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229345

registered interest
date	24/03/2015
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	Parks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the National Trust on the preservation of public parks.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	228925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on-line as part of our transparency agenda. They are available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&amp;publication_type=transparency-data</a><br><br></p><p> </p><p>Through the Community Right to Bid, introduced as part of the Localism Act 2011, communities and local groups can protect local assets, such as parks, playing fields and allotments, by nominating them to be listed by the local authority as an Asset of Community Value. If the listed asset comes up for sale, local community groups can ‘pause’ the sale for a period of time in order to raise the finance to make a bid to buy it.</p><p> </p><p>In February, the Department held a green spaces seminar to explore barriers to pursuing innovative solutions to protecting green spaces and to consider what actions central government might usefully take to help remove some of these. The National Trust attended this seminar and presented the approach they are exploring in partnership with Sheffield City Council to create an endowment fund for the city’s parks. This work is being pursued as part of the £1 million Rethinking Parks project initiated by Nesta, Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 26/03/2015 08:50:59 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

228783

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	Holocaust Memorial Day
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding his Department makes available for individual Holocaust memorial projects.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228558
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>This Department is firmly committed to sustaining the memory of the Holocaust.</p><p> </p><p>We have funded the annual Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January to commemorate the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This also includes funding a programme to raise awareness of the Srebrenica genocide.</p><p> </p><p>We support the Post Holocaust Issues Envoy to represent the UK in international fora on restitution. We have funded the Anne Frank Trust to educate 35,000 young people and equip them to challenge prejudice and hatred.</p><p> </p><p>We have also funded the Wiener Library to help UK citizens trace relatives during the Nazi persecution and contributed to the on going restoration and preservation of Auschwitz Birkenau.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 January the Prime Minister announced the formation of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation which will oversee the establishment of the new National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. We will initially act as sponsor to this permanent body.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 26/03/2015 08:56:16 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228784

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	Neighbourhood Plans
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 neighbourhood forums have been established under the Localism Act 2011.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department does not hold official statistics on the number of neighbourhood forums established under the Localism Act. However from our informal monitoring we are aware that of the 1,400 communities who have started the process of neighbourhood planning, around 190 are non-parished areas, and will therefore be led by neighbourhood forums.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 24/03/2015 12:16:12 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

227737

registered interest
date	17/03/2015
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	Translation 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 2 February 2015, Official Report, column 7, on translation costs, what progress he has made in looking into the matter of British sign language translation services.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	227920
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2015 answer text <p>This is an issue which we take very seriously and my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Eric Pickles) will be writing to the hon. Member fully on the matter shortly. Under the Equality Act 2010, public and private service providers are required to make reasonable adjustments to enable people with disabilities to access a service on an equal basis with a non-disabled person. Local authorities and other local agencies should provide a good quality service to all, and we encourage local people to hold their local authorities to account.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 23/03/2015 14:26:00 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

227493

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	Park Homes: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in how many local authority areas park home site owners have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
uin	227576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold details of the number of local authority areas where site owners have breached their site licences, or details of the number of local authorities taking proceedings against site owners, or the number of local authorities who have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is determined to improve life for park home residents and we have already given residents important new rights to improve their lives and protect them from rogue site owners.<br><br><br>We know that a source of real anxiety for residents is the poor state of some sites and the lack of routine maintenance and repairs. That is why this Government has given local authorities, for the first time, powers to issue compliance notices requiring a site owner to carry out any necessary work to the site to comply with their licence obligations. If the site owner fails to comply, the local authority will be able to prosecute them and if convicted they will face an unlimited fine. The local authority may then enter the site and do the necessary works. In an emergency, a local authority may also enter a site and do the works if it considers there is an imminent risk to the health and safety of residents. The authority will in any of these cases be able to recover all its enforcement costs directly from the site owner. We have published guidance for local authorities on how to use their new powers to best effect.</p><p> </p><p>We have also given local authorities powers to refuse to grant a new application or transfer of a site licence. We have issued guidance which sets out the matters an authority can take into account when considering an application including the funding and management arrangements in place for managing the site and complying with the licence.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227577 227578 question first answered 18/03/2015 15:25:38 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

227494

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	Park Homes: Licensing
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 local authorities are taking proceedings against park home site owners who have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
uin	227577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold details of the number of local authority areas where site owners have breached their site licences, or details of the number of local authorities taking proceedings against site owners, or the number of local authorities who have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is determined to improve life for park home residents and we have already given residents important new rights to improve their lives and protect them from rogue site owners.<br><br><br>We know that a source of real anxiety for residents is the poor state of some sites and the lack of routine maintenance and repairs. That is why this Government has given local authorities, for the first time, powers to issue compliance notices requiring a site owner to carry out any necessary work to the site to comply with their licence obligations. If the site owner fails to comply, the local authority will be able to prosecute them and if convicted they will face an unlimited fine. The local authority may then enter the site and do the necessary works. In an emergency, a local authority may also enter a site and do the works if it considers there is an imminent risk to the health and safety of residents. The authority will in any of these cases be able to recover all its enforcement costs directly from the site owner. We have published guidance for local authorities on how to use their new powers to best effect.</p><p> </p><p>We have also given local authorities powers to refuse to grant a new application or transfer of a site licence. We have issued guidance which sets out the matters an authority can take into account when considering an application including the funding and management arrangements in place for managing the site and complying with the licence.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227576 227578 question first answered 18/03/2015 15:25:38 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

227495

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	Park Homes: Licensing
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 local authorities have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
uin	227578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold details of the number of local authority areas where site owners have breached their site licences, or details of the number of local authorities taking proceedings against site owners, or the number of local authorities who have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is determined to improve life for park home residents and we have already given residents important new rights to improve their lives and protect them from rogue site owners.<br><br><br>We know that a source of real anxiety for residents is the poor state of some sites and the lack of routine maintenance and repairs. That is why this Government has given local authorities, for the first time, powers to issue compliance notices requiring a site owner to carry out any necessary work to the site to comply with their licence obligations. If the site owner fails to comply, the local authority will be able to prosecute them and if convicted they will face an unlimited fine. The local authority may then enter the site and do the necessary works. In an emergency, a local authority may also enter a site and do the works if it considers there is an imminent risk to the health and safety of residents. The authority will in any of these cases be able to recover all its enforcement costs directly from the site owner. We have published guidance for local authorities on how to use their new powers to best effect.</p><p> </p><p>We have also given local authorities powers to refuse to grant a new application or transfer of a site licence. We have issued guidance which sets out the matters an authority can take into account when considering an application including the funding and management arrangements in place for managing the site and complying with the licence.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227576 227577 question first answered 18/03/2015 15:25:38 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

226574

registered interest
date	11/03/2015
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	Energy Performance Certificates
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 an assessment of the potential behavioural effects on managers and users of Government buildings of the repeal of regulations on display energy certificates; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hazel Grove
tabling member printed	Sir Andrew Stunell
uin	227259
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>My officials are liaising with their colleagues across government to attempt to assess the behavioural effects of the Display Energy Certificate regime. Included with my Department's consultation on the future of the Display Energy Certificate regime, was a call for evidence, seeking from across the public sector information relating to the use and usefulness of Display Energy Certificates. We will assess the information provided through the discussions across Government, and in response to the call for evidence, to form a view of the behavioural effects of the current regime and of possible changes to it. <br><br>The possible changes set out in the consultation included a range of options, from doing nothing; through making some changes to reduce the amount of gold-plating in the current Display Energy Certificate regime; to replacing the requirement to obtain and display a Display Energy Certificate with one to obtain and display an Energy Performance Certificate, adding for public buildings the requirement to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate to the requirement to display them where they have been obtained that already exists for commercial buildings over 500m2. We will consider the responses to the consultation before forming a view as to which of the options it contained should be implemented. This will be set out in the government response to the consultation, which will be published in due course.<br><br>There is no requirement in the Display Energy Certificate regime to implement any recommendations made, although it may be prudent for cost-effective recommendations to be implemented where possible. <br><br>All Government departments have targets set under the Greening Government commitments, progress towards which must be regularly reported to the Home Affairs (Greening Government Commitments) sub-Committee.<br><br>Furthermore, the State of the Estate report, which covers the civil estate, is published annually by the Cabinet Office and reports progress against targets for energy performance. The State of the Estate Report 2013 reported that cross-government greenhouse gas emissions were, on average, 14% less in 2012/13 than in 2009/10. This represents a slight improvement on the 12% achieved the previous year and that all departments reported improvements against the 2009/10 baseline. Reduced energy consumption across the government estate is estimated to have saved the taxpayer £44 million since 2009/10.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227257 227258 question first answered 16/03/2015 15:46:43 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	445 label Biography information for Lord Stunell

226598

registered interest
date	11/03/2015
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	Energy: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures that reduce energy consumption in Government buildings (a) above and (b) below 500 square metres in area he plans to remove; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hazel Grove
tabling member printed	Sir Andrew Stunell
uin	227258
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>My officials are liaising with their colleagues across government to attempt to assess the behavioural effects of the Display Energy Certificate regime. Included with my Department's consultation on the future of the Display Energy Certificate regime, was a call for evidence, seeking from across the public sector information relating to the use and usefulness of Display Energy Certificates. We will assess the information provided through the discussions across Government, and in response to the call for evidence, to form a view of the behavioural effects of the current regime and of possible changes to it. <br><br>The possible changes set out in the consultation included a range of options, from doing nothing; through making some changes to reduce the amount of gold-plating in the current Display Energy Certificate regime; to replacing the requirement to obtain and display a Display Energy Certificate with one to obtain and display an Energy Performance Certificate, adding for public buildings the requirement to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate to the requirement to display them where they have been obtained that already exists for commercial buildings over 500m2. We will consider the responses to the consultation before forming a view as to which of the options it contained should be implemented. This will be set out in the government response to the consultation, which will be published in due course.<br><br>There is no requirement in the Display Energy Certificate regime to implement any recommendations made, although it may be prudent for cost-effective recommendations to be implemented where possible. <br><br>All Government departments have targets set under the Greening Government commitments, progress towards which must be regularly reported to the Home Affairs (Greening Government Commitments) sub-Committee.<br><br>Furthermore, the State of the Estate report, which covers the civil estate, is published annually by the Cabinet Office and reports progress against targets for energy performance. The State of the Estate Report 2013 reported that cross-government greenhouse gas emissions were, on average, 14% less in 2012/13 than in 2009/10. This represents a slight improvement on the 12% achieved the previous year and that all departments reported improvements against the 2009/10 baseline. Reduced energy consumption across the government estate is estimated to have saved the taxpayer £44 million since 2009/10.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227257 227259 question first answered 16/03/2015 15:46:43 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	445 label Biography information for Lord Stunell

226601

registered interest
date	11/03/2015
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	Energy: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures he has put in place to reduce energy consumption in Government buildings (a) above and (b) below 500 square metres in area since May 2010.
tabling member constituency	Hazel Grove
tabling member printed	Sir Andrew Stunell
uin	227257
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>My officials are liaising with their colleagues across government to attempt to assess the behavioural effects of the Display Energy Certificate regime. Included with my Department's consultation on the future of the Display Energy Certificate regime, was a call for evidence, seeking from across the public sector information relating to the use and usefulness of Display Energy Certificates. We will assess the information provided through the discussions across Government, and in response to the call for evidence, to form a view of the behavioural effects of the current regime and of possible changes to it. <br><br>The possible changes set out in the consultation included a range of options, from doing nothing; through making some changes to reduce the amount of gold-plating in the current Display Energy Certificate regime; to replacing the requirement to obtain and display a Display Energy Certificate with one to obtain and display an Energy Performance Certificate, adding for public buildings the requirement to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate to the requirement to display them where they have been obtained that already exists for commercial buildings over 500m2. We will consider the responses to the consultation before forming a view as to which of the options it contained should be implemented. This will be set out in the government response to the consultation, which will be published in due course.<br><br>There is no requirement in the Display Energy Certificate regime to implement any recommendations made, although it may be prudent for cost-effective recommendations to be implemented where possible. <br><br>All Government departments have targets set under the Greening Government commitments, progress towards which must be regularly reported to the Home Affairs (Greening Government Commitments) sub-Committee.<br><br>Furthermore, the State of the Estate report, which covers the civil estate, is published annually by the Cabinet Office and reports progress against targets for energy performance. The State of the Estate Report 2013 reported that cross-government greenhouse gas emissions were, on average, 14% less in 2012/13 than in 2009/10. This represents a slight improvement on the 12% achieved the previous year and that all departments reported improvements against the 2009/10 baseline. Reduced energy consumption across the government estate is estimated to have saved the taxpayer £44 million since 2009/10.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 227258 227259 question first answered 16/03/2015 15:46:43 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	445 label Biography information for Lord Stunell