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229087

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Floods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on introducing a statutory duty on the fire and rescue service to respond to major flooding; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent North
	tabling member printed	Joan Walley
	uin	228650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>In 2012, my Department, consulted interested parties on this issue. The responses supported the Government's view, that the local resilience forums are best placed to decide how to organise local flooding response, as they do for other emergencies. In 2013 the Government amended its flood response guidance to support the work of the local resilience forums, and to affirm that no statutory duty would be needed.</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Contingencies Act already requires fire and rescue authorities, and other responders such as the police, ambulance and local authorities, to work together to deal with a range of risks in their area, including flooding. This collaboration worked well during the flood events in winter 2013-14.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 26/03/2015 11:38:03 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	286 label Biography information for Joan Walley

228835

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2015
	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	Parking Offences
	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 prevent illegal parking on private property and land.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	228561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>On 12 March 2015, the Department for Communities and Local Government took on the policy responsibility for off-street parking, both municipal and on private land. We expect to consult shortly on areas where we can intervene to tackle unfair practices.<br><br></p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 24/03/2015 12:21:12 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228084

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2015
	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	Parking
	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 his Department's announcement, Government delivers on parking promises to help local shops, published on 6 March 2015, if he will take further steps to ensure that local authority parking schemes are more advantageous to motorists.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	228091
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>Higher parking charges and more parking fines were the explicit policy of the Labour Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Labour Ministers called for councils to charge for more services, including parking, bemoaning that: ‘Only one in five councils are using charging to the full potential... [such as for] reducing congestion’ (Speech to the Local Government Association, 2 July 2008).</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Planning guidance issued by the Labour Government in 2001 (PPG13) told councils to hike parking charges and adopt aggressive enforcement to discourage drivers.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Labour Ministers asserted: ‘The local government sector already has significant powers to raise revenue through fees and charges in return for the provision of services, and many councils have used this mechanism extensively to support local service delivery (for example through parking charges… The Government supports councils in looking creatively at the scope offered by fees and charges’ (DCLG, <em>Government response to the CLG Select Committee report into the balance of power: central and local government</em>, 18 September 2009).</li></ul><p> </p><p>Yet unreasonable parking charges and fines push up hard-working people’s cost of living. If parking is too expensive or difficult, shoppers will simply drive to out of town supermarkets or just shop on-line, undermining the vitality of town centres and leading to ‘ghost town’ high streets. This Government has rejected the Labour policy of encouraging higher parking charges and aggressive parking enforcement, and has been standing up for hard-working people and local shops.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010, we have:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Scrapped Labour’s Whitehall policy that pressured councils to hike car parking charges as a ‘demand management measure’ to discourage car use.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Removed Whitehall restrictions which restricted the provision of off-street parking spaces, and issued new national planning policy to discourage unnecessary restrictions on parking spaces being provided in new developments.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Abolished Labour’s Whitehall policy which inhibited parking charge competition between council areas, and instead introduced a new policy that says parking charges should not undermine the vitality of town centres, and stated that parking enforcement should be proportionate;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Issued new planning practice guidance on removing street clutter and encouraging the provision of shopper-friendly parking space provision.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Introduced the local retention of business rates, which means that councils benefit from business and retail growth in town centres, rather than just hiking parking charges.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Increased parking transparency through the local government Transparency Code so councils are required to publish how income from parking charges is being used.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Stopped the industrial use of CCTV for parking enforcement: this will commence in April following the Deregulation Bill receiving Royal Assent.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Introduced a mandatory 10 minute “grace period” at the end of on-street and off-street, free and paid municipal parking.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Introduced a new right to allow local residents and local firms to demand a review of parking in their area, including charges and the use of yellow lines.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Changed guidance so drivers parking at an out-of-order meter are not fined if there are no alternative ways to pay.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Reformed statutory parking guidance so it is less heavy handed with drivers, prevents over-aggressive action by bailiffs, positively supports local shops and clearly reinforces the prohibition against parking being used to generate profit.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Updated guidance so the public know when they can be awarded costs at tribunals; strengthened the power of adjudicators to overturn parking fines; frozen parking fines in this Parliament; the Government will also be trialling a 25% discount for motorists who lose an appeal against a parking ticket at tribunal on the full price of their parking ticket</li></ul><p> </p><p>My Department has now taken on the policy responsibility for off-street parking, both municipal and on private land. We will consult shortly on areas where we can intervene to tackle unfair practices. We will also address the issue of local authorities not offering any cash payment facilities in municipal parking.<br><br></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 25/03/2015 17:38:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

227487

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2015
	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	Empty Property: Shops
	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 reduce the length of time that vacant shops remain empty.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	227690
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2015 answer text <p>Our town centres and high streets have undergone dramatic changes over the last decade- the rise of online shopping, the effect of out of town retail parks and huge shifts in consumer spending patterns have all offered significant challenges. However, despite this, our high streets and town centres have fought back and up and down the country teams of local people are working hard to make our high streets great places to visit, live or work.</p><p> </p><p>A recent study from Southampton University showed how high streets are facing these challenges head on, meeting customers’ needs by offering a more convenient, creative and varied shopping experience, which increasingly offers more leisure opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, since 2010 national vacancy rates have continued to fall. Recent research by Deloitte showed that since 2009, high street vacancies as a result of high-profile administrations had been filled more successfully than those in out-of-town shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks.</p><p> </p><p>However the Government is not complacent and understands that the town centre needs to continue to evolve towards the provision of services and leisure alongside traditional retail. We are committed to supporting our high streets to embrace that change and to continue to hold their place at the heart of our communities.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has taken a number of significant steps to tackle vacant shops. We have relaxed planning rules to support “meanwhile use” as well as introducing new permitted development rights making it simpler to change use, so making it easier for businesses to respond to the needs of their communities.</p><p> </p><p>We have also taken forward a range of measures to tackle over-zealous parking enforcement that undermines the vitality of town centres, driving people out of town. We are restricting the use of CCTV ‘spy cars’ to enforce parking (through the Deregulation Bill currently going through Parliament). We have introduced 10 minute ‘grace periods’ when parking on-street allowing additional parking time before a late penalty is imposed, which will come into force in early April. We have published new statutory guidance allowing local people and businesses to demand a review of parking in their area, and we are reforming parking guidance so it is less heavy handed with motorists.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also introduced a range of support for high streets through business rates. As well as offering business rate discounts to new occupants of previously empty shops, the Government has doubled Small Business Rate Relief for a further year (2015-16) and offered a 2% cap on the inflation increase for 2015-16, for the second year. This comes in addition to funding 50% of all local discounts granted, increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 and offering a 100% rate relief for empty new builds. Finally, as announced at Autumn Statement 2014, the Government is also undertaking a long-term and wide-ranging review of business rates to ensure they are fit for purpose for a 21st century economy and allow our high streets to thrive.</p><p> </p><p>We have also championed the innovative use of vacant shops through <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-award" target="_blank">the Great British High Street Competition.</a> A number of the entrants set out the innovative ways that they are tackling empty shops on the high streets and we have promoted their examples on the <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/" target="_blank">Great British High Street Portal</a> and through documents such as <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/pdf/GBHS-Celebrating-The-GB-High-Street.pdf" target="_blank">Celebrating the Great British High Street</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 23/03/2015 17:42:01 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

227492

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2015
	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 Enterprise Partnerships
	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 promote best practice between local authorities and local enterprise partnerships.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	227695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>Since 2011 the government has funded the Local Enterprise Partnerships Network to enable them to come together to discuss issues of shared interest, provide a shared platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practice and support private sector board members to build capacity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We also established the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth in October 2013. The Centre, which is co-funded by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Economic and Social Research Council has a key objective which is to ensure that robust evidence is embedded in the development of policy on local economic growth and that new policies are effectively evaluated. As part of its work the Centre engages with an extensive network of practitioners, including local enterprise partnerships and local authorities to develop and disseminate best practice and develop communities of interest.</p><p> </p><p>Local Enterprise Partnerships, which are partnerships of local authorities and business are proactively working across their boundaries, often through the Local Government Association, on areas of shared interest.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 16:39:25 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

227496

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether firefighters aged 55 who fail a fitness test will receive an unreduced pension; and whether he plans to bring in legislative proposals to make this a statutory right.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	227579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January 2015. To underpin these the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees to maintain their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on application of the factors set out in Pension Regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p><p>Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p>Any firefighter will continue to be free to choose to retire from 55 onwards should they wish to, regardless of their fitness. In such circumstances, any benefits accrued in the 1992 and 2006 firefighters' pension schemes would be paid in full, while benefits earned in the 2015 scheme would be actuarially reduced by 21.8 per cent for a firefighter retiring on their birthday at 55, and reduced on a daily basis thereafter. The actuarial reduction of 21.8 per cent at age 55 compares very favourably with a reduction of over 40 per cent applied to firefighters at the same age in the 2006 scheme. The 2006 scheme also introduced a normal pension age of 60. Overall, our measures give firefighters one of the most generous pensions in the public sector and the strongest protections available for any public sector workforce on fitness and ageing.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 13:06:16 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

227099

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	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 fire authorities in England and Wales on pension rights for firefighters who fail fitness tests due to illness; and how many of those authorities have indicated to him that they cannot pay those pensions.
	tabling member constituency	East Antrim
	tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
	uin	227419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>I recently met with the National Employers to discuss firefighter fitness issues in England. Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2015 Firefighters Pension Scheme firefighters will accrue pension more quickly than their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will consequently achieve a higher ill-health pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 12:57:23 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

226240

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require fire authorities to provide a full pension to fire fighters between the ages of 55 and 60 if they fail a fitness test due to no fault of their own and cannot be employed in another role within the fire service.
	tabling member constituency	Wellingborough
	tabling member printed	Mr Peter Bone
	uin	227101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January. To underpin these, the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services. This discussion will be about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees in maintaining their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on the application of the factors set out in pension regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p> </p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is subsequently unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:35:07 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1581 label Biography information for Mr Peter Bone

226595

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2015
	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 estimate he has made of the number of small firms and shops likely to benefit from the planned reduction in business rates in (a) Herefordshire and (b) England in 2015-16.
	tabling member constituency	Hereford and South Herefordshire
	tabling member printed	Jesse Norman
	uin	908064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for 2015-16 bills, bringing the total support of 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement polices to £1.4 billion. This help includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>doubling small business rate relief for a further year. In England, this means an estimated 400,000 properties will pay no rates at all, while a further 200,000 properties will benefit from tapered relief;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>a 2% cap on the increase of the small business rates multiplier. This is a continuation of the 2% cap introduced in 2014-15 as part of Autumn Statement 2013 measures;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 from £1,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16, benefitting an estimated 200,000 properties in England; and</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>extending the existing transitional relief scheme for two years for properties with a rateable value up to and including £50,000.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These measures are in addition to previous Autumn Statement measures that continue into 2015-16, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>a 50 per cent discount for 18 months to new occupants of vacant shops;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>allowing businesses to keep their small business rate relief for a year where they take on an additional property;</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>business rates relief for empty new builds; and</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>allowing businesses to pay their business rate bills over 12 months, in order to assist with their cash flow.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Central Government also now funds 50% of any local discount granted.</p><p>Table 1 (attached) shows the estimated number of properties in 2015-16 within the Herefordshire Council boundary that will benefit from business rates measures extended in this year’s autumn statement. Table 2 (attached) presents this information for England as a whole.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 17:25:29 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 908064 Norman.docx title Table 1 - Business Rates
	tabling member	3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman

226610

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on resolving the dispute over firefighters' pensions.
	tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
	tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
	uin	908071
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 will come into force on 1 April 2015.</p><p> </p><p>The National Employers have agreed to work with the Fire Brigades Union to ensure that the fitness principles detailed in the Fire and Rescue National Framework, are incorporated into in local policies. The dispute should now come to an end.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/03/2015 15:49:48 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

224833

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions he has used his powers of intervention under section 22 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 since May 2010; and for what reasons he used those powers on each such occasion.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	226132
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>These intervention powers have not been used under this Government or the last Administration, as they have not been needed.</p><p> </p><p>However, as I made clear in my Written Ministerial Statement of 15 December 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 68WS, these are powers that could be used if the Secretary of State considers a fire and rescue authority is failing, or is likely to fail, to act in accordance with the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 06/03/2015 13:43:54 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

224420

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones
	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 promote the use of enterprise zones by businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	225862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>My Department works actively with UK Trade and Investment, BIS sector leads as well as local partners to promote opportunities in Enterprise Zones to businesses across the UK and overseas. UK Trade and Investment encourages and supports overseas companies to consider Enterprise Zones as a good place to set up or expand their businesses. They do this by working to support the marketing efforts on Zones and publicising opportunities for businesses within their international networks.</p><p> </p><p>This collective approach is working. By the end of 2014, more than 450 businesses had come to Enterprise Zones. Alongside this, there has been significant investment in infrastructure, including around £200 million of commitments from the Local Growth Fund. This will help to attract more businesses to Enterprise Zones in future.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/03/2015 16:58:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

223839

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2015
	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	New Businesses: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to coalfield communities to help develop new businesses; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be created as a result of such initiatives.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	225584
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government has funded the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Coalfields Enterprise and Growth Funds and the Homes and Communities Agency’s coalfield projects. Based on information provided by these sources, 38 businesses have been developed and over 25,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded.</p><p>The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has a history of supporting communities through the provision of training and health programmes, community assets, and small grants. Going forward, they have been allowed to invest in property assets to generate income and growth. They will also be providing small start-up loans and supporting people to make the most of employment opportunities.</p><p>We have created Enterprise Zones in former a number of former coalfield areas – in Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Kent and the Tees Valley – all helping to create growth in former Coalfield communities. For example, the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone aims to create 14,000 jobs by 2020 and has sites on former collieries. The Orgreave colliery and coking plant is now transformed into a centre for advanced manufacturing and Markham Vale is benefitting from capital grant funding to develop the successful business park. The Government has invested nearly £12 million into local infrastructure - £1.8 million investment in Sheffield Business Park Phase 2 and £10 million in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 03/03/2015 17:03:59 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

223848

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many business tenants are in place in each Enterprise Zone.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
	uin	225679
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>Since they started in April 2012, Enterprise Zones have reported that they have created over 15,500 jobs, and over 480 businesses have been established.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225680 question first answered 03/03/2015 17:05:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

223849

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many jobs have been created in each Enterprise Zone since May 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
	uin	225680
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>Since they started in April 2012, Enterprise Zones have reported that they have created over 15,500 jobs, and over 480 businesses have been established.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225679 question first answered 03/03/2015 17:05:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

223564

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many serving firefighters have served in that capacity for over 40 years.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Alistair Burt
	uin	225357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>This information is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 04/03/2015 15:44:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt

223565

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Medals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made in discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee and the Cabinet Office on introducing a further medal or bar to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for firefighters that far exceed 20 years' service.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Alistair Burt
	uin	225358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due course. <br><br>The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:<br><br>2010 - 1,737<br>2011 - 1,465 <br>2012 - 1,011 <br>2013 - 1,246 <br>2014 - 1,147 <br><br>These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225359 question first answered 04/03/2015 15:47:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt

223566

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Medals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many firefighters have been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Alistair Burt
	uin	225359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>The viability of awarding firefighters for service beyond the existing 20 years is currently being investigated by my Department. There are processes which need to be followed prior to discussion with the Honours and Decorations Committee taking place but officials are progressing the issue and will be in touch with the Committee in due course. <br><br>The number of medals awarded to firefighters in each of the last five year are as follows:<br><br>2010 - 1,737<br>2011 - 1,465 <br>2012 - 1,011 <br>2013 - 1,246 <br>2014 - 1,147 <br><br>These figures do not include Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 225358 question first answered 04/03/2015 15:47:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt

179283

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2015
	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	Market Towns
	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 support market towns.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	224325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government is fully committed to helping communities respond to the structural changes underway in our town centres. Since 2010, we have helped create over 360 town teams, including 27 Portas Pilots. We have funded successful initiatives such as ‘Love your Local Market’ and the Great British High Street Portal and awards. We have strengthened the role of Business Improvement Districts, introduced new permitted development rights and are tackling aggressive parking enforcement.<br><br>In addition, approximately 600,000 businesses are benefitting from Small Business Rate Relief with approximately 400,000 paying no rates at all.</p><p> </p><p>We announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for 2015-16 business rates bills in England, bringing the total support from 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement measures to £1.4 billion in 2015-16. That includes amongst other things:</p><p> </p><ul><li>doubling Small Business Rate Relief for a further year (2015-16);</li><li>increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 from £1,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Over half of the £1.4 billion package will go to retail.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 02/03/2015 15:57:04 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

178462

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	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	Coastal Communities Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have bid for each round of the Coastal Communities Fund but have so far received no funding.
	tabling member constituency	Southport
	tabling member printed	John Pugh
	uin	223747
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>The Coastal Communities Fund has had three bidding rounds to date, across the United Kingdom. My answer of 9 February 2015, PQ 223748, provided a list of areas which had received grants. I have placed in the Library of the House, a table listing the local authority areas from which bids have been received.</p><p>Ministers are not involved in the grant application or assessment process. The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for inviting and assessing applications to the Fund and makes recommendations to Ministers on which projects should be supported.</p><p>Whilst the Coastal Communities Fund is currently closed for further applications, I hope there will be further opportunities to support local schemes which have not benefitted from Government support to date.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 15:45:11 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1454 label Biography information for John Pugh

178463

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	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	Coastal Communities Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which coastal resorts have received support in more than (a) one round and (b) two rounds of coastal communities funding awards.
	tabling member constituency	Southport
	tabling member printed	John Pugh
	uin	223748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>The Coastal Communities Fund has had three bidding rounds to date. A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving details of 164 coastal communities across the UK that have received grants from the Fund in one, two or three bidding rounds. The table covers all grants awarded in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to date.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the coastal communities in the table, 22 grants were awarded to projects in local authority areas, and a further five grants awarded to cross local authority projects including two long distance coastal footpaths, where we do not have details of the individual coastal communities they will help.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers are not involved in the grant application or assessment process. The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for inviting and assessing applications to the Fund and makes recommendations to Ministers on which projects should be supported.</p><p> </p><p>The Coastal Communities Fund is currently closed for further applications. No decisions have been taken yet on whether there will be further bidding rounds. This will be a matter for the next Spending Review. However, I hope there will be further opportunities to support local schemes which have not benefitted from Government support to date.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 06/03/2015 14:36:52 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1454 label Biography information for John Pugh

178083

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many firefighting jobs are not front line in each fire authority.
	tabling member constituency	Redcar
	tabling member printed	Ian Swales
	uin	223671
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2015 answer text <p>We do not hold this information centrally.</p><p> </p><p>Information on staff strength and roles, by fire and rescue authority, is published annually in the <em>Fire and Rescue Operational Statistics</em> bulletin. The latest figures refer to end March 2014, and are available in Tables 3a and 3b of following publication:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-and-rescue-authorities-operational-statistics-bulletin-for-england-2013-to-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-and-rescue-authorities-operational-statistics-bulletin-for-england-2013-to-2014</a></p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 23/02/2015 15:57:47 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4045 label Biography information for Ian Swales

177677

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Official Report, column 1167, what progress he has made on ensuring that if a firefighter fails a fitness test through no fault of their own and they do not qualify for ill health retirement, they will get a redeployed role or an unreduced pension.
	tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
	tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
	uin	223325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The amendment of the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England, which places firefighter fitness principles on a statutory basis, came into force on 12 January 2015. The National Framework sets out that fire and rescue authorities must not only have fitness policies in place, but policies to support those who become unfit, including fully exploring opportunities for reasonable adjustments and redeployment. The National Framework also records my decision to set in train an independent review of these principles and their operation in three years time, and in the light of that review, to take such additional action as might be required to ensure the commitments made to Parliament are secured. No firefighter will see any change to their expected Normal Pension Age until 2022.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/02/2015 15:50:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes

176352

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2015
	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	Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when his Department last published data about the extent of deprivation in different parts of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	222450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government produces measures of neighbourhood deprivation in England. The most recent publication is the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2010" target="_blank">English Indices of Deprivation 2010</a>, published in March 2011. The devolved administrations each publish their own Indices of Deprivation but there is no UK-wide version. The Department is currently updating the English Indices of Deprivation, for publication in summer 2015.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 02/02/2015 16:40:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

176364

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2015
	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	Future High Streets Forum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions the Future High Streets Forum has met in the last 12 months; on what dates each such meeting took place; and which of the group's members were in attendance on each such occasion.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
	uin	222559
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2015 answer text <p>The Future High Streets Forum has met on four occasions in the last 12 months, on 29 April 2014, 8 July 2014, 7 October 2014 and 13 January 2015.</p><p> </p><p>A full membership list is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/future-high-streets-forum#membership" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/future-high-streets-forum#membership</a>. Members are free to either attend the meeting or send an observer.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 03/02/2015 17:28:21 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

176038

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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	Thames Gateway
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has for regeneration of the Thames Gateway.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	222265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221627 221628 221629 221630 221631 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

176368

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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	Economic Growth: Coastal 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 economic growth in coastal communities.
	tabling member constituency	Waveney
	tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
	uin	907348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>On 26 January, the Government announced £46 million of funding to 67 projects around England and Scotland’s coast. All of these will make a big contribution to supporting growth and jobs in these areas. In total, the Coastal Communities Fund is now supporting 211 projects across the UK with a value of £116 million and is forecast to support nearly 12,400 new jobs, and provide over 6,000 apprenticeships and training places.</p><p>In addition to the Coastal Communities Fund, many other Government programmes also support growth in coastal areas. For example, over £500 million was committed through Growth Deals in July 2014 for projects to improve the economic competitiveness of coastal areas, and a number of successful Enterprise Zones are encouraging investment in coastal locations.</p><p>The Government remains committed to supporting growth in all areas of the country, including coastal communities.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 02/02/2015 17:37:17 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

176937

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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 he has taken to support local shops and high streets.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Fleetwood
	tabling member printed	Eric Ollerenshaw
	uin	907349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>Since 2010, we have helped create over 360 town teams, given over £18 million to towns - funding successful initiatives such as ‘Love your Local Market’. We have increased business rate discounts for 300,000 businesses, strengthened the role of Business Improvement Districts, introduced new permitted development rights and are tackling aggressive parking enforcement.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 907350 question first answered 02/02/2015 17:34:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4141 label Biography information for Eric Ollerenshaw

176939

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2015
	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 he has taken to support local shops and high streets.
	tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
	tabling member printed	Chris White
	uin	907350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>Since 2010, we have helped create over 360 town teams, given over £18 million to towns - funding successful initiatives such as ‘Love your Local Market’. We have increased business rate discounts for 300,000 businesses, strengthened the role of Business Improvement Districts, introduced new permitted development rights and are tackling aggressive parking enforcement.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 907349 question first answered 02/02/2015 17:34:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4114 label Biography information for Chris White

175012

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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 Sector: Thames Gateway
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what Government support (a) is available and (b) has been provided to secure private sector investment in the Thames Gateway since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	221627
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221628 221629 221630 221631 222265 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

175013

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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 Sector: Thames Gateway
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of progress in securing private sector investment in the Thames Gateway since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	221628
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221627 221629 221630 221631 222265 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

175014

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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	Domestic Visits: Thames Gateway
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has for Ministers to visit locations in the Thames Gateway in the period up to the dissolution of Parliament; and what the planned locations of those visits are.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	221629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221627 221628 221630 221631 222265 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

175015

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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	Regeneration: Thames Gateway
	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 plans to take to ensure that development of new Thames Gateway communities is sustainable, cohesive and integrated.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	221630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221627 221628 221629 221631 222265 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

175016

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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 Sector: Thames Gateway
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of progress in securing private sector investment in Thames Gateway projects at (a) London Gateway Port, (b) Purfleet, (c) Paramount Park and (d) Southend Airport since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	221631
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Thames Gateway is a long term national priority for growth and the Government is firmly committed to working with local partners to help them deliver its potential.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked closely with investors across a range of projects, for example we have helped to secure £1.5 billion investment into the London Gateway Port by working hard with the Highways Agency to ensure that road capacity was not a barrier to the Dubai Ports World investment. London Paramount is another major potential investment which could bring up to 15 million visitors a year to the area. I am delighted to hear that Lafarge Tarmac has now agreed a deal with London Resort Company Holdings to sell their land in the Swancombe Peninsula in north Kent, which is needed for the creation of this entertainment resort.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to encouraging investors, Government is itself providing funding for a number of major projects in the area. These are set out in the attached document.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 221627 221628 221629 221630 222265 question first answered 25/03/2015 11:08:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 690691 Brown.docx title Thames Gateway - Major Projects
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

175017

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1148-56, if the Minister will meet the Fire Brigades Union and fire authority employers, and their respective legal representatives, to discuss how commitments that she gave in that debate on fire service pensions will be implemented in practice; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Blaydon
	tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
	uin	221637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>My Department will be working with representative bodies and the employers in the fitness working group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser to provide good practice on the application of the firefighter fitness principles now incorporated into the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England. We have also agreed to set in train an independent review of the operation of these principles in three years time, and in the light of that review, to take such additional action as might be required to ensure the commitments made to Parliament are secured.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 28/01/2015 15:10:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

174684

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2015
	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	Coastal Communities Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, persuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 906630, what the 117 projects funded by the Coastal Communities Fund are.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	221354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2015 answer text <p>A table (attached) has been placed in the Library of the House giving details of the 211 projects awarded grants under the Coastal Communities Fund to date. These include the 117 projects referred to in the Answer of 15 December 2014 and a further 94 projects which have been awarded grants from the Fund since then. The table covers all grants awarded in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 30/01/2015 17:16:04 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt attachment 1 file name 221354 Ruane - Table of CCF Awards Rounds 1 to 3.xlsx title Table of CCF Projects
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

173892

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2015
	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: Oxfordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assistance has been (a) requested from or (b) offered by his Department to South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils following the fire at their offices in Crowmarsh Gifford.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	220895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p>Following the fire at the council offices on 15 January local business continuity arrangements were immediately put into place. Telephone calls were made to Councillor John Cotton, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, and Councillor Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, on the day to offer support and no central government assistance was requested. I would like to pay tribute to Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, and to neighbouring fire and rescue services that supported them, for their response to this incident, and to council officials who have maintained essential council services. Officials from Fire, Resilience and Emergencies Directorate have been in contact with Oxfordshire's Chief Fire Officer, Dave Etheridge.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/01/2015 17:24:18 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171064

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Portsmouth North of 15 December 2014, Official Report, column 115, for what reasons a statutory instrument was not laid on 16 December 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	219076
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219072 219101 219217 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171067

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	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 the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at his Department on 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1115 and 1153, by what mechanisms the Written Ministerial Statement and Statutory Instrument will guarantee that if a firefighter does not have an underlying medical condition and they cannot pass the fitness test, either they will receive an alternative role or be offered an unreduced pension.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	219072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219076 219101 219217 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171070

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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	Fire Prevention
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department allocated to the Fire Kills campaign in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	219100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>The award-winning Fire Kills campaign promotes a range of fire safety messages, primarily around the importance of working smoke alarms, to help drive down the number of fires and associated casualties.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Outturn spending by my Department on the Fire Kills campaign was £898,000 in 2010-11, £980,000 in 2011-12, £946,000 in 2012-13 and £840,000 in 2013-14. Allocated spend in 2014-15 is £1 million. All figures exclude VAT.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The campaigns are run in conjunction with local fire and rescue authorities, who will also undertake expenditure. We also work with national (commercial) partners at no direct cost to taxpayers. Recent partners have included B&amp;Q and Sprue Safety Products, Ei Electronics, British Beer and Pubs Association, Poundland, Netmums, Working Mums, Boat Safety Scheme, Zurich Municipal Insurance and the Post Office, HETAS and 20th Century Fox (in conjunction with the film &quot;How to Train Your Dragon 2&quot;).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The 2013-14 Fire Kills report can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-kills-campaign-annual-report-2013-to-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-kills-campaign-annual-report-2013-to-2014</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/01/2015 14:27:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt previous answer version 36983 answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171071

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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	Fire and Rescue Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Portsmouth North, of 15 December 2014, Official Report, column 1153, what steps he will take to audit compliance with new arrangements for firefighters aged over 55 by fire and rescue services over the next three years.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	219101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219072 219076 219217 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

171262

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library a copy of the review of 20 fire and rescue authorities' fitness policies undertaken by his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	219217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Fire and Rescue Authorities (National Framework) (England) (Revision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3317) was made on 16 December. It was laid in Parliament on 18 December, following the normal process, and has been published at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2014/3317</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England sets out the principles we expect fire and rescue authorities to have regard to in setting their fitness policies and procedures and their approach to firefighters who lose fitness to support them in working to 60. The mechanisms by which fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to the National Framework along with the associated powers of intervention, inspection and reporting are set out in Sections 21 to 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. We will be undertaking a review of the National Framework principles in three years time, after consultation with partners in the fire and rescue service, and at that stage will assess whether any further action is required.</p><p> </p><p>Dr Williams found that “Based on current practices of setting a standard of 42 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max but allowing firefighters to remain operational at a 35 mL∙kg∙min-1 VO2max”. The Department considered the policies that were submitted to that review and agreed with Dr Williams’ assessment of current practice. I have placed copies of the fitness policies that the Department considered in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 219072 219076 219101 question first answered 05/01/2015 16:21:37 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

170629

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Cheshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many non-frontline roles are currently available in (a) Warrington and (b) Cheshire for firefighters who cannot meet fitness requirements for reasons beyond their control.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Helen Jones
	uin	218897
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 December 2014, PQ 217653.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 05/01/2015 14:03:37 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

170158

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2014
	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	Coastal 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 coastal communities.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Fleetwood
	tabling member printed	Eric Ollerenshaw
	uin	906630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>This Government remains committed to helping all coastal communities thrive. The Coastal Communities Fund is supporting 117 projects across the UK, to the tune of £62 million, and we are looking forward to announcing a further tranche of successful projects in the New Year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 15/12/2014 17:05:53 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4141 label Biography information for Eric Ollerenshaw

170160

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2014
	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	Small Businesses: 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 estimate he has made of the number of small firms and shops in (a) England and (b) Thurrock which will have a reduction in business rates in 2015-16.
	tabling member constituency	Thurrock
	tabling member printed	Jackie Doyle-Price
	uin	906629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>I refer my hon. Friend to my earlier answer at oral questions today to my hon. Friend, the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Pauline Latham), PQ 906620.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Our retail relief is benefitting 450 businesses in Thurrock and Small Business Rate Relief is benefiting 950 businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Our rates retention scheme gives authorities a strong growth incentive. Councils benefit from nearly £11 billion under the scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 15/12/2014 17:22:13 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price

168602

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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	Fire Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the general (a) minimum fitness standard and (b) at risk standard where firefighters are allowed to continue on operational duties for a limited period while they undergo remedial fitness in respect of each fire and rescue service in England.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	217648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>There is no national fitness standard for firefighters in England. It is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities to put in place appropriate fitness standards for their employees.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 11/12/2014 16:57:02 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

168604

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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	Fire Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many redeployment opportunities there are within the Fire and Rescue Service to accommodate firefighters who are unable to maintain an operational fitness standard.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	217653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>We do not keep data on redeployment opportunities for firefighters. If a person has a permanent medical condition preventing them undertaking their role, they would be eligible for ill health retirement.<br><br>The role of firefighters has changed dramatically over recent years. Firefighters engage in more specialist roles and work more closely with the community to prevent fires and reduce other risks. More diverse roles demand new approaches to workforce management and these provide the opportunities for a more diverse workforce, including older workers, bringing a wider range of skills and experience to bear in serving their communities, and a more sophisticated approach to measuring operational fitness.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 11/12/2014 16:56:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

168605

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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	Fire Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Firefighter Fitness Standards and Assessment: Consultation on amendment to the fire and rescue national framework published on 28 October 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	217654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>We intend to publish my Department's response to the consultation on Firefighters Standards and Assessment shortly.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 11/12/2014 17:00:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

168611

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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 Housing: Fires
	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 reduce the number of domestic fires in the private rented sector caused by electricity; and if he will make it his policy to introduce five-yearly electrical safety checks.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
	uin	217711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>All landlords are required to keep their property safe and we expect that to include regular checks of the electrics.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s Fire Kills campaign promotes electrical fire safety messages to all households. This campaign includes Electrical Fire Safety Week which this year ran from 10-16 November. The week is specifically designed to raise awareness of the importance of electrical safety and endorse the message that installations should be checked every five years.</p><p> </p><p>Electrical hazards are also included in the health and safety rating system. Under the system local authorities have strong powers to inspect properties and make sure they are safe, healthy and free from harm. Powers are available to local authorities where serious hazards are found in properties, including prohibiting use of the dwelling; undertaking the works directly themselves; and prosecuting the landlords, if necessary. The system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe and decent.</p><p> </p><p>In addition we are currently looking into the related issue of whether to require the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that tenants have confidence that the homes they are renting are safe and decent. We are using, and will continue to use, a variety of approaches to improve standards in the private rented sector.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 15/12/2014 16:13:07 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

168615

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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: Fires
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the annual number of domestic fires in England caused by (a) electrical misuse and (b) domestic electrical distribution faults.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
	uin	217712
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2014 answer text <p>The Incident Recording System records information about every incident attended by Fire and Rescue Services.</p><p>There were 28,034 accidental dwelling fires attended by Fire and Rescue Services in England during 2013/14.</p><p>In 7,254 cases, the power source involved in the ignition was reported to have been electricity and the main cause deemed to have been misuse of electrical equipment or appliance. Of these, 1,387 were through negligent use of electrical equipment or appliances, and the remaining 5,867 related to cooking using electrical appliances (excluding chip pans and deep fat fryers).</p><p>In 2,482 cases, the cause of ignition was reported to have been electricity supply, involving wiring, cabling or plugs.</p><p>Note that 2013/14 figures are provisional, and are likely to be slight undercounts as one Service was unable to supply a complete set of records.<br><br>The Department’s Fire Kills campaign promotes electrical fire safety messages to all households in close partnership with Electrical Safety First. The key mechanism for promoting these messages is Electrical Fire Safety Week, which ran from 10 to 16 November.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 16/12/2014 16:45:45 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick