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90431

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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, how many people in receipt of (a) war disablement pension, (b) war widows pension, (c) war widowers pension, (d) guaranteed income payments, (e) survivor's guaranteed income payments he estimates pay increased council tax bills as a result of recent changes to council tax support in England.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	208028
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not collect data about individual claimants and has no plans to do so. These are local schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of council tax payers is proportionate and fair. We made a £100 million transition grant available in 2013-14 to help councils develop well-designed schemes and maintain incentives to work.</p><p> </p><p>Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year – equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last Administration.</p><p> </p><p>Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people to into work. We are ending the last Administration’s ‘something for nothing’ culture and making work pay.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 08/09/2014 15:47:25 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

90439

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Domestic Visits
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 July 2014, Official Report, column 618W, on official visits, what domestic visits he has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Sheila Gilmore
uin	208006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2015 answer text <p>Ministers undertake regular visits to a wide variety of local authority areas in England, whilst balancing their Parliamentary work, internal Ministerial meetings in London and meetings of Cabinet Committees. Ministers also regularly host delegations from local authorities for meetings in Westminster.</p><p> </p><p>The list below provides a list of visits up to the end of January 2015. It would entail disproportionate cost to provide a detailed commentary on the purpose of each visit, but a brief summary is included. To assist the hon. Member, a selection of political visits is also included.</p><p> </p><p>Such visits also need to be viewed alongside the visits that other members of the Ministerial team have made, and the published list of meetings with external organisations.</p><p> </p><p>2013</p><p> </p><p>Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 21 January 2013, growth policy</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Enfield area on 22 January 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Cheshire West and Chester Unitary authority area on 1-2 February 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Borough of Eastleigh area on 11 February 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Borough of Eastleigh area on 22 February 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Oxfordshire County Council area on 1 – 2 March 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Reading Borough Council area on 18 March 2013, growth policy</p><p> </p><p>Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council area on 15 April 2013, local government and growth policy</p><p> </p><p>Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth area on 19 April 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees Council area on 25 April 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Ribble Valley Council area on 26 April 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Mid Devon Council area on 29 April 2013, political</p><p> </p><p>Leicestershire County Council area on 13 May 2013, troubled families</p><p> </p><p>Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 18 June 2013, faith and integration</p><p> </p><p>Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council area on 4 July 2013, local government policy</p><p> </p><p>Salford City Council area on 4 July 2013, community rights</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Hackney area on 30 July 2013, community rights</p><p> </p><p>Thurrock Council area on 9 August 2013, Thames Gateway policy</p><p> </p><p>Hastings Borough Council area on 15 August 2013, coastal communities’ policy</p><p> </p><p>Medway Council area on 18 August 2013, faith and integration</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Southwark area on 23 September 2013, community rights</p><p> </p><p>Telford and Wrekin Council area on 7 November 2013, growth and housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Cheshire West and Chester Council area on 18 November 2013, local government policy</p><p> </p><p>Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council area on 28 November 2013, local Enterprise Zones</p><p> </p><p>Waveney District Council area on 7 December 2013, high streets policy</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>2014</p><p> </p><p>Portsmouth City Council area on 16 January 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Norfolk County Council area on 31 January 2014, growth and housing policy</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Croydon area on 10 February 2014, flood response and recovery</p><p> </p><p>Cherwell District Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery</p><p> </p><p>Oxford City Council area on 11 February 2014, flood response and recovery</p><p> </p><p>Arun District Council area on 20 February 2014, coastal defences and flooding</p><p> </p><p>Runnymede Borough Council on 20 February 2014, flood response and recovery</p><p> </p><p>Fife Council area on 24 February 2014, coastal communities’ policy</p><p> </p><p>Aberdeen Council area on 24 February 2014, Cabinet meeting</p><p> </p><p>London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 3 April 2014, community rights and housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Derbyshire County Council area on 22 April 2014, growth policy and local enterprise zones</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Havering area on 23 April 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Cambridge City Council area on 23 April 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Metropolitan Borough of Dudley Council area on 24 April 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Wandsworth area on 1 May 2014, troubled families</p><p> </p><p>Stoke-on-Trent City Council area on 2 May 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Brent Council area on 5 May 2014, faith and integration</p><p> </p><p>Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 19 May 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Newark-on-Trent City Council area on 1 June 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Bedfordshire County Council area on 12 June 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Manchester City Council area on 26 June 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>West Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 26 June 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Doncaster City Council area on 27 June 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>East Riding of Yorkshire Council area on 27 June 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Harrogate Borough Council area on 5 July 2014, Le Grand Départ</p><p> </p><p>Salisbury City Council area on 10 July 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Staffordshire County Council area on 11 July 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>West Sussex County Council area on 21 July 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>Hampshire County Council area on 29 July 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>London Borough Council of Hounslow area on 1 August 2014, faith and integration</p><p> </p><p>North East Lincolnshire Council area on 1 August 2014, growth policy and local Enterprise Zones</p><p> </p><p>Glasgow City Council area on 4 August 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>Mid Sussex District Council area on 23 August 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>Bedford Borough Council on 2 September 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Essex County Council on 4 September 2014, coastal defences</p><p> </p><p>Tendring District Council area on 4 September 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Harrow area on 14 September 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Birmingham City Council area on 17 September 2014, Waste management</p><p> </p><p>Birmingham City Council area on 30 September 2014, local enterprise zones</p><p> </p><p>London Borough of Wandsworth area on 21 October 2014, growth and housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area on 23 October 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Pendle Borough Council area on 24 October 2014, regeneration and housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Stroud District Council area on 27 October 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Royal Borough of Greenwich area on 29 October 2014, better care fund</p><p> </p><p>Manchester City Council area on 30 October 2014, better care fund</p><p> </p><p>Stroud District Council area, Cheltenham Borough Council area and Staffordshire County Council area on 6 November 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Westminster Council area on 9 November 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>Stroud District Council area on 20 November 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Westminster City Council area on 25 November 2014, commemorative event</p><p> </p><p>Flyde Borough Council area on 27 November 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Central Bedfordshire Council area on 28 November 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>Northampton Borough Council area on 28 November 2014, political</p><p> </p><p>Essex County Council area on 11 December 2014, housing policy</p><p> </p><p>2015</p><p> </p><p>Cardiff City Council and Newport City Council area on 8 January 2015, political</p><p> </p><p>Bath and North East Somerset Council area on 15 January 2015, political</p><p> </p><p>Leicester City Council and Charnwood Borough Council area on 29 January 2015, local Enterprise Zones</p><p> </p><p>The list reflects the fact that the Department’s responsibilities are broadly devolved outside England. All visits are conducted in line with the provisions of the Ministerial Code.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 24/02/2015 17:20:54 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins previous answer version 18923 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	3965 label Biography information for Sheila Gilmore

90440

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total amount of uncollected council tax is in each London Borough in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham West and Penge
tabling member printed	Jim Dowd
uin	207967
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2014 answer text <p>In our best practice document, “50 ways to save”, we listed improving council tax collection rates and reducing arrears as a key way of making sensible savings to help keep overall council tax bills down and protect frontline services. Every penny of council tax that is not collected means a higher council tax for the law-abiding citizen who does pay on time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is important that councils are sympathetic to those in genuine hardship, are proportionate in enforcement and do not overuse bailiffs; indeed, my Department published best guidance on this aspect in 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The cumulative level of council tax arrears in each London Borough is listed in the Table, ranked by amount. Whilst total levels of arrears in London have fallen since 2010, these figures show that there is still a significant source of income for councils, which they could use to support frontline service or further freeze council tax bills.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 09/10/2014 15:02:13 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins attachment 1 file name PQ 207967 Table.docx title Council Tax Arrears Table
tabling member	189 label Biography information for Jim Dowd

90291

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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	Business 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 frequently the information on the current status of actions in his Department's business plan shown on www.transparency.number10.gov.uk/business-plan/2 is updated; and when that information was most recently updated.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	207861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2014 answer text <p>Updates on actions are submitted to Cabinet Office each month for inclusion on the Number 10 website. The last update was submitted in August.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 10/09/2014 16:11:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins previous answer version 18493 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

90294

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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	Social Services: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that all councils review their procedures for dealing with the sexual exploitation of children following the report on Rotherham Council; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Helen Jones
uin	207872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon.Members to the written statement made on 10 September, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 37WS, in which my rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles), indicated his intention to write to leaders of principal councils asking them to consider the implications of the Jay report for their own authority. In the event he wrote jointly with my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education (Nicky Morgan) on 24 September with copies to Chairmen of all Health and Wellbeing Boards in England. A copy of this letter can be seen at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/358979/140924_-_Rotherham_letter_joint_final.pdf.</p><p> </p><p>My rt. hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Theresa May) has also written in similar terms to Chief Constables with copies to Police and Crime Commissioners.</p><p> </p><p>Copies of both letters are attached.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 207398 question first answered 21/10/2014 16:36:23 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins attachment 1 file name 207398 McCabe.pdf title Letters from DCLG/DfE and Home Office previous answer version 18505 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

90889

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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	Local Government Finance
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 local government finance settlement on communities with the highest levels of need.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
tabling member printed	Karl Turner
uin	905222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Councils facing the highest demand for services still receive substantially more funding per dwelling. The 2014-15 average area spending power per dwelling for the 10 per cent most deprived authorities is almost 50 per cent greater than for the least deprived 10 per cent.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 08/09/2014 15:31:52 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

90001

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
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	Solar Power
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 planning applications were made for solar energy generation on farmland in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	207710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>In publishing our new planning guidance in March, we took the opportunity to make clear to local councils the factors they should consider in relation to solar farms. These include making effective use of brownfield land and steering proposals away from good quality agricultural land. We also underlined that visual impacts need particular attention.</p><p> </p><p>To help focus these developments on brownfield sites, we are consulting on increasing the amount of solar that can be installed on commercial and industrial buildings without the need for a planning application.</p><p>This Department does not gather statistics on the number of planning applications for solar energy developments by land use type. However, the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Renewable Energy Planning Database (RESTATS) includes information on a range of renewable energy projects above 0.01 megawatts, including applications for solar energy developments. The database tracks the progress of potential new projects from inception, through planning, construction and operational stages, and can be accessed at:<br><br>https://restats.decc.gov.uk/cms/planning-database</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 09/09/2014 15:15:10 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

90002

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
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 Reduction Schemes
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 Answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 442W, on council tax benefits, what progress he has made in identifying the right data sources for an independent review into council tax support schemes; and with which local authorities his Department has been working.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	207596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>The Department is currently working with the Council Tax Partnership Forum and local authorities to identify appropriate and proportionate data for the review. The Council Tax Partnership Forum consists of representatives of local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, the Society of County Treasurers, the Society of District Council Treasurers, the Police Authority Treasurers Society, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Society for Information Technology Management, Unitary Treasurers, London Councils, the Local Government Association, the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation, and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.</p><p> </p><p>The timetable, coverage, process for data collection and detailed terms of reference for the review will be agreed and published in due course.<br><br>Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year - equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit by the last Adminstration.<br><br>Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people to into work. We are ending the last Administration's 'something for nothing' culture and making work pay.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 09/09/2014 14:49:30 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins previous answer version 18193 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

90003

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
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 Reduction Schemes
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 Answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 442W, on council tax benefits, when he expects to (a) begin and (b) publish the findings of an independent review into council tax support schemes; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	207597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>I refer the rt. hon. Member to my answer of today, PQ 207596.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 09/09/2014 14:50:52 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins previous answer version 18201 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

89469

registered interest
date	29/08/2014
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	Employment: Lancashire
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 (a) full-time, (b) part-time, (c) self-employed, (d) casual, (e) fixed-term or contract, (f) apprenticeship and (g) commission-only workers there are in each local authority in Lancashire.
tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
tabling member printed	Graham Jones
uin	207432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not collate or hold any detailed informaton relating to individual local authorities' workforces. <br><br>The Office for National Statistics collates workforce information from local authorites as part of its quarterly public sector employment survey. These statistics are available on the Local Government Association website at http://www.local.gov.uk/local-government-intelligence/-/journal_content/56/10180/2991184/ARTICLE.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 18/09/2014 16:30:17 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones