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1490725

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	Community Development: Infrastructure
	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 increase community benefits for people living near (a) large scale solar plants and (b) other nationally significant infrastructure projects.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Helen Whately
	uin	39920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2022 answer text <p>In the British Energy Security Strategy, the Secretary of State for Energy committed to consult on community benefit options for the network infrastructure we need to meet net zero targets. This will ensure that communities that host network infrastructure are recognised for their vital role in ensuring a cheaper, cleaner and self-sufficient energy supply in Britain. Any new community benefit options will not replace community engagement with developments through the existing planning and consultation processes. <br> <br> Local communities will continue to be able to have their say on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and the benefits they can deliver for their local area, including: environmental enhancements; job schemes; energy discounts; and investment in local infrastructure, such as faster broadband, electric vehicle charging points or energy efficiency measures. Applicants are required to set out in their Statement of Community Consultation how they propose to consult those living in the vicinity of the land. When deciding whether to accept an application for a Development Consent Order, the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the relevant Sectary of State) must have regard to this consultation report. Where applications are accepted for examination, members of local communities can also make written representations on the proposed infrastructure, often also providing oral evidence at hearings.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 26/07/2022 10:58:50 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately

1490726

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	Housing: Construction
	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 plans he has to ensure that new housing in rural areas comes with necessary improvements to local infrastructure.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Helen Whately
	uin	39921
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2022 answer text <p>The provision of the right infrastructure at the right time is very important to new and existing communities, including those in rural locations. Where infrastructure is required as a result of new development, local planning authorities can require contributions from developers towards that infrastructure. Contributions can be sought through Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy.</p><p>To create a more efficient, effective and transparent system, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill proposes a new Infrastructure Levy. This will be a mandatory, non-negotiable charge, set and collected locally, to largely replace the complex and discretionary Section 106 regime and CIL charge.</p><p>The Bill will require local authorities to prepare infrastructure delivery strategies. These will set out a strategy for delivering local infrastructure through spending Levy proceeds. They will create a more transparent process for local people on how funds will be spent and what infrastructure will be delivered to support development. It will be for local councils to decide which infrastructure projects they spend the proceeds on.</p><p>The Levy will be brought forward through regulations that will set out the detail of how it will operate. We intend to consult on this detail, prior to any publication of regulations.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones grouped question UIN 39783 question first answered 26/07/2022 12:21:47 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately

1490727

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	Housing: Construction
	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 he has made of the potential merits of increasing housing density for the purposes of reducing the requirement to build new homes on greenfield sites.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Helen Whately
	uin	39922
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2022 answer text <p>This Government strongly encourages the efficient and effective use of land. Our National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already sets out that planning policies and decisions should promote an effective use of land and make as much use as possible of previously-developed land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment, and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions.</p><p>The NPPF sets out that local plans should establish density standards for city and town centres which seek a significant uplift in density in those areas. Furthermore the NPPF is clear that where there is a shortage of land for meeting housing needs, it is especially important that planning policies and decisions avoid homes being built at low densities and that developments make optimal use of the potential of each site.</p><p>We have introduced a number of measures to support increased density including new permitted development rights to allow more buildings to be extended upwards to create new homes, and to make it easier for existing buildings to be converted to residential use. This will further support residential densification while avoiding the need to build on other types of land.</p><p>We are also bringing forward further reforms to support density through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, including a duty for local authorities to produce design codes to help shape the design of their area, giving greater certainty to communities and developers. In addition ‘Street Votes’ will incentivise communities to consider the potential for development and support a gentle increase in densities through well-designed and locally supported proposals.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 26/07/2022 12:13:48 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately

657032

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2016
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Department for Communities and Local Government: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Helen Whately
	uin	57215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2016 answer text <p>Civil Service Employee Policy provides a central health and well-being service to support departments in their well-being work.</p><p>In 2015, the People Board agreed a strategic approach to health and well-being for the Civil Service. This identified mental health as a key priority. This strategic approach was developed into a Strategic Action Plan, which has now been successfully implemented.</p><p>Wellbeing is a key part of the DCLG People Plan. The Plan sets out the Department's strategic commitment to establish and maintain good health amongst staff in the business. The commitments and actions linked to wellbeing are delivered jointly by the Department's Human Resources directorate and the Health and Wellbeing Network.</p><p>Specific support for staff within DCLG with mental health problems includes:</p><ul><li>Mental Health First Aid training. So far over 100 members of staff including have received the MHFA training.</li><li>A listening and support service through a Mental Health Ambassador Network which is made up of over 30 MHFA trained staff from across the business.</li><li>A Mental Health Support Group that encourages staff experiencing poor mental health or who are caring for someone with a mental health illness to meet to share experiences and resources and to offer each other support and advice.</li><li>Mandatory Mental Health Awareness training for all staff using the Civil Service Learning portal.</li><li>Internally designed and delivered Mental Health Awareness workshops - over 200 staff have received the training so far.</li><li>Internally designed and delivered Building your Resilience workshops - over 150 staff have received the training so far.</li><li>Delivery of 'whole department' events such as Time to Talk, Break the Stigma and World Mental Health Day designed to raise staff awareness of the support they can access and to breakdown the stigma associated with mental ill health.</li><li>A contracted Employee Assistance Programme (Help) which gives staff free and immediate access to support on all matters relating to health and wellbeing, including crisis support to individuals and their line managers. The EAP also provides a gateway to more specialist and professional medical services.</li><li>Occupational Health Service referrals which are aimed at obtaining medical advice on how to support a colleague’s health and well-being either whilst off sick, in returning to the workplace and/or at work</li><li>Access to a range of support tools through the Wellbeing Zone.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 20/12/2016 17:03:09 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately