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223839

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2015
	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	New Businesses: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to coalfield communities to help develop new businesses; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which will be created as a result of such initiatives.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	225584
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government has funded the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Coalfields Enterprise and Growth Funds and the Homes and Communities Agency’s coalfield projects. Based on information provided by these sources, 38 businesses have been developed and over 25,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded.</p><p>The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has a history of supporting communities through the provision of training and health programmes, community assets, and small grants. Going forward, they have been allowed to invest in property assets to generate income and growth. They will also be providing small start-up loans and supporting people to make the most of employment opportunities.</p><p>We have created Enterprise Zones in former a number of former coalfield areas – in Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Kent and the Tees Valley – all helping to create growth in former Coalfield communities. For example, the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone aims to create 14,000 jobs by 2020 and has sites on former collieries. The Orgreave colliery and coking plant is now transformed into a centre for advanced manufacturing and Markham Vale is benefitting from capital grant funding to develop the successful business park. The Government has invested nearly £12 million into local infrastructure - £1.8 million investment in Sheffield Business Park Phase 2 and £10 million in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 03/03/2015 17:03:59 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

227496

	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether firefighters aged 55 who fail a fitness test will receive an unreduced pension; and whether he plans to bring in legislative proposals to make this a statutory right.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	227579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England came into force on 12 January 2015. To underpin these the National Employers have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services about the role fire authorities will take in supporting operational employees to maintain their fitness. In addition, the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on application of the factors set out in Pension Regulations for fire authority consideration in relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p>We will review the implementation of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing their fitness through no fault of their own, is unable to regain their fitness, and for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p><p>Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p>Any firefighter will continue to be free to choose to retire from 55 onwards should they wish to, regardless of their fitness. In such circumstances, any benefits accrued in the 1992 and 2006 firefighters' pension schemes would be paid in full, while benefits earned in the 2015 scheme would be actuarially reduced by 21.8 per cent for a firefighter retiring on their birthday at 55, and reduced on a daily basis thereafter. The actuarial reduction of 21.8 per cent at age 55 compares very favourably with a reduction of over 40 per cent applied to firefighters at the same age in the 2006 scheme. The 2006 scheme also introduced a normal pension age of 60. Overall, our measures give firefighters one of the most generous pensions in the public sector and the strongest protections available for any public sector workforce on fitness and ageing.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 13:06:16 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

175017

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	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 contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1148-56, if the Minister will meet the Fire Brigades Union and fire authority employers, and their respective legal representatives, to discuss how commitments that she gave in that debate on fire service pensions will be implemented in practice; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Blaydon
	tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
	uin	221637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>My Department will be working with representative bodies and the employers in the fitness working group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser to provide good practice on the application of the firefighter fitness principles now incorporated into the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England. We have also agreed to set in train an independent review of the operation of these principles in three years time, and in the light of that review, to take such additional action as might be required to ensure the commitments made to Parliament are secured.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 28/01/2015 15:10:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

227099

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2015
	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	Fire and Rescue Services: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with fire authorities in England and Wales on pension rights for firefighters who fail fitness tests due to illness; and how many of those authorities have indicated to him that they cannot pay those pensions.
	tabling member constituency	East Antrim
	tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
	uin	227419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2015 answer text <p>I recently met with the National Employers to discuss firefighter fitness issues in England. Where underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter, the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment, including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role, where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2015 Firefighters Pension Scheme firefighters will accrue pension more quickly than their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will consequently achieve a higher ill-health pension.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 19/03/2015 12:57:23 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

176352

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when his Department last published data about the extent of deprivation in different parts of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	222450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government produces measures of neighbourhood deprivation in England. The most recent publication is the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2010" target="_blank">English Indices of Deprivation 2010</a>, published in March 2011. The devolved administrations each publish their own Indices of Deprivation but there is no UK-wide version. The Department is currently updating the English Indices of Deprivation, for publication in summer 2015.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 02/02/2015 16:40:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

224420

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Enterprise Zones
	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 his Department is taking to promote the use of enterprise zones by businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	225862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>My Department works actively with UK Trade and Investment, BIS sector leads as well as local partners to promote opportunities in Enterprise Zones to businesses across the UK and overseas. UK Trade and Investment encourages and supports overseas companies to consider Enterprise Zones as a good place to set up or expand their businesses. They do this by working to support the marketing efforts on Zones and publicising opportunities for businesses within their international networks.</p><p> </p><p>This collective approach is working. By the end of 2014, more than 450 businesses had come to Enterprise Zones. Alongside this, there has been significant investment in infrastructure, including around £200 million of commitments from the Local Growth Fund. This will help to attract more businesses to Enterprise Zones in future.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 09/03/2015 16:58:09 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

156938

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2014
	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	Floods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to assist communities affected by the winter floods as a result of the decisions of the Ministerial Recovery Working Group.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	215491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the flood recovery progress report published on 27 November, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 215490 215503 question first answered 01/12/2014 09:29:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

156939

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2014
	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	Floods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much of the Severe Weather Recovery Scheme awarded to local authorities for costs incurred during the winter floods has been (a) allocated to and (b) received by local authorities.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	215490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the flood recovery progress report published on 27 November, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 215491 215503 question first answered 01/12/2014 09:29:46 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

156942

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2014
	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	Floods
	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 households have received a repair and renew grant intended for homeowners and businesses which were flooded in winter 2013-14.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	215503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the flood recovery progress report published on 27 November, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 215490 215491 question first answered 01/12/2014 09:29:46 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

227487

	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	Empty Property: Shops
	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 his Department is taking to reduce the length of time that vacant shops remain empty.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	227690
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2015 answer text <p>Our town centres and high streets have undergone dramatic changes over the last decade- the rise of online shopping, the effect of out of town retail parks and huge shifts in consumer spending patterns have all offered significant challenges. However, despite this, our high streets and town centres have fought back and up and down the country teams of local people are working hard to make our high streets great places to visit, live or work.</p><p> </p><p>A recent study from Southampton University showed how high streets are facing these challenges head on, meeting customers’ needs by offering a more convenient, creative and varied shopping experience, which increasingly offers more leisure opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, since 2010 national vacancy rates have continued to fall. Recent research by Deloitte showed that since 2009, high street vacancies as a result of high-profile administrations had been filled more successfully than those in out-of-town shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks.</p><p> </p><p>However the Government is not complacent and understands that the town centre needs to continue to evolve towards the provision of services and leisure alongside traditional retail. We are committed to supporting our high streets to embrace that change and to continue to hold their place at the heart of our communities.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has taken a number of significant steps to tackle vacant shops. We have relaxed planning rules to support “meanwhile use” as well as introducing new permitted development rights making it simpler to change use, so making it easier for businesses to respond to the needs of their communities.</p><p> </p><p>We have also taken forward a range of measures to tackle over-zealous parking enforcement that undermines the vitality of town centres, driving people out of town. We are restricting the use of CCTV ‘spy cars’ to enforce parking (through the Deregulation Bill currently going through Parliament). We have introduced 10 minute ‘grace periods’ when parking on-street allowing additional parking time before a late penalty is imposed, which will come into force in early April. We have published new statutory guidance allowing local people and businesses to demand a review of parking in their area, and we are reforming parking guidance so it is less heavy handed with motorists.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also introduced a range of support for high streets through business rates. As well as offering business rate discounts to new occupants of previously empty shops, the Government has doubled Small Business Rate Relief for a further year (2015-16) and offered a 2% cap on the inflation increase for 2015-16, for the second year. This comes in addition to funding 50% of all local discounts granted, increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 and offering a 100% rate relief for empty new builds. Finally, as announced at Autumn Statement 2014, the Government is also undertaking a long-term and wide-ranging review of business rates to ensure they are fit for purpose for a 21st century economy and allow our high streets to thrive.</p><p> </p><p>We have also championed the innovative use of vacant shops through <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-award" target="_blank">the Great British High Street Competition.</a> A number of the entrants set out the innovative ways that they are tackling empty shops on the high streets and we have promoted their examples on the <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/" target="_blank">Great British High Street Portal</a> and through documents such as <a href="http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/pdf/GBHS-Celebrating-The-GB-High-Street.pdf" target="_blank">Celebrating the Great British High Street</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 23/03/2015 17:42:01 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord