Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

178852

registered interest
date	10/02/2015
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	Local Government: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has published to ensure local authorities fulfil their duty to consider economic, social and environmental well-being through procurement.
tabling member constituency	City of Durham
tabling member printed	Roberta Blackman-Woods
uin	224129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government published Best Value Statutory Guidance in September 2011. Under the Duty of Best Value local authorities should consider overall value, including economic, environmental and social value, when reviewing service. The Guidance can be found at:</p><p><br>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5945/1976926.pdf</p><p><br>In addition, the Cabinet Office/Crown Commercial Service have also provided guidance on the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 , which the Department has distributed to all local authorities including fire and rescue authorities.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 12/02/2015 17:15:59 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	1501 label Biography information for Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods

178457

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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	Community Relations: Bristol
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what projects in the City of Bristol have been supported by the Near Neighbours fund in each year since that fund was established; and how much that fund has awarded in total.
tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
tabling member printed	Charlotte Leslie
uin	223888
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Near Neighbours programme does not operate in the City of Bristol. The programme operates in eight hubs around England and includes a small grants element alongside other activities aimed at building productive working relationships between people of different faiths. In total, since the programme was established in 2011, the Government has invested over £8 million with Church Urban Fund match-funding of £600,000. More information on the programme can be found here: <a href="http://www.cuf.org.uk/how-we-help/near-neighbours" target="_blank">http://www.cuf.org.uk/how-we-help/near-neighbours</a>.The Church Urban Fund also offers funding through the Together Grants programme, supporting faith based organisations to engage in social action, by supporting them to initiate or develop community work. The Church Urban Fund has made nearly two hundred grants in the Diocese of Bristol (including the city of Bristol and the surrounding areas), totalling more than £2.1 million.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 12/02/2015 16:57:19 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
tabling member	3933 label Biography information for Charlotte Leslie

178458

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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 Media
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to local authorities about the use of (a) Twitter and (b) other social media to communicate with the public.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
uin	223808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>Digital and social media are an effective and low-cost way of communicating with the public.</p><p> </p><p>This Government has amended the law to strengthen the rights of the press and public to report and film council meetings using digital and social media. In August 2014, we published a plain English guide to help councils, the press and the public with these new rights.</p><p> </p><p>We made clear that there is no prohibition on councillors from tweeting and blogging at meetings, and they should be able to do so provided it is not disruptive and does not detract from the proper conduct of the meeting.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities should have regard to the local government Publicity Code, which seeks to prevent the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources, including social media.</p><p> </p><p>Notwithstanding, last June, Ministers challenged and criticised guidance to parish councils issued by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that sought to prevent elected councillors from issuing media comments without prior written permission of the council. NALC has now produced a new Media Policy Example that takes into account the new national rules on filming and recording at parish and town council meetings.</p><p> </p><p>In December, we invited bids for local pilots to bring statutory notices into the 21<sup>st</sup> Century. This could include supporting the increased use of digital and social media by councils and commercial partners, as one of the ways that such notices could be improved and reformed.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 12/02/2015 16:49:07 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

178460

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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	Help to Buy Scheme
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 first time buyers have been assisted by the Help to Buy scheme in (a) Lancashire and (b) the UK.
tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
uin	223864
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>This Government is committed to supporting people's aspirations to own their own home.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>By 31 December 2014, over 58,000 first time buyers in the UK had bought a home with the support of the Help to Buy schemes.</p><p> </p><p>In Lancashire, 2,089 families had bought a home using the support of the three Help to Buy schemes by 31 December 2014. The Government does not collate statistics on the number of first-time buyers for all Help to Buy schemes at a local authority level.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s official statistics on sales for the respective Help to Buy schemes are available at:</p><p> </p><p>Help to Buy: Equity Loan (broken down by constituency, local authority (including first-time buyer), and postcode), to 31 December 2014: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-monthly-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-monthly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee (broken down by constituency, local authority and postcode), to 30 September 2014: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarterly-statistics-october-2013-to-september-2014" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarterly-statistics-october-2013-to-september-2014</a></p><p> </p><p>Help to Buy: New Buy (broken down by local authority), to 31 December 2014: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-and-help-to-buy-newbuy-statistics-april-2013-to-december-2014" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-and-help-to-buy-newbuy-statistics-april-2013-to-december-2014</a> Figures are not available by constituency.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 12/02/2015 16:54:10 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

178467

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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	Non-domestic Rates
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 5 January 2015 to Question 218966, whether he plans to publish financial data on national non-domestic rates before 12 February 2015.
tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
uin	223911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>Financial data on national non-domestic rates to be collected by councils in England in 2015-16 will be published on 18 February 2015. The data will be available at:<br><br>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/national-non-domestic-rates-to-be-collected-by-councils-in-engalnd-2015-to-2016.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 12/02/2015 17:01:21 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

178705

registered interest
date	09/02/2015
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	Mayors: Greater Manchester
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the elected representation in each district council of Greater Manchester after (1) the appointment of a Mayor for Greater Manchester, and (2) the election of a Mayor for Greater Manchester.
tabling member printed	Lord Bradley
uin	HL4854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>We have no such plans. The Government has no role in the review of elected representation in local authorities. All such matters are the responsibility of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, a body entirely independent of Government and directly responsible to Parliament. The Commission has a statutory duty to keep electoral arrangements in local government, including councillor numbers, under review and it decides how and when any review will take place.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 12/02/2015 14:48:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	452 label Biography information for Lord Bradley

178084

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
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	Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what written representations his Department received on the introduction of a vacant building credit in 2014.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223584 223585 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44043 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

178087

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
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	Empty Property
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 Written Statement of 28 November 2014, HCWS50, whether any exemptions were considered in relation to the vacant building credit.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223584
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223583 223585 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44044 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

178088

registered interest
date	05/02/2015
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	Empty Property
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 Written Statement of 28 November 2014, HCWS50, whether an impact assessment was carried out on the proposal to introduce a vacant building credit and the effect of that proposal on the provision of new affordable housing.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
uin	223585
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation in March 2014 to invite views and local evidence on proposed changes to national policy on the issue of Section 106 tariffs being imposed on empty buildings being brought back into use. All evidence submitted was carefully considered. The new policy was outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 28 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 55WS. The purpose of the credit is to provide an incentive that will help regenerate empty and redundant buildings.</p><p>I can confirm that we have also undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment, which I will arrange to be placed in the Library. We do not consider our reforms will have a negative impact on discrimination, fostering good relations or advancing equality of opportunity.</p><p>We do not believe that our reforms will have any significant adverse effect on our affordable housing programme. We have so far delivered 217,000 new affordable homes since 2010, and are bringing in £19.5 billion of public and private in affordable housing over the current Spending Review period. In the next Parliament, we are on track to deliver a further 275,000 new affordable homes, backed up by £38 billion of public and private investment.</p><p>Planning guidance is kept under review and is updated as required, and we are open to representations on any practical areas where further assistance is needed to help facilitate the implementation of new policy.</p><p>I would note:</p><p> </p><p>· The policy changes are aimed at providing a clear incentive for brownfield regeneration, whilst supporting the Government’s policies of protecting the Green Belt and increasing housing supply.</p><p> </p><p>· The relief is intended to reflect the often higher costs of conversion and refurbishment and bringing an existing building back into use. Our reforms will help increase development and regeneration, providing more homes at no cost to the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>· Such re-use of existing buildings has a limited impact on local infrastructure; however, any increase in floor space would still be liable for Section 106 tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>· The Government had already amended regulations for the Community Infrastructure Levy which extend an existing credit for vacant buildings being brought back into use from the levy. This applies either where buildings are brought back into the same use, or for a change of use provided they have not been “abandoned” and have been in use for at least six months in the last three years. In either case the levy is only charged on any increase in floor space. Our Section 106 reforms mirror those Community Infrastructure Levy reforms: this is a consistent, joined-up approach.</p><p>Our new policy was endorsed in the consultation by the likes of the Federation of Small Businesses, the Home Builders Federation, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British Property Federation. They said that the proposed policy would encourage the refurbishment and regeneration of brownfield sites and bring vacant buildings back into use, especially given the higher costs of building on previously developed land.</p><p>It is crazy to be putting stealth taxes on empty and redundant buildings being brought back into productive use, as it hinders regeneration and discourages new housing being created from conversions. I would note to the rt. hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood that one of the reasons why London house prices are so high is all the levies and charges placed on them. If the state puts heavy taxes on new housing, prices will rise and supply will fall; conversely, our reforms will help lower housing costs and increase housing supply.</p><p>Reflecting commitments made in the Coalition Agreement, getting empty and redundant buildings back into use is a key priority for this Government. Under the Coalition Government, the number of empty homes in England has so far fallen to a 10 year low. Our reforms will further support the conversion of empty buildings, and so deliver an economic, social and environmental benefit to society.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 223172 223173 223583 223584 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:38:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 44045 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

177675

registered interest
date	04/02/2015
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	Non-departmental Public Bodies
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 non-governmental public bodies which are allocated funds by his Department are subject to appropriate oversight and are accountable for their use of those funds.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	223281
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department has strong relationship sponsorship arrangements for its Arms Length Bodies, to ensure they manage taxpayers' money in line with the formal budget delegations they receive from the Department, Managing Public Money, and Cabinet Office Spending Controls. All the Arms Length Bodies except for the Homes and Communities Agency are sponsored by a team in Finance set up in January 2014. Due to its scale and complexity of its delivery programmes, the Homes and Communities Agency has a specialist sponsor team, with specific focus on sound corporate governance, financial oversight, and programme delivery.<br><br>The relationship the Department has with each of these Bodies is defined by individual Framework Documents and is monitored through formal governance and performance management processes. Aside from this ongoing monitoring, the Accounting Officer for each Arms Length Body is held to account by the Department's Accounting Officer or senior nominee at regular scheduled meetings. In addition, officials regularly attend Arms Length Body Audit and Risk Committees.<br><br>Reflecting the Home and Communities Agency's role in delivering large scale capital recoverable investment programmes, both the Department and the Agency has brought in senior level banking and risk professional expertise to manage the proper use of public money.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 12/02/2015 17:18:43 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn