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174366

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2015
	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	Care Quality Commission
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will take steps with the Department of Health to progress the commencement of powers for the Care Quality Commission to undertake inspections of how local authorities commission their care services where no specific complaints have been made.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221242
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The power for a Secretary of State to require the Care Quality Commission to undertake a special inspection of local authority commissioning of care services has already been commenced.</p><p> </p><p>The Coalition Government has a strong record of reducing top-down inspections of local government, reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement. Intervention in the activities of locally accountable councils should only be considered where a last resort.</p><p> </p><p>I am not aware of any evidence that would constitute the kinds of exceptional circumstances that would warrant deployment of this power. Indeed it is arguable that local councils have been very effective in procuring care services and local taxpayers will thank them for having kept care costs under control.</p><p> </p><p>Even where there is evidence of poor commissioning practice by particular councils, the Government expects councils collectively, through the Local Government Association, to take the lead in improving poor performance. The Association has developed a programme of peer support available to councils, which includes mentoring and peer challenges.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 221243 222632 question first answered 09/02/2015 17:30:28 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

174367

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2015
	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	Care Quality Commission
	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 his Department has made of the effect of the commencement of wider powers for the Care Quality Commission to undertake inspections into local authorities' commissioning of care services.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221243
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The power for a Secretary of State to require the Care Quality Commission to undertake a special inspection of local authority commissioning of care services has already been commenced.</p><p> </p><p>The Coalition Government has a strong record of reducing top-down inspections of local government, reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement. Intervention in the activities of locally accountable councils should only be considered where a last resort.</p><p> </p><p>I am not aware of any evidence that would constitute the kinds of exceptional circumstances that would warrant deployment of this power. Indeed it is arguable that local councils have been very effective in procuring care services and local taxpayers will thank them for having kept care costs under control.</p><p> </p><p>Even where there is evidence of poor commissioning practice by particular councils, the Government expects councils collectively, through the Local Government Association, to take the lead in improving poor performance. The Association has developed a programme of peer support available to councils, which includes mentoring and peer challenges.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 221242 222632 question first answered 09/02/2015 17:30:29 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

176730

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2015
	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	Care Quality Commission
	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 direct officials in his Department to meet officials in the Department for Health to discuss giving the Care Quality Commission wider powers than they currently have to undertake inspections of how local authorities commission their care services, even where no specific complaints have been made.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	222632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The power for a Secretary of State to require the Care Quality Commission to undertake a special inspection of local authority commissioning of care services has already been commenced.</p><p> </p><p>The Coalition Government has a strong record of reducing top-down inspections of local government, reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement. Intervention in the activities of locally accountable councils should only be considered where a last resort.</p><p> </p><p>I am not aware of any evidence that would constitute the kinds of exceptional circumstances that would warrant deployment of this power. Indeed it is arguable that local councils have been very effective in procuring care services and local taxpayers will thank them for having kept care costs under control.</p><p> </p><p>Even where there is evidence of poor commissioning practice by particular councils, the Government expects councils collectively, through the Local Government Association, to take the lead in improving poor performance. The Association has developed a programme of peer support available to councils, which includes mentoring and peer challenges.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 221242 221243 question first answered 09/02/2015 17:30:29 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416248

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	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	Social Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans for the one per cent reduction in social housing rents announced in the Summer Budget 2015 to apply to (a) supported accommodation claimed as specified accommodation under the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and (b) other hostel accommodation for the single homeless.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	9011
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>In order to reduce the Housing Benefit bill, the Government has taken the decision to bring rent increases within the social sector back into line with the private rented sector. But we acknowledge that there may be some circumstances where the rent reduction policy should not apply. In particular, the types of accommodation that are current excepted under the Rent Standard such as specialised supported accommodation are likely to remain excepted. We are considering whether the existing definition is appropriate in light of the revised policy and will be setting out the details in legislation.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 14/09/2015 16:39:27 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

427659

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2015
	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	Pocket Parks Scheme
	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 towns and cities the Government intends to create pocket parks; and what the estimated cost will be to (a) his Department and (b) the Government of this programme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2015 answer text <p>On Saturday 7 November the Government launched its Pocket Park programme which will provide a total of £1.5 million support to communities in urban areas to establish up to 100 pocket parks, in our busy towns and cities. The programme will support communities and their local authority partners across England and outside London (which has already benefited from funding from the Mayor). Full details can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pocket-parks-support-for-communities-to-manage-small-green-spaces" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pocket-parks-support-for-communities-to-manage-small-green-spaces</a>.</p><br /> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 16/11/2015 17:41:29 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428051

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	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	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 assessment he has made of the effect of the starter homes policy on access to (a) home ownership and (b) affordable rented accommodation in (i) London and the South East and (ii) England.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16244
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>Evidence shows that young first time buyers have been priced out of home ownership. Since the early 1990s, the proportion of under 40s who are homeowners in England has declined by over a third from 62% in 1993/4 to 39% in 2013/14. The Housing and Planning Bill will require local planning authorities to promote Starter Homes and ensure Starter Homes are included on all suitable, reasonably-sized developments in future.</p><p><br></p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 23/11/2015 13:20:16 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428053

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	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	Affordable Housing
	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 the effect of the extension of Right to Buy on affordable housing supply.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16243
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>Under the 2012 reinvigorated Right to Buy, every additional home sold, as well as those homes sold to tenants through the voluntary agreement with the National Housing Federation and housing associations, will result in an additional home being provided. This will lead to an increase in overall housing supply.</p><p>The Government exceeded its affordable homes target over the last 4 years by 16,000 homes, delivering 186,000 new affordable homes.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 23/11/2015 15:34:37 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428052

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	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	Affordable Housing
	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 his Department plans to give to local authorities to ensure that they are able to provide new affordable housing to people on low incomes.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16242
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2015 answer text <p>More council housing has been built since 2010 than in the previous 13 years. 2014 saw the highest number of council housing starts for 23 years.</p><p>Almost £222 million of extra borrowing headroom has been allocated to 36 councils in England to support over 3,000 new affordable homes in 2015/16 and 2016/17.</p><p>The 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme exceeded expectations - delivering 186,000 new affordable homes -16,000 more than the target. In addition, this Government is committed to delivering a further 275,000 new affordable homes by 2020. Through the 2015-18 Affordable Homes programme, we have already allocated around £1.4 billion to support this delivery</p><p>The Government is committed to helping hard working people across the country to own their own home. We believe that shared ownership has an important role to play in helping those who aspire to home ownership but may be otherwise unable to afford it.</p><p>We launched a one-off £36 million funding package in August to pave the way for the first wave of Starter Homes on brownfield sites that would otherwise not be built on to help more young people into discounted home ownership. Of this, up to £10million will be made available to councils in England. 200,000 Starter Homes will be built by 2020/21.</p><p>Right to buy additions are due within 3 years of sales: 3,694 new Right to Buy addition starts and acquisitions were delivered against 3,054 additional homes sold in the first year of the scheme. Receipts from the sale of Right to Buy homes will continue to help authorities to build new additional properties.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 24/11/2015 16:56:03 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

437907

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2015
	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	Rented Housing: Pets
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what advice his Department gives to local authorities, housing associations and other housing providers on permitting or restricting (a) senior citizens and (b) others from keeping animals in rented accommodation.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	20010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government does not issue any guidance on keeping animals in rented accommodation.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 17/12/2015 15:45:40 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

442268

	registered interest
	date	04/01/2016
	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: 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 his policy is on housebuilding on floodplains.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	20851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2016 answer text <p>National planning policy is designed to protect people and property from flooding. Local planning authorities are expected to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. The policy is underpinned by planning guidance which makes clear that new house building should not be permitted in functional floodplains where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood.</p><p>Mitigation measures to make development acceptable in flood risk areas can be made a requirement of any planning consent.</p><p>All local planning authorities are expected to follow the strict tests set out in national planning policy and guidance. Where these tests are not met, national policy is very clear that new development should not be allowed.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 12/01/2016 16:37:03 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham