependence on central government is something councils have long campaigned for. We have worked in close collaboration with local government in how to implement this commitment, including through the Business Rates Retention Steering Group, which is jointly chaired by the Local Government Association and the Department for Communities and Local Government.</p><p>Last week, we introduced the Local Government Finance Bill that will establish the legislative framework for the reformed system. All relevant documents can be found here: <a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/localgovernmentfinance.html" target="_blank">http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/localgovernmentfinance.html</a>. We will continue to work closely with local government during the passage of the legislation, to shape the detail of the reforms.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 18/01/2017 17:40:02 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones previous answer version 29859 answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts