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58430

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Sleeping Rough: North West
	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 rough sleepers there were in each local authority in the North West in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton North East
	tabling member printed	Mr David Crausby
	uin	199273
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 September 2012, <em>Official Report,</em> Column 32WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by the former government office regions. National and local authority data on rough sleeping can be found in the Rough Sleeping in England statistical release, which can be found on the Department's website at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collectinos/homelessness-statistics#rough-sleeping" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collectinos/homelessness-statistics#rough-sleeping</a>.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>We are investing £470 million over the current spending review period to help local authorities and voluntary sector partners prevent and tackle homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions. This includes £20 million to support the roll out of the ‘No Second Night Out' standard and protect vital front line services. We have also supported the voluntary sector to deliver 'StreetLink' a national rough sleeping hotline, website and app, to connect rough sleepers to local services.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>On 10 June we announced that over £65 million of funding across Whitehall is being offered to councils and other organisations to tackle homelessness around the country and ensure that vulnerable people can access a range of support and lead independent lives.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 12/06/2014 15:49:47 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	437 label Biography information for Sir David Crausby

45210

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2014
	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
	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 Government Response to Lord Heseltine's report No Stone Unturned: in Pursuit of Growth, when he expects to publish a draft legislative reform order to ensure that the current legislation on combined authorities is fit for purpose.
	tabling member constituency	Corby
	tabling member printed	Andy Sawford
	uin	193920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>As I told the House on 18 March 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 704, and as my rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles) indicated on 3 March 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 621, we are minded to amend legislation to allow councils that do not share the same boundaries to join a combined authority, if they wish. This change can be delivered through a Legislative Reform Order, subject to statutory consultation and approval of Parliament.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4265 label Biography information for Andy Sawford

60446

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Council Tax
	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 make it his policy to apply the referendum provisions regarding council tax rises to parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	199535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 5 February 2014, <em>Official Report</em> columns 19-21WS, in particular, the section on town and parish councils which states:</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p><em>We have not determined principles for local precepting authorities in 2014-15, but we are putting on notice that we are prepared if necessary to apply the referendum thresholds to larger town and parish councils from 2015-16 onwards to provide protection for local taxpayers and extend the principle of direct democracy.</em></p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 16/06/2014 15:34:15 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

76294

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Sustainable Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in which instances the Planning Inspectorate has (a) removed and (b) amended to weaken (i) the code for sustainable homes and (ii) BREEAM standards from a development plan document prepared by a local planning authority since 13 March 2014; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	204645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>There has been one instance, in relation to draft Bath and North East Somerset Core Strategy.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Written Ministerial Statement of 13 March 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 32WS, sets out the Government's clear policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing housing standards currently in operation. This will enable quality and sustainable housing developments to be brought forward more easily but without compromising essential safety and accessibility protections. The outcome of the Review means that many of the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be consolidated into Building Regulations, which would require substantial changes to the content of the current Code, as well as a reconsideration of its role. In the light of this, the Government thinks that the current Code will need to be wound down to coincide with the changes incorporating the new standards coming into force. The Government will make further announcements soon on the transitional arrangements, and the handling of legacy developments being built out to current Code requirements.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>For a Local Plan to be &quot;sound&quot; it must be consistent with national policy. In this context, Bath and North East Somerset's proposals to place the Code for Sustainable Homes into planning policy was contrary to the direction of the new national policy of consolidating these standards into the building regulation regime.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 15/07/2014 15:28:22 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

65660

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Construction
	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 (a) review and (b) amend or provide an exemption to the five-year housing land availability test for councils who have land on the proposed High Speed 2 rail route.
	tabling member constituency	North East Derbyshire
	tabling member printed	Natascha Engel
	uin	203897
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>High Speed 2 provides the opportunity to be a significant catalyst for locally-led growth and regeneration at proposed station locations, with the potential to support new homes and new jobs, benefiting from the new high-speed connections. This is illustrated by how High Speed 1 has helped extend regeneration and growth across East London and Kent. The Government will in due course be responding to the High Speed 2 Growth Taskforce Report on how best to work with local councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships to seize the regeneration opportunities from the new line.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This Government is a strong advocate of locally-led development. The Local Plan process helps councils shape where new development should and should not go. In that context, it does not make sense to exempt councils along the route from having an up to date Local Plan; councils should be in the driving seat to determine what it best for their local communities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 10/07/2014 16:20:31 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	1507 label Biography information for Natascha Engel

45438

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2014
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	194034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>As I indicated in my answer of 13 September 2013, <em>Official Report, </em>Column 884W, Ministers in this Department do not believe it is appropriate for public resources to be used to support the collection and administration of membership subscriptions and believe is an outdated and unnecessary 20<sup>th </sup>century practice.</p><p> </p><p>It is also unsatisfactory that some trade unions collect the political levy via check-off, but make no attempt to inform would-be members that the political levy is optional, or even mention the right to opt out on their membership forms. It is the view of Ministers that this is a misleading and dubious marketing practice through omission.</p><p> </p><p>I can confirm that we are taking further steps to review such practices.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 08/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

50214

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that accessible toilets for disabled people in buildings other than private dwellings comply with published national standards.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL6932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>In buildings other than dwellings, Part M of the Building Regulations requires that reasonable provision is made for accessible toilets where relevant types of building work are undertaken. Statutory guidance on how that can be achieved is contained in <em>Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings)</em>. The building control body is responsible for ensuring that relevant building work complies with this requirement.</p><p> </p><p>Provisions in the Equality Act 2010 require employers and those providing a service to the public or carrying out a public function to make a “reasonable adjustment”, so that disabled people are not placed at a “substantial disadvantage” compared to non-disabled people. Ultimately, only a court can decide what is “reasonable” in any particular case. However, Part 4 of the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010, prescribes circumstances in which it is not reasonable for such a body to remove or alter a physical feature which was provided in or in connection with a building to assist with access to the building or the use of facilities and which satisfy the relevant design standard. The Schedule to these Regulations provides details of how to determine whether the design standard is satisfied, and refers to design considerations and provisions in Approved Document M.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

57739

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account he takes of local referendums on the desirability of specific sites being allocated to new housing.
	tabling member constituency	Bassetlaw
	tabling member printed	John Mann
	uin	198539
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>This Coalition Government have given communities radical new rights to plan for their areas, deliver the development they want and control their future. Over 1,000 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, and neighbourhood plans are receiving overwhelming support through local referendums. So far we have had 17 successful referendums on neighbourhood plans.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A neighbourhood plan (including any specific sites within it) which has been supported by the majority of those voting in a referendum can form the basis for decisions on development in the local area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A neighbourhood development order, if endorsed by a local referendum, can also grant permission for specified developments in a neighbourhood area.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 10/06/2014 14:54:59 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

57710

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what change there was in the number of homelessness acceptances arising from the end of a private sector tenancy in (a) Bury St Edmunds, (b) Suffolk and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
	tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
	uin	198572
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>To assist public scrutiny, a table showing homelessness acceptances due to loss of private sector tenancy, by local authority, in each year from 2003 to 2013 is available in the Library of the House,</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Data is not collected by parliamentary constituency.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The dataset shows that under the last Administration, the average numbers were higher than under this Administration, especially when taking into account the changes in the overall size of the private rented sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I would note that the rental sector policies of HM Opposition would make the problem worse, by reducing availability of private rented accommodation, forcing up rents and discouraging investment in the private rented sector. By contrast, this Government is increasing house building, delivering £19.5 billion of investment in affordable housing, supporting billions of private investment in new private rented accommodation, providing £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness, and avoiding the excessive regulation which would harm the interests of tenants.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 11/06/2014 15:29:14 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley

35983

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local planning authorities in (a) improving the viability of brownfield sites and (b) restarting stalled developments.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	185957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>Kick-starting stalled developments</em></p><p>This Government has introduced a series of measures to support stalled house building. These include:</p><p>· The Get Britain Building investment fund, providing over £500 million of finance which has so far helped start 11,893 new homes on stalled sites (as of February 2014).</p><p>· The Growing Places Fund is providing £770 million to deliver the infrastructure needed to unlock stalled schemes that will promote economic growth, create jobs and build homes. The fund has been fully allocated to Local Enterprise Partnerships and the devolved administrations to fund local projects.</p><p>· The £474 million Local Infrastructure Fund investment fund is supporting the delivery of upfront infrastructure for locally-supported, large scale housing sites and commercial development; it also provides capacity funding and brokerage support to local authorities to help them progress major schemes through the planning process. Nearly 80,000 homes have been unlocked on fifteen different sites. A further thirteen schemes are currently being assessed for investment, which we believe have the potential to deliver nearly 40,000 homes.</p><p>· The Autumn Statement committed an additional £1 billion of Local Infrastructure Fund funding to unlock locally-led housing schemes capable of delivering up to a further 250,000 new homes, and a second round prospectus will be published in due course.</p><p>· The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 enables developers with any Section 106 agreement to apply for a review of the affordable housing component to ensure development is not being made unviable by unrealistic requirements. Such unviable Section 106 agreements result in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits: a sensible review can result in more housing and more affordable housing.</p><p>· As the housing market has improved, we have ended the temporary measure (introduced by the last Administration) which allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions; this ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires.</p><p>· We are also seeking to tackle the inappropriate use of planning conditions and speed up the process of gaining non-planning consents.</p><p>· The Budget announced a £525 million Builders' Finance Fund to assist small and medium sized developers to access finance to support the delivery of housing schemes of between 15 and 250 units, helping kick-start stalled sites and deliver around 15,000 units over four years.</p><p><em>Supporting development on brownfield land</em></p><p>Freeing up brownfield land for regeneration and development is a key priority for my department. Our actions include:</p><p>· We have amended planning regulations to make it easier to change the use of an existing building from commercial to residential use, retail to residential use and agricultural to residential use. Permitted development rights have been expanded, including for flats above shops and allowing for new temporary uses. The Budget announced our intention to further extend these flexibilities.</p><p>· The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning should encourage the effective use of land by re-using brownfield land provided that it is not of high environmental value, and that local councils can set locally appropriate targets for using brownfield land. We have also amended planning practice guidance to stress the importance of bringing brownfield land into use.</p><p>· We have abolished the last Government's Pathfinder programme which sought to demolish homes and instead we have focused on refurbishment and getting empty homes into use. We are investing £160 million specifically to bring empty homes back into use. The New Homes Bonus rewards long-term empty homes being brought back into use and we have given councils the flexibility to remove tax subsidies given to empty homes, and use the money to keep the overall rate of council tax down. The number of empty homes in England has fallen to its lowest rate ever according to the Empty Homes Agency.</p><p>· My Department has been supporting the Olympic legacy, driving renewal and regeneration in east London, replacing over 740 acres of polluted, low-grade industrial land and premises with new sports and community facilities, parks, homes, shops and transport infrastructure.</p><p>· We are working with the Mayor of London to unlock the construction of 11,000 new homes at Barking Riverside, and extend transport infrastructure.</p><p>· A new garden city will be delivered on brownfield land in Ebbsfleet, supported by an Urban Development Corporation and up to £200 million of public investment. The last Administration pledged in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan to regenerate Ebbsfleet but failed to deliver.</p><p>· The new Right to Contest builds on our existing Community Right to Reclaim Land, which lets communities ask that under-used or unused land owned by public bodies is brought back into beneficial use. This new Right applies to sites currently in use, but are not vital for operations. It gives businesses and members of the public an opportunity to challenge government on the best use of its estate.</p><p>· We have a comprehensive programme to sell surplus public sector land and property, freeing up taxpayers' money and providing land for new homes. As at the end of December we had released surplus government owned land with capacity for 68,000 homes to be built. We have strengthened the role of the Homes and Communities Agency through a targeted programme of transfers from other Government Departments and agencies. In addition, to ensure land is released efficiently, the Homes and Communities Agency will be Government's land disposal agency. This builds on the Homes and Communities Agency's expertise and experience of complex land remediation and disposals as well as their close relationships with local planning authorities.</p><p>· Through the Strategic Land and Property Review we have identified scope to generate £5 billion of receipts from government land and property between 2015 and 2020. This will put land and property into the hands of those who can exploit them for commercial purposes – creating opportunities for housing and economic development.</p><p>· Changes to Community Infrastructure Levy rules now provide an increased incentive for brownfield development, and extended exemptions for empty buildings being brought back into. We have recently published a consultation paper to lift Section 106 burdens on vacant buildings being returned to use.</p><p>· The Budget announced an Estate Regeneration fund which will provide £150 million to help kick start and accelerate the regeneration of housing estates.</p><p>I hope this outlines the decisive action that this Government is taking.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy