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1659492

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Mahmoud Abbas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of comments made by the President of the Palestinian National Authority on the Holocaust on 24 August 2023 with the UK's memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	198646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>As the FCDO stated publicly on 8 September, the UK condemns the recent antisemitic remarks made by President Abbas. The UK stands firmly against all attempts to distort the Holocaust. Such statements do not advance efforts towards reconciliation. Officials at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem have raised this matter with the Palestinian Authority and the Foreign Secretary intends to do the same during his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. President Abbas' comments are completely unacceptable and can only serve to exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve the negotiated two-state solution.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan grouped question UIN 198647 question first answered 19/09/2023 16:07:47 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1659493

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Mahmoud Abbas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Palestinian National Authority on the comments made by the President of the Palestinian National Authority on the Holocaust on 24 August 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	198647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>As the FCDO stated publicly on 8 September, the UK condemns the recent antisemitic remarks made by President Abbas. The UK stands firmly against all attempts to distort the Holocaust. Such statements do not advance efforts towards reconciliation. Officials at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem have raised this matter with the Palestinian Authority and the Foreign Secretary intends to do the same during his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. President Abbas' comments are completely unacceptable and can only serve to exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve the negotiated two-state solution.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan grouped question UIN 198646 question first answered 19/09/2023 16:07:47 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1255463

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Shipbuilding
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry; and what steps he is taking to support that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	120851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>As demonstrated by my appointment as Shipbuilding Tsar, this Government recognises a need to re-energise some parts of the UK shipbuilding industry. A key objective of the National Shipbuilding Strategy is to improve the competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry.</p><p>I am working with the Maritime Enterprise Working Group to identify measures needed to improve competitiveness and productivity, enabling industry to step up and improve their chances of success when bidding for both UK and international shipbuilding contracts. This is a long-term programme of improvement, but I am firmly committed to delivering on the Government's vision for the sector.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 03/12/2020 11:55:12 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1255464

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Shipbuilding
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the devolved Administrations on support for the UK shipbuilding industry.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	120852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2020 answer text <p>In my role as Shipbuilding Tsar, I am acutely aware of the value of shipbuilding in the devolved nations. I am leading work across Government to deliver on my vision to create an innovative and competitive shipbuilding sector which supports jobs, skills and prosperity throughout the UK. The Ministry of Defence regularly holds discussions with the Devolved Administrations and with UK industry within each nation. Defence Ministers will continue to engage with Devolved Administrations and other stakeholders as we progress this Government's shipbuilding agenda.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 04/12/2020 13:45:18 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1315679

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest timeline is for the Fleet Solid Support competition.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	2950
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2021 answer text <p>In keeping with the timescales I set out in the Autumn last year, the Contract Notice, signaling the start of the new competition for the Fleet Solid Support Ships was issued on 21 May. On current plans manufacture contract award is due within two years.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 21/05/2021 08:52:14 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1233352

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the maritime sector on the role that decarbonising the maritime sector can play in reaching net zero by 2050.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	88293
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2020 answer text <p>The domestic maritime sector falls under the UK’s national net zero target, and in common with the wider economy will need to be decarbonised by 2050 in order to achieve net zero.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has regular meetings with industry and civil society representatives on the issue of decarbonisation, to discuss both domestic Net Zero and the international work to address GHG emissions being undertaken at the International Maritime Organization.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 18/09/2020 13:22:43 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1260544

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the maritime industry about that industry's role in contributing towards the UK's Net Zero targets.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	128657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2020 answer text <p>Officials and I regularly engage the maritime industry on all matters that concern them, including reducing the sector’s emissions, as decarbonising shipping is essential to achieve the target of net zero greenhouse gases across the economy by 2050.</p><p>We continue to work with the maritime industry as part of the Clean Maritime Council to implement the Clean Maritime Plan, which outlines the UK’s pathway to zero carbon emissions in domestic maritime. The Council recently discussed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a £20m Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition to develop clean maritime technology.</p><p>Further plans on the decarbonisation of the maritime sector will be included in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, to be published in the spring next year.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 21/12/2020 15:23:01 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1260545

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Ports: Renewable Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has held with representatives of UK ports about upgrading their green infrastructure.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	128658
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2020 answer text <p>The Department has regular meetings with ports and their trade representatives on a range of issues including green infrastructure at ports. Most recently, I met with board members of the UK Major Ports Group on the 19<sup>th</sup> of November. The discussion included decarbonisation and green infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>UK ports and the UK domestic maritime sector that rely on our ports, are covered by the Net Zero 2050 target and our national carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 21/12/2020 15:30:13 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1260547

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Exhaust Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the UK maritime industry on his Department's support for clean maritime.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	128660
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2020 answer text <p>My officials and I regularly engage the maritime industry on all matters that concern them, including reducing the sector’s emissions, as decarbonising shipping is essential to achieve the target of net zero greenhouse gases across the economy by 2050.</p><p>The Clean Maritime Council recently discussed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a £20m Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition to develop clean maritime technology.</p><p>Before this initiative, the Department funded a £1.5m competition for innovation in clean maritime and provided £193,897 in grant support through the Department’s Transport Technology Research Innovation Grant Programme to early stage research projects related to clean maritime. Details of the grant winners are available, respectively, on the MarRI-UK website<sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup> and on GOV.UK<sup><sup>[2]</sup></sup>.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup> <a href="https://www.marri-uk.org/funding-opportunities/clean-maritime-call/clean-maritime-call-winners" target="_blank">https://www.marri-uk.org/funding-opportunities/clean-maritime-call/clean-maritime-call-winners</a></p><p><sup><sup>[2]</sup></sup> <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879162/transport-technology-research-innovation-grants-t-trig-funding-winners.csv/preview" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879162/transport-technology-research-innovation-grants-t-trig-funding-winners.csv/preview</a></p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 18/12/2020 11:42:10 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1280576

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with stakeholders on supporting the UK maritime industry during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	143738
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Ministers and departmental officials have had very regular discussions and meetings with stakeholders across the whole of the UK Maritime Sector about the challenges the global pandemic has created and the support they need, and will continue to do so.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 02/02/2021 16:20:14 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1280577

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Government Assistance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to help maritime businesses adapt to the end of the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	143739
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>We have provided extensive guidance for maritime and other businesses on the Government’s <a href="http://www.gov.uk/transition" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/transition</a> website enabling them to make the necessary preparations to adapt to the new rules following the end of the Transition Period. The Government has engaged closely with stakeholders leading up to and following the end of the Transition Period. The Department for Transport continues to engage frequently with maritime stakeholders, including through workshops and bilateral engagements.</p><p> </p><p>On top of this, the Department has taken a number of steps to assist maritime businesses through transition. This includes playing an important role in delivering £200 million in Government grants to British ports through the Port Infrastructure Fund. The fund will help British ports build and enhance border controls infrastructure, enabling them to receive EU goods effectively and in line with the new Border Operating Model. Government is also spending a further £270 million on inland facilities to benefit those ports which cannot build on-site.</p><p> </p><p>The Department also procured additional freight capacity on a temporary basis to help mitigate any potential disruption to the supply of critical goods due to new border procedures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 02/02/2021 16:23:36 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1365509

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2021
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the £300 million investment identified in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 for the extension of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition and HGV technology trials will be made available specifically to the maritime sector.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	68228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2021 answer text <p>DfT received £300m for R&amp;D initiatives to help commercialise low and zero emission technologies. The Department will shortly commence a prioritisation process to allocate this funding across different programmes, including maritime. The outcome will be shared in due course.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 09/11/2021 12:24:05 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1019426

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Smoking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2018-19; and what funding his Department plans to allocated to cessation campaigns in 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	198221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Public Health England runs smoking cessation campaigns. Media spend to date during 2018/19 on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking is £1.2 million.</p><p> </p><p>£2.4 million has been allocated in total for the media spend on cessation campaigns in 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>As the 2018/19 financial year is not yet complete and campaign work is ongoing, these figures should be considered provisional. Figures are net plus agency fees and commissions (rounded to the nearest £100,000). Figures exclude Value Added Tax.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 11/12/2018 16:50:32 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1050432

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Smoking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department spent from the public purse on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2017-18.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	214029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>Expenditure on smoking cessation advertising campaigns by Public Health England in 2017-18 was £1.99 million.</p><p> </p><p>Campaign spending is defined as covering only media spend. Figures are net, rounded to nearest £10,000. Figures exclude value added tax.</p><p> </p><p>Media spend includes expenditure for advertising on television, radio, national press, regional press, out of home (outdoor), cinema and digital. Recruitment advertising and media partnerships are not included.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 06/02/2019 15:12:42 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1641421

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept id	215
	answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	hansard heading	Nuclear Power
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of working alongside development companies to make the establishment of new nuclear projects a faster process.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	187164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2023 answer text <p>In April Great British Nuclear (GBN) launched the first phase of the competitive process to select the best Small Modular Reactors technologies in the form of a market engagement exercise. The second phase – the down-selection process - will be launched in the summer, with an ambition to decide on the leading technologies by autumn.</p><p> </p><p>The market engagement exercise will help GBN to improve its understanding of market capability and technical offering of the full vendor community, the financial position of potential projects, and potential delivery models.</p><p>The Government will provide co-funding that will be deployed by GBN and will work with successful bidders on ensuring the right financing and site arrangements are in place, in line with its commitment to take two Final Investment Decisions next parliament.</p> answering member constituency West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine answering member printed Andrew Bowie question first answered 12/06/2023 09:09:18 answering member 4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1386905

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threat posed to the UK by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	90867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2021 answer text <p>The Government has long held concerns over the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp's destabilising activity throughout the region, both directly and through a number of militant and proscribed groups. Through our close defence partnerships across the Middle East and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, the Ministry of Defence keeps these potential threats under regular review.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 20/12/2021 13:44:09 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1302152

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Levelling Up Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the barriers to immediate publication of the methodology used to calculate the index employed to categorise places for the (a) Levelling Up Fund and (b) UK Community Renewal Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	167855
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.</p><p>We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C05c0fdb70eec427436f808d8ea23dcb1%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637516787027566170%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=XthKA3UnwQTeMvphodk78zPZpgJJirgcoDHxSPIzL0Y%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note</a>.</p><p>As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.</p><p>We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Flevelling-up-fund-additional-documents&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C05c0fdb70eec427436f808d8ea23dcb1%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637516787027576141%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=%2FooI0AbuiTR8duLcgrXioEqlADL4AuqjNRhX81Jjp1c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents</a>.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 18/03/2021 16:53:30 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1302153

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	UK Community Renewal Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the measure of household income used for the index of economic resilience for the UK Community Renewal Fund differs from the Income Deprivation Domain used in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	167856
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.</p><p>We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C05c0fdb70eec427436f808d8ea23dcb1%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637516787027576141%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=LYaljHwmckHvCRXtr6RL4TRZqG4hLv%2FVAQI0Hi62IJw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note</a>.</p><p>The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) does not represent a ‘one size fits all’ solution to measuring economic need - not all of the variables it considers are relevant to the particular interventions we want to support through the UK Community Renewal Fund, and some of the variables it does not consider, such as productivity, are central to the policy goals of the Fund.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 167857 question first answered 18/03/2021 16:56:58 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1302154

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	UK Community Renewal Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using the Indices of Multiple Deprivation to prioritise investments through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	167857
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>To ensure the UK Community Renewal Fund funding reaches the most in need, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.</p><p>We are committed to transparency and a methodological note explaining how the 100 priority places were determined has been published: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus%2Fuk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C05c0fdb70eec427436f808d8ea23dcb1%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637516787027576141%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=LYaljHwmckHvCRXtr6RL4TRZqG4hLv%2FVAQI0Hi62IJw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note</a>.</p><p>The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) does not represent a ‘one size fits all’ solution to measuring economic need - not all of the variables it considers are relevant to the particular interventions we want to support through the UK Community Renewal Fund, and some of the variables it does not consider, such as productivity, are central to the policy goals of the Fund.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 167856 question first answered 18/03/2021 16:56:58 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1355015

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Communities and Communities, what steps he is planning to take to increase transparency for consumers in older people’s housing and associated fees and charges.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	48194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill currently in Parliament will put an end to ground rents for new residential leasehold properties as part of the most significant changes to property law in a generation. The Bill's provisions will lead to fairer, more transparent homeownership for thousands of future leaseholders.</p><p>This includes retirement properties, where purchasers of new leases will not be faced with financial demands for ground rent.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 48195 question first answered 21/09/2021 16:53:58 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1355016

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Communities and Communities, whether it is Government policy to implement the Law Commission’s proposals on event fees in older people’s housing.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	48195
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill currently in Parliament will put an end to ground rents for new residential leasehold properties as part of the most significant changes to property law in a generation. The Bill's provisions will lead to fairer, more transparent homeownership for thousands of future leaseholders.</p><p>This includes retirement properties, where purchasers of new leases will not be faced with financial demands for ground rent.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 48194 question first answered 21/09/2021 16:53:58 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1360626

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Housing First
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury on funding the Housing First places needed in England to end rough sleeping and homelessness for cases of people with complex needs.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	58382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2021 answer text <p>This Government is committed to ending rough sleeping as part of its latest Manifesto Commitment, utilising schemes like Housing First. Announcements regarding the Spending Review are imminent, which will set out how Government will continue to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 26/10/2021 13:58:15 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1317013

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: EEA Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the difference in fees in visa applications applying to some EEA and EU member state nationals; and what steps the Government is taking to improve equal treatment of all EEA/EU nationals under the current visa regime.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	5183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2021 answer text <p>The UK has long standing arrangements in its legislation for the nationals of countries which have ratified the 1961 Council of Europe’s Social Charter (CESC) to qualify for a fee reduction for visa applications to come to work in the UK.</p><p>Nationals of the 26 countries which have signed and ratified the CESC are eligible for a reduction of £55 to their application fee if they are applying for a visa under a work route. Where the applicant is required to have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their employer, the CoS can be issued free of charge.</p><p>Details of the routes which qualify for a reduced fee are published on at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals</a>.</p><p>The fee reduction of £55 only applies to the main applicant, it does not apply to dependants.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 02/06/2021 11:31:30 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1240852

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government: Property
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of commercial property investments made by local authorities in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	99595
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>Local authorities borrow and invest under the Prudential Framework (the Framework) which is designed to ensure that the capital plans of local authorities are affordable, prudent and sustainable, while giving councils the freedom to set their own capital strategies. Government is responsible for ensuring the Framework remains effective in driving sound decision making, and collects appropriate data to monitor trends and identify risks, including from commercial investment activity. Government does not routinely undertake any assessment of the effectiveness of local decisions to borrow and invest; local authorities remain accountable to their electorate for managing their own investment strategies and meeting their best value duty. However, councils have to appropriately comply with the Framework’s statutory guidance, including the requirement to report performance against a set of metrics designed to demonstrate the objectives of the Framework are being met, and to publish an investment strategy.</p><p>Government is aware of recent trends where some local authorities are taking on high levels of debt to invest for commercial income, rather than for providing the functions of a council. We are clear that borrowing to invest for yield is not in keeping with the intent of the Framework and exposes councils and taxpayers to undue financial risk. We have already tightened our statutory guidance on investments to improve decision making, and we are now carefully considering the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee’s report on local authority investment in commercial property (July 2020) and what further interventions are needed.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 99596 question first answered 14/10/2020 13:21:12 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1240853

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government: Property
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the borrowing undertaken by local authorities to fund investments in commercial property.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	99596
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>Local authorities borrow and invest under the Prudential Framework (the Framework) which is designed to ensure that the capital plans of local authorities are affordable, prudent and sustainable, while giving councils the freedom to set their own capital strategies. Government is responsible for ensuring the Framework remains effective in driving sound decision making, and collects appropriate data to monitor trends and identify risks, including from commercial investment activity. Government does not routinely undertake any assessment of the effectiveness of local decisions to borrow and invest; local authorities remain accountable to their electorate for managing their own investment strategies and meeting their best value duty. However, councils have to appropriately comply with the Framework’s statutory guidance, including the requirement to report performance against a set of metrics designed to demonstrate the objectives of the Framework are being met, and to publish an investment strategy.</p><p>Government is aware of recent trends where some local authorities are taking on high levels of debt to invest for commercial income, rather than for providing the functions of a council. We are clear that borrowing to invest for yield is not in keeping with the intent of the Framework and exposes councils and taxpayers to undue financial risk. We have already tightened our statutory guidance on investments to improve decision making, and we are now carefully considering the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee’s report on local authority investment in commercial property (July 2020) and what further interventions are needed.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 99595 question first answered 14/10/2020 13:21:12 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1240855

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Local Government Finance: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the covid-19 outbreak on local authorities' finances.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	99597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>Councils across the country are supporting communities, protecting the most vulnerable and helping the NHS in our efforts to combat Covid-19. In order to meet these additional cost pressures, the Government has continued to support local authorities by delivering an unprecedented package of measures. So far, we have provided over £4.8 billion in funding for spending pressures, including £3.7 billion of un-ringfenced grants and £1.1 billion to help stop the spread of the virus in care homes. This underlines Government’s commitment to ensuring adult social care has the resources it needs to keep residents and staff safe. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced a further £1 billion of funding for local authorities, details of which will be announced shortly. <br> <br> In total, over £28 billion has already been committed to local areas to support councils, businesses and communities across government. This comprehensive package of support includes direct financial support and cashflow measures for councils, bus and tram services, support for the homeless and both grants and rates reliefs for businesses. <br> <br> We will continue to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on local government.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 14/10/2020 13:20:19 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1314834

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Business Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to simplify and homogenise across local authorities the process of applying for business rates relief under the Government’s new £1.5 billion of funding for businesses affected by the covid-19 outside outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	1296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Department will ensure that local authorities have the guidance they need to deliver the additional £1.5 billion business rates support package once primary legislation is passed, in line with the announcement on 25 March. As with other business rates reliefs, officials will work closely with local government on the development of the relief scheme and guidance for local authorities will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/05/2021 16:41:19 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1314835

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Additional Restrictions Grant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with businesses which have applied for the Additional Restrictions Grant; and if he will apply lessons learnt from the process to the new £1.5 billion business rates relief fund for businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak outside the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	1297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Department will work closely with local government throughout the development of the £1.5 billion relief scheme and will ensure that experiences from the delivery of other support measures are taken on board. This includes experiences of administering the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which – as of 28 March 2021 – has delivered £816 million in support to over 400,000 businesses. The Government will continue to support local authorities in making further ARG payments throughout 2021/22.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/05/2021 16:41:44 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1307985

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Glass: Landfill Tax
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason glass is classed as a qualifying material for the lower rate of landfill tax; and what plans he has to review that classification as part of plans to move towards circular economies.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	179045
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>Materials liable for the lower rate of landfill tax, including glass, are listed in the 2011 Qualifying Materials Order. When assessing which materials are liable for the lower rate, the Government considers whether they are non-hazardous, have low potential for greenhouse gas emissions and have low polluting potential in the landfill environment. Further information can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-notice-lft1-a-general-guide-to-landfill-tax/excise-notice-lft1-a-general-guide-to-landfill-tax#lower-rate-qualifying-material" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-notice-lft1-a-general-guide-to-landfill-tax/excise-notice-lft1-a-general-guide-to-landfill-tax#lower-rate-qualifying-material</a> .</p><p> </p><p>The Government has no plans to change the landfill tax rate for glass, though HM Treasury continues to keep tax policy under review.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/04/2021 13:03:45 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1307986

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Construction: Materials
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to consult the construction industry on the proposed Extended Producer Responsibility for certain construction materials set out in the Government’s waste and resource strategy published in 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	179046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to reviewing and consulting on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other measures for certain Construction and Demolition sector products by the end of 2025. Stakeholder engagement will commence shortly. The Government is engaging with the sector through the industry-led Green Construction Board, including supporting the production of a roadmap to zero avoidable waste for the construction sector. This is due to be published in the next few months.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 22/04/2021 14:54:22 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1307987

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Glass: Recycling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the quantities of flat glass currently recycled through end-of-life vehicle authorised treatment facilities.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	179047
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>For 2018, some 1.4 million end-of-life vehicles passed through authorised treatment facilities (ATFs). It is estimated that around 10,000 tonnes of glass were recycled. Processing of this glass occurred further down the treatment chain after initial depollution of vehicles at ATFs.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/04/2021 13:05:31 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1247373

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Planning Permission: Local Press
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the importance of advertising planning notices in local newspapers to (a) the elderly and vulnerable, (b) other local residents and (b) local media organisations.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	109304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>Local planning authorities are required to publicise certain types of planning applications in local newspapers as set out in Article 15 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.  In response to coronavirus restrictions, temporary regulations have been introduced to supplement the existing statutory publicity arrangements for planning applications. Local planning authorities now have the flexibility to take other reasonable steps to publicise applications if they cannot discharge the specific requirement for newspaper publicity – for instance, if the local newspaper is not now in circulation. These steps can include the use of social media and other electronic communications, such as local online news portals, and must be proportionate to the scale and nature of the proposed development. However, if a local planning authority is required to publicise a planning application in a local newspaper, and that paper is still in circulation, then they must continue to do so.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 09/11/2020 14:30:32 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1287739

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Remote Working
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) remote working and (b) housing demand outside of towns and cities; and what plans he has to (i) alleviate pressure for new homes on green spaces and (ii) help ensure new developments are affordable.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	154990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of understanding trends and shifts in the way people live and the implications for housing demand, as well as the importance of ensuring access to green spaces and increasing the supply of affordable housing. The Department will continue to analyse trends in housing demand, including increasing demand outside of towns and cities, to gauge the nature, size and permanence of any shift in housing preferences. <br> <br> The National Planning Policy Framework expects local authorities to recognise the character and beauty of the countryside and to protect and enhance Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and other designated rural land. To further support regeneration of brownfield sites, in December, we announced changes to the standard method for assessing local housing need to increase greater need in urban areas to maximise the use of existing infrastructure, such as public transport, schools, medical facilities and shops, as well as to encourage development that reduces the need for high-carbon travel. <br> <br> We are committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing nationally. At budget we announced our new £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. Our Planning for the Future White Paper sets out proposals to create a new Infrastructure Levy, which will be designed to deliver at least as much onsite affordable housing as at present and will continue to be collected and spent at the local level.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 01/03/2021 14:37:24 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1287740

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Planning: Public Consultation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the proposed changes to community input in planning at the local plan stage set out in the Planning for the future White Paper published in August 2020, what plans he has to maintain (a) local determinism and (b) the right of community voice in the future planning system.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	154991
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>Our proposal for a reformed planning system will make it simpler, quicker and more accessible for local people to engage with. We believe that the best way to bring forward new, significant development is by improving community engagement and input at an earlier stage in the process. Local councillors will have full involvement in deciding on the allocation of sites in Local Plans and on setting supporting design codes, and there will still be the opportunity for people to comment on planning applications where these are still required. We are currently reviewing and analysing responses to the Planning for the Future White Paper and will publish a response in the Spring setting out our decisions on the proposed way forward.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 01/03/2021 14:38:12 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1307983

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Windows: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to increase building standards for glazing in line with improvements in modern glazing technology for (a) new and (b) existing homes.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	179043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government will introduce a Future Homes Standard for new homes by 2025. Homes built to the Future Homes Standard will be future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. To help industry prepare for that, in 2021 we will introduce an interim uplift in Part L standards that delivers a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions and provides a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard in 2025. Within the 2021 standard, there is an increase in the performance of windows. The draft specification for the Future Homes Standard includes a further increase in the performance of windows, which will be further developed over the next couple of years and consulted on in 2023</p><p><br> We also recently consulted on proposals for changes to requirements when work is done in existing buildings. That consultation opened on the 19 January 2021 and closed on the 13 April 2021. For this consultation we have reviewed the standards for windows in order to identify improvements. The proposal we put forward is the highest standard for replacement windows in existing homes which is still cost-effective using a simple measure of payback for investment over the life of the product. We are currently analysing responses to this consultation and will be responding to it.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 20/04/2021 16:37:26 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1307984

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his plans are to increase the glazing renovation rate of existing houses.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	179044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>Double glazing is a popular energy efficiency measure and the English Housing Survey suggests that more than 85% of properties in England are fully double glazed, with less than 4% having no double glazing. As such, there is limited potential for further energy savings because so much of the stock already has efficient windows. Nevertheless, there are other benefits to more efficient glazing such as reduced internal noise, and improving the remaining single glazed windows would contribute to lower emissions.</p><p>The Government is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all homes. As part of reaching Net Zero by 2050, the Clean Growth Strategy set out that all homes should reach EPC C by 2035 where that is cost effective, affordable, and practical.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 20/04/2021 16:38:29 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1348152

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Building Safety Bill
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the proposed timescale for an Accountable Person to be able to commence building safety works under the provisions of the Building Safety Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	35606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2021 answer text <p>The Building Safety Bill sets out requirements on Accountable Persons to make a full assessment of and take reasonable steps to manage prescribed building safety risks, which are defined in the Bill as the spread of fire and structural failure.</p><p>The draft transition plan, developed with the HSE, published alongside the Bill, sets out expected timeframes for the provisions in the Bill coming into force.</p><p>We currently expect the provisions relating to the new duties on Accountable Persons to come into force around 18 months after the Bill gains Royal Ascent.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 26/07/2021 14:33:27 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1387681

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Supported Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has plans to review planning guidance to local authorities to help expand provision of (a) housing-with-care and (b) integrated retirement communities for older people in the context of the Government's adult social care reform white paper.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	92887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2021 answer text <p>Both this department and the Department of Health and Social Care are committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people. We believe that offering older people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them to live independently and feel more connected to their communities. <br> <br> Boosting the supply of a range of specialist housing for older people will be key to achieving this aim. We already work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to provide capital funding to incentivise their supply. <br> <br> As set out in the Department of Health and Social Care’s recent white paper, <em>People at the Heart of Care</em> , a new £300 million investment will embed the strategic commitment to connect housing with health and care in all local places and drive the stock of new supported housing</p><p><br> Our National Planning Policy Framework already states that local authorities should assess the types of specialist housing needed for older people in their areas, and this should be reflected in their local planning policies.  <br> <br> We will continue to work closely with colleagues across government and with a range of stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people’s housing sector. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher grouped question UIN 92888 92889 question first answered 20/12/2021 17:52:48 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1387682

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Supported Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department plans to take together with the Department for Health and Social Care to engage across Government for the purposes of increasing housing-with-care provision for older people as set out in the Government's adult social care reform white paper.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	92888
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2021 answer text <p>Both this department and the Department of Health and Social Care are committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people. We believe that offering older people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them to live independently and feel more connected to their communities. <br> <br> Boosting the supply of a range of specialist housing for older people will be key to achieving this aim. We already work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to provide capital funding to incentivise their supply. <br> <br> As set out in the Department of Health and Social Care’s recent white paper, <em>People at the Heart of Care</em> , a new £300 million investment will embed the strategic commitment to connect housing with health and care in all local places and drive the stock of new supported housing</p><p><br> Our National Planning Policy Framework already states that local authorities should assess the types of specialist housing needed for older people in their areas, and this should be reflected in their local planning policies.  <br> <br> We will continue to work closely with colleagues across government and with a range of stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people’s housing sector. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher grouped question UIN 92887 92889 question first answered 20/12/2021 17:52:48 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1387683

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Supported Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to make assessment of the potential merits of establishing a housing-with-care task force, as proposed by the integrated retirement community sector.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	92889
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2021 answer text <p>Both this department and the Department of Health and Social Care are committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people. We believe that offering older people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them to live independently and feel more connected to their communities. <br> <br> Boosting the supply of a range of specialist housing for older people will be key to achieving this aim. We already work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to provide capital funding to incentivise their supply. <br> <br> As set out in the Department of Health and Social Care’s recent white paper, <em>People at the Heart of Care</em> , a new £300 million investment will embed the strategic commitment to connect housing with health and care in all local places and drive the stock of new supported housing</p><p><br> Our National Planning Policy Framework already states that local authorities should assess the types of specialist housing needed for older people in their areas, and this should be reflected in their local planning policies.  <br> <br> We will continue to work closely with colleagues across government and with a range of stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people’s housing sector. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher grouped question UIN 92887 92888 question first answered 20/12/2021 17:52:49 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1387684

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Supported Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of levels of demand for (a) integrated retirement communities and (b) other specialist housing for older people (i) as of 14 December 2021 and (ii) over the next 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	92890
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2021 answer text <p>The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has not made its own assessment of the levels of demand for different kinds of specialist housing for older people. According to one study, between 2020 and 2030, projected demand for supported housing in England, which includes specialist accommodation for older people, is estimated to increase by 125,000 units. <br> <br> Further details are set out in the Department of Health and Social Care’s recently published white paper, <em>People at the Heart of Care.</em></p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 20/12/2021 17:51:25 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1403429

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	High Rise Flats: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his policy is on how the remediation of non-cladding items which pose dangers to life will be funded in a block between 11 and 18 metres where resident tenants have purchased the freehold to the building and the developer of the building cannot be found via Operation Apex as a result of insolvency of the developer.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	105483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2022 answer text <p>The new funding schemes will make sure leaseholders never pay a penny to fix dangerous cladding. <br> On non-cladding, we are clear that we have to make sure there is a proportionate approach – there are too many incentives currently to try to find new problems and declare buildings unsafe. We recognise there is a specific heightened safety risk with cladding which can accelerate fires. That is why our new plan to apply common sense is so important. If there are any remaining non-cladding costs, we want to support leaseholders across the board – they should not be bearing an unfair burden. <br> That is why:<br> <br> · Developers will be expected to fix all fire defects in the buildings they built<br> · We will work with MPs and stakeholders on statutory protections for leaseholders; and<br> · We are working across government to ensure leaseholders will be protected against eviction for any fire safety defect costs.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 25/01/2022 16:52:40 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1302970

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Postal Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that everyone is able to access their post safely, including those affected by (a) domestic abuse and (b) homelessness.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	169834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of access to post for all users, especially those that are homeless or suffer at the hands of domestic abuse. The universal postal service is intended to provide an accessible postal service for all.</p><p> </p><p>Royal Mail operates two services to help vulnerable customers have access to their post. Its redirection service can be specially accessed by people with personal safety concerns and its PO Box service provides options for customers designed to meet specific circumstances and preferences.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will continue to work with Royal Mail and the Post Office on how vulnerable groups can best be supported.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 24/03/2021 17:24:38 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1419051

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Additional Restrictions Grant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to section 28 of the Additional Restrictions Grant guidance for local authorities, whether businesses that pay business rates are eligible for the additional restrictions grant.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	116908
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>Since the start of the pandemic, the Government has delivered an unprecedented package of support for businesses. Over £26bn has been allocated on business grants with a further £1 billion of support announced, in December 2021, for businesses in England most impacted by Omicron.  From this, £635 million has been made available for local authorities to support the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors and over £100 million of discretionary funding for businesses severely impacted by Omicron through the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities are encouraged to support businesses from all sectors that have been severely impacted by restrictions, or by the Omicron variant, including those paying business rates.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on eligibility can be found in the guidance here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Flocal-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities&amp;data=04%7C01%7CNafeh.Syed%40beis.gov.uk%7Cf2a5958bbbbb42dad7bd08d9e6f435e2%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637794758805283047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=1Han9jeF4zJllpDoMQVCQgZrDZVeqqk%2BGnFUUM1%2FmYU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities</a></p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 116909 116910 question first answered 10/02/2022 14:55:55 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1419052

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Additional Restrictions Grant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether businesses that pay business rates are eligible to apply for the additional restrictions grant.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	116909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>Since the start of the pandemic, the Government has delivered an unprecedented package of support for businesses. Over £26bn has been allocated on business grants with a further £1 billion of support announced, in December 2021, for businesses in England most impacted by Omicron.  From this, £635 million has been made available for local authorities to support the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors and over £100 million of discretionary funding for businesses severely impacted by Omicron through the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities are encouraged to support businesses from all sectors that have been severely impacted by restrictions, or by the Omicron variant, including those paying business rates.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on eligibility can be found in the guidance here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Flocal-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities&amp;data=04%7C01%7CNafeh.Syed%40beis.gov.uk%7Cf2a5958bbbbb42dad7bd08d9e6f435e2%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637794758805283047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=1Han9jeF4zJllpDoMQVCQgZrDZVeqqk%2BGnFUUM1%2FmYU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities</a></p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 116908 116910 question first answered 10/02/2022 14:55:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1419053

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Additional Restrictions Grant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the paying of business rates excludes a business from (a) applying and (b) receiving additional restrictions grant funding.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	116910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>Since the start of the pandemic, the Government has delivered an unprecedented package of support for businesses. Over £26bn has been allocated on business grants with a further £1 billion of support announced, in December 2021, for businesses in England most impacted by Omicron.  From this, £635 million has been made available for local authorities to support the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors and over £100 million of discretionary funding for businesses severely impacted by Omicron through the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities are encouraged to support businesses from all sectors that have been severely impacted by restrictions, or by the Omicron variant, including those paying business rates.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on eligibility can be found in the guidance here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Flocal-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities&amp;data=04%7C01%7CNafeh.Syed%40beis.gov.uk%7Cf2a5958bbbbb42dad7bd08d9e6f435e2%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637794758805283047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=1Han9jeF4zJllpDoMQVCQgZrDZVeqqk%2BGnFUUM1%2FmYU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities</a></p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 116908 116909 question first answered 10/02/2022 14:55:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1522845

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	Local Government Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that local government is funded to cover increased cost pressures facing the sector as part of the upcoming Medium Term Fiscal Plan.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	64036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The Spending Review settlement took into account a wide range of cost pressures. We announced around £1.6 billion additional grant for local government in 2022/23, including funding for Supporting Families and Cyber Resilience. The Local Government Finance Settlement made available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22.</p><p>We acknowledge that inflation forecasts are higher than they were at the Spending Review. How that interacts with the finances of local government is not straightforward. For example, some councils will have energy contracts expiring soon, whereas others will be fixed for some time. We are working with local authorities to more fully understand the nature of the issues that have emerged in recent months, considering the issue of rising inflation along with other challenges such as energy price rises and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.</p><p>The Chancellor will set out further details of it’s the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on Monday 31 October. The OBR forecast will also be published on that date.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 24/10/2022 15:45:01 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1651656

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	UN Resolutions: Racial Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2686.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	193078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2023 answer text <p>United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2686, co-penned by the UK and UAE, advances our commitment to the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), by addressing the discrimination faced by a range of minority groups in conflict settings, including religious groups.</p><p>Furthermore, the Resolution consolidates new internationally recognised Women, Peace and Security language and encourages States to ensure their education systems promote gender equality and help to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. This is in line with the UK's commitment, in our international strategy on women and girls, to use our UNSC membership to stand up against coordinated attempts to roll back their rights.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 18/07/2023 16:38:37 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1678997

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Hamas: Audio Equipment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of media reports of Hamas's use of (a) children’s toys and (b) speakers broadcasting crying sounds in the conflict in Gaza.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	7549
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2024 answer text <p>We are aware of media reports from Israel of a range of tactics used by Hamas during the conflict in Gaza, including the use of psychological warfare, but cannot comment on specific reports. The UK has proscribed Hamas as a terrorist organisation in part since 2001 and in whole since 2021. We are clear that Hamas commits terrorist acts. As the Foreign Secretary has set out, Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas and to eliminate the threat posed. Leaving Hamas in power in Gaza would be a permanent roadblock on the path to a two-state solution. On 13 December 2023, the Government announced new sanctions on the leaders and financiers of Hamas.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 12/01/2024 13:19:44 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1678998

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Israel: Hamas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of Israeli Defence Force reports of Hamas using schools as bases.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	7550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2024 answer text <p>Hamas is putting Palestinian civilians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The UK is aware of reports of Hamas using schools and other infrastructure, such as healthcare facilities, bases and command nodes.</p><p>This does not absolve parties from their responsibility to ensure that their actions are compliant with International Humanitarian Law, and minimise harm to civilians. The UK is particularly clear that civilian buildings must not be targeted, and extra care must be taken in relation to hospitals and other locations such as places of worship.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 11/01/2024 12:37:16 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman