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142145
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-11-06more like thismore than 2014-11-06
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Energy more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the consequences on energy efficiency of housing of scrapping the Code for Sustainable Homes. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 213798 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-11-11more like thismore than 2014-11-11
answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government's policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing sandards currently in operation. The Review will enable quality and sustainable housing developments to be brought forward more easily but without compromising essential safety and accessibility protections.<br><br>The Government does not anticipate any negative impact on the energy efficiency of housing as a consequence of the Code for Sustainable Homes being wound down. The Code does not affect the existing housing stock, and only affects a proportion of new homes being constructed. The new Building Regulations Part L, brought in from April 2014, already requires an aggregate 6% energy performance above current Code 3 equivalent, and has introduced a mandatory energy efficiency requirement for all new homes. The Housing Standards Review consultation proposes that from the point when the proposals are implemented the energy efficiency requirements in the Regulations will be set at a level equivalent to Code level 4. This is equivalent to a further uplift of 20% on 2010 Part L, across the build mix. Finally, the Government has firmly committed to delivering zero carbon housing from 2016.</p>
answering member constituency Bristol West more like this
answering member printed Stephen Williams more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-11T17:30:27.5608176Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-11T17:30:27.5608176Z
answering member
1492
label Biography information for Stephen Williams more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
101807
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-30more like thismore than 2014-10-30
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Sustainable Development more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will prepare and publish a new draft code for sustainable homes. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 212607 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-11-06more like thismore than 2014-11-06
answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government’s policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing standards currently in operation. The Review 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 also means that a number of the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be consolidated into the Building Regulations, which would require substantial changes to the content of the current Code, as well as reconsideration of its role. So in the light of this, the Government stated in the recent technical consultation that the current Code will be wound down to coincide with the changes incorporating the new standards coming into force, early in the new year. The consultation also set out proposals on the transitional arrangements, and for the handling of legacy developments being built out to current Code requirements.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Bristol West more like this
answering member printed Stephen Williams more like this
grouped question UIN 212394 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-06T16:44:57.7173753Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-06T16:44:57.7173753Z
answering member
1492
label Biography information for Stephen Williams more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
101808
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-30more like thismore than 2014-10-30
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Sustainable Development more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to enable local authorities to promote sustainable house building. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 212608 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-11-06more like thismore than 2014-11-06
answer text <p>The Government has policies and programmes in place to assist local authorities to build more homes. This includes the £122 million additional borrowing allocated to 22 councils to help them build new affordable homes and support local growth. We will make further announcements of additional borrowing to local councils later in the year. This is only possible thanks to the decisive action we have taken to reduce the deficit left by the last Labour Government. Further details of the actions we have taken recently to support house building, amongst other departmental work, are set out in the written statement made on13 October 2014 (Official Report, Written Ministerial Statements, Column 2WS).</p><p> </p><p>All new homes have to meet Building Regulations’ requirements and in April strengthened energy performance standards came into effect. In the Housing Standards Review, the Government is streamlining the technical standards which apply to new housing development and consolidating as far as possible necessary requirements into Building Regulations to ensure new homes are sustainable. As part of the review, the Government intends to bring forward optional Building Regulations requirements in areas such as accessibility and water efficiency which will enable local authorities to apply higher standards than the Building Regulations national minimum standard where there is a local need, and viability is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development and local authorities should consider applications for housing development in that context.</p>
answering member constituency Bristol West more like this
answering member printed Stephen Williams more like this
grouped question UIN 212393 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-06T16:40:58.1808692Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-06T16:40:58.1808692Z
answering member
1492
label Biography information for Stephen Williams more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
101533
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-29more like thismore than 2014-10-29
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to promote environmental and sustainable housebuilding following the abolition of the Code for Sustainable Homes. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 212394 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-11-06more like thismore than 2014-11-06
answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government’s policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing standards currently in operation. The Review 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 also means that a number of the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be consolidated into the Building Regulations, which would require substantial changes to the content of the current Code, as well as reconsideration of its role. So in the light of this, the Government stated in the recent technical consultation that the current Code will be wound down to coincide with the changes incorporating the new standards coming into force, early in the new year. The consultation also set out proposals on the transitional arrangements, and for the handling of legacy developments being built out to current Code requirements.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Bristol West more like this
answering member printed Stephen Williams more like this
grouped question UIN 212607 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-06T16:44:57.842982Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-06T16:44:57.842982Z
answering member
1492
label Biography information for Stephen Williams more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
101536
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-29more like thismore than 2014-10-29
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to assist local authorities build more sustainable homes. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 212393 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-11-06more like thismore than 2014-11-06
answer text <p>The Government has policies and programmes in place to assist local authorities to build more homes. This includes the £122 million additional borrowing allocated to 22 councils to help them build new affordable homes and support local growth. We will make further announcements of additional borrowing to local councils later in the year. This is only possible thanks to the decisive action we have taken to reduce the deficit left by the last Labour Government. Further details of the actions we have taken recently to support house building, amongst other departmental work, are set out in the written statement made on13 October 2014 (Official Report, Written Ministerial Statements, Column 2WS).</p><p> </p><p>All new homes have to meet Building Regulations’ requirements and in April strengthened energy performance standards came into effect. In the Housing Standards Review, the Government is streamlining the technical standards which apply to new housing development and consolidating as far as possible necessary requirements into Building Regulations to ensure new homes are sustainable. As part of the review, the Government intends to bring forward optional Building Regulations requirements in areas such as accessibility and water efficiency which will enable local authorities to apply higher standards than the Building Regulations national minimum standard where there is a local need, and viability is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development and local authorities should consider applications for housing development in that context.</p>
answering member constituency Bristol West more like this
answering member printed Stephen Williams more like this
grouped question UIN 212608 more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-06T16:40:58.2590412Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-06T16:40:58.2590412Z
answering member
1492
label Biography information for Stephen Williams more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
79223
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-07-22more like thismore than 2014-07-22
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Housing: Construction more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many houses have been completed in each local authority area in each of the last five years; how many such houses are affordable houses built under a section 106 agreement; and what proportion of the total number of houses on each scheme built in that time are houses built under section 106 agreements. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 206859 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-09-01more like thismore than 2014-09-01
answer text <p> </p><p>Statistics on house building completions by tenure in each local authority district are published in the Department’s live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building" target="_blank">http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building</a></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Statistics on the numbers of affordable homes built through section 106 agreements and without Government grant funding are published in Live Table 1000, which is available at the following link.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply" target="_blank">http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The estimates exclude affordable homes built through section 106 supported with grant funding.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The proportion of the total number of houses on each scheme built that are houses built under section 106 agreements is not centrally collected.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Great Yarmouth more like this
answering member printed Brandon Lewis more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-09-01T14:20:56.4907471Zmore like thismore than 2014-09-01T14:20:56.4907471Z
answering member
4009
label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
79224
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-07-22more like thismore than 2014-07-22
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept sort name Communities and Local Government more like this
hansard heading Community Infrastructure Levy more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have a Community Infrastructure Levy (a) approved and (b) in operation. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 206860 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-09-01more like thismore than 2014-09-01
answer text <p> </p><p>The following eighteen authorities in England and Wales have had their Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedules approved at examination but are yet to either formerly adopt, or to start charging, the levy:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Barking and Dagenham</p><p> </p><p>Haringey</p><p> </p><p>Hertsmere</p><p> </p><p>Hillingdon</p><p> </p><p>Islington</p><p> </p><p>Lambeth</p><p> </p><p>Lewisham</p><p> </p><p>New Forest</p><p> </p><p>Richmond Upon Thames</p><p> </p><p>Rhondda Cynon Taf</p><p> </p><p>Sedgemoor</p><p> </p><p>Sevenoaks</p><p> </p><p>Surrey Heath</p><p> </p><p>Tandridge</p><p> </p><p>Teignbridge</p><p> </p><p>West Berkshire</p><p> </p><p>West Lancashire</p><p> </p><p>Woking</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The following forty-five authorities are currently charging the Community Infrastructure Levy, having passed the independent examination.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Barnet</p><p> </p><p>Bassetlaw</p><p> </p><p>Bedford</p><p> </p><p>Brent</p><p> </p><p>Bristol</p><p> </p><p>Broadland</p><p> </p><p>Caerphilly</p><p> </p><p>Chelmsford</p><p> </p><p>Chorley</p><p> </p><p>City of London</p><p> </p><p>Croydon</p><p> </p><p>Dartford</p><p> </p><p>East Cambridgeshire</p><p> </p><p>Elmbridge</p><p> </p><p>Epsom and Ewell</p><p> </p><p>Exeter</p><p> </p><p>Fareham</p><p> </p><p>Greater London Authority</p><p> </p><p>Harrow</p><p> </p><p>Havant</p><p> </p><p>Huntingdonshire</p><p> </p><p>Merthyr Tydfil</p><p> </p><p>Merton</p><p> </p><p>Newark and Sherwood</p><p> </p><p>Newham</p><p> </p><p>Norwich</p><p> </p><p>Oxford</p><p> </p><p>Plymouth</p><p> </p><p>Poole</p><p> </p><p>Portsmouth</p><p> </p><p>Preston</p><p> </p><p>Purbeck</p><p> </p><p>Redbridge</p><p> </p><p>Shropshire</p><p> </p><p>Southampton</p><p> </p><p>South Norfolk</p><p> </p><p>South Ribble</p><p> </p><p>Sutton</p><p> </p><p>Taunton Deane</p><p> </p><p>Trafford</p><p> </p><p>Waltham Forest</p><p> </p><p>Wandsworth</p><p> </p><p>Waveney</p><p> </p><p>Winchester</p><p> </p><p>Wycombe</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition to the 63 authorities listed above, a further 116 authorities have made significant progress towards adopting the levy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Of the 116, 21 authorities have either submitted their levy charging schedules for examination or been scheduled for examination, a further 25 have published a draft charging schedule for consultation and a further 70 have published a preliminary draft charging schedule for consultation.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Great Yarmouth more like this
answering member printed Brandon Lewis more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-09-01T14:23:19.7233394Zmore like thismore than 2014-09-01T14:23:19.7233394Z
answering member
4009
label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this
34720
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-01-23more like thismore than 2014-01-23
answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government more like this
answering dept id 7 remove filter
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many households in England received a weekly general, all-purpose, rubbish collection service in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013. more like this
tabling member constituency Sheffield South East more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Clive Betts remove filter
uin 184873 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-05-14more like thismore than 2014-05-14
answer text <p> </p><p><em>Labour's legacy</em></p><p>The last Labour Government had a policy of actively pushing fortnightly bin collections and hitting hard-working families with new bin charges.Their ‘Household Waste Prevention Policy Side Research Programme' advocated “collection limitations in terms of rubbish bin size or the interval between collections”, and sought to “nationalise this policy among local authorities”. Cutting weekly rubbish collections was not a locally-led initiative, but an explicit Whitehall mission pursued with the zeal of a convert.</p><p>Legislation in 2005 allowed the introduction of bin fines for minor breaches of complex and confusing bin rules; further legislation in 2008 watered down councils' legal duties to collect rubbish. Guidance issued in 2005 advised town halls that councillors should be bullied to stop them opposing the axing of collections or proposing to restore weekly collections. It also recommended that cutting collections should be done after local elections – to avoid the nuisance of democratic opposition. The Government funded the covert imposition of “bin brother” microchips into families' bins. The 2009 Pre-Budget Report made clear that a further wave of bin cuts were being planned. In short, the “Town Hall Talibin” doubled council tax and halved bin collections.</p><p>We disagree. This Government believes that households deserve a frequent and comprehensive rubbish and recycling service in return for the £122 a month in council tax that a typical household pays (Band D), especially given the typical refuse collection service only costs councils £6 to £7 per month to provide.</p><p><em>What we've done</em></p><p>We have taken a series of steps to help households:</p><p> </p><p>· Issued the first ever Whitehall guidance on weekly bin collections, demolishing the myths that fortnightly bin collections are needed to save money or increase recycling;</p><p> </p><p>· Stopped the Audit Commission inspections which marked down councils who do not adopt fortnightly rubbish collections, and rejected the Audit Commission guidance which advocated fortnightly collections (<em>Waste Management: The Strategic Challenge</em> and <em>Waste Management Quick Guide</em>).</p><p> </p><p>· Abolished the Local Area Agreements and National Indicator 191 imposed by Whitehall which created perverse incentives to downgrade waste collection services;</p><p> </p><p>· Scrapped the Whitehall requirement for municipal Annual Efficiency Statements, which allowed a reduction in the frequency of a household rubbish collection service to qualify as a “valid efficiency” and allowed revenue from bin fines to classed as a “cashable efficiency gain”;</p><p> </p><p>· Scrapped the imposition of eco-towns which would have had fortnightly bin collections and/or bin taxes as part of the “eco-standards”;</p><p> </p><p>· Safeguarded weekly collections for 6 million households through the Weekly Collection Support Scheme as well as championing innovation and best practice;</p><p> </p><p>· Supported over 40 innovative reward schemes to back recycling through the Weekly Collection Support Scheme (as pledged in the Coalition Agreement);</p><p> </p><p>· Through the Localism Act, revoked the 2008 legislation that allowed for the imposition of new bin taxes;</p><p> </p><p>· Issued guidance to stop the imposition of illegal ‘backdoor bin charging' on households bins;</p><p> </p><p>· Stopped funding the ‘Waste Improvement Network' which told councils to adopt fortnightly collections as best practice;</p><p> </p><p>· Challenged the incorrect interpretation by some bodies that European Union directives require fortnightly collections, and resisted the imposition of bin taxes by the European Union;</p><p> </p><p>· Removing powers of entry and snooping powers from “Binquisition” inspectors and scrapped guidance telling councils to rifle through families' bins;</p><p> </p><p>· Changing building regulations to tackle ‘bin blight'; and</p><p> </p><p>· Changing the law through the Deregulation Bill to scrap unfair bin fines.</p><p>In short, this has been a fundamentally different approach from the Labour Government: we are working with families to help them go green, but believe in proper, regular and comprehensive collections for taxpaying households.</p><p>The configuration of services is complex. The table below, based on available estimates from WRAP, provide the most detailed information held on the breakdown of refuse and recycling collections of ‘smelly' rubbish across councils in England.</p><p><em>Weekly collections of smelly rubbish</em></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>Councils</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + Separate Weekly Food Waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + Weekly mixed food and garden waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + fortnightly mixed food and garden waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual and no separate food waste collection</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Food Waste + Fortnightly Residual</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly mixed food and garden waste + Fortnightly Residual </em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-11</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>189</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-11</p></td><td><p>31</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>190</p></td><td><p>52</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-12</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>189</p></td><td><p>54</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-12</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>182</p></td><td><p>58</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-12</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p>181</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-12</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>179</p></td><td><p>62</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>Households</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + Separate Weekly Food Waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + Weekly mixed food and garden waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Residual + fortnightly mixed food and garden waste</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly collection and no separate food waste collection</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly Food Waste + Fortnightly Residual</em></p></td><td><p><em>Weekly mixed food and garden waste + Fortnightly Residual </em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-11</p></td><td><p>1,296,296</p></td><td><p>405,719</p></td><td><p>718,292</p></td><td><p>10,480,876</p></td><td><p>1,750,654</p></td><td><p>353,001</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-11</p></td><td><p>1,079,984</p></td><td><p>479,151</p></td><td><p>998,017</p></td><td><p>9,694,524</p></td><td><p>2,197,166</p></td><td><p>542,695</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-12</p></td><td><p>1,141,584</p></td><td><p>441,151</p></td><td><p>998,017</p></td><td><p>9,341,759</p></td><td><p>2,426,531</p></td><td><p>602,695</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-12</p></td><td><p>1,124,040</p></td><td><p>441,151</p></td><td><p>861,447</p></td><td><p>9,064,454</p></td><td><p>2,571,575</p></td><td><p>602,695</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-12</p></td><td><p>1,378,876</p></td><td><p>440,812</p></td><td><p>851,915</p></td><td><p>8,239,673</p></td><td><p>2,896,107</p></td><td><p>747,024</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-12</p></td><td><p>1,386,876</p></td><td><p>440,812</p></td><td><p>747,915</p></td><td><p>7,885,321</p></td><td><p>2,981,513</p></td><td><p>747,024</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Fortnightly collections</em></p><p> </p><table><thead><tr><td><p><em>Councils</em></p></td><td><p><em>Fortnightly mixed food and garden waste + Fortnightly Residual</em></p></td><td><p><em>Fortnightly residual and no separate food waste collection</em></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>Jun-11</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>143</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-11</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>142</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-12</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>144</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-12</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>149</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-12</p></td><td><p>47</p></td><td><p>145</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-12</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>147</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><thead><tr><td><p><em>Households</em></p></td><td><p><em>Fortnightly mixed food and garden waste + Fortnightly Residual</em></p></td><td><p><em>Fortnightly residual and no separate food waste collection</em></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>Jun-11</p></td><td><p>1,668,211</p></td><td><p>5,879,808</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-11</p></td><td><p>1,838,632</p></td><td><p>6,014,336</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-12</p></td><td><p>1,860,532</p></td><td><p>6,032,245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-12</p></td><td><p>2,034,102</p></td><td><p>6,145,050</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-12</p></td><td><p>2,170,143</p></td><td><p>6,173,402</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-12</p></td><td><p>2,319,143</p></td><td><p>6,389,348</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Note: Some councils may have a combination of the categories in the table below and have been counted under each one that they provide.</p><p>This shows that 14 million households in England have some form of weekly collection of smelly rubbish. Had the Government not taken the actions it had, weekly collections would have disappeared in England by 2015. This simple assertion can be illustrated by the extinction of weekly collections in most of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have devolved Administrations and policies of supporting fortnightly bin collections. Indeed, in Wales, the Labour-led Welsh Government now has a policy of supporting monthly bin collections (Welsh Government, <em>Municipal Sector Plan Part 1</em>, March 2011 and Welsh Government, <em>Cabinet decision, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Additional Funding for Zero Waste Gurnos</em>, February 2012).</p><p>We have stopped the rot, but there is more to do to support weekly bin collections. Many town hall jobsworths, over-zealous NGOs and vested interests in the waste industry remain blindly obsessed with restricting bin collections as a perverse policy goal in itself, and this is reflected in the figures in the table above. Indeed, even Keep Britain Tidy – which one would think would want regular rubbish collections to keep the streets clean – has been taken over by a NGO (Waste Watch) which campaigns for fortnightly bin collections. Bin collections are not viewed as a public service – but as a policy tool to deliver other arbitrary policy goals.</p><p><em>More to do</em></p><p>One option which should be considered is a minimum service standard – for example, the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 already lays down minimum service requirements for recycling, and indeed, the Public Health Act 1875 introduced a duty on local authorities to collect rubbish; this duty was enhanced by the Public Health Act 1936 obliging them to collect household waste weekly which existed until 1974.</p><p>Moving forward, we are open to representations on how best to support frequent and comprehensive rubbish and recycling service; stand up for taxpayers' interests from arbitrary state charges and taxes; and protect the local environment, public health and local amenity from the nuisance of stinking rubbish.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Great Yarmouth more like this
answering member printed Brandon Lewis more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-05-14T12:00:00.00Zmore like thismore than 2014-05-14T12:00:00.00Z
answering member
4009
label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis more like this
tabling member
394
label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts more like this