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857659

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Infrastructure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what funding is available for church infrastructure projects.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	904239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2018 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners provide financial and administrative support to cathedrals and dioceses. It is up to each self-governing church or cathedral to raise funds for development projects, and the National Church Institutions provide advice and support.</p><p>The changing priorities and declining budget of the Heritage Lottery Fund is a matter of concern, as this is where much fundraising money comes from; officers at national level continue to work with the Heritage Lottery Fund on the specific issues churches face. The HLF is currently reviewing its strategic priorities and I would encourage all Hon. members to consider sending in a response, making the importance of churches as community assets clear.</p><p>The Church of England has been in discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and HM Treasury about the current underspend of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, realocating the underspend would enable the Church to deliver a number of the recommendations in the Taylor Review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/03/2018 14:53:55 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1007043

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Restraining Orders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether he has had any discussions with the CPS on introducing tighter restrictions on the circumstances in which a restraining order may be varied to prevent the situation whereby a perpetrator of domestic abuse is granted a variation that permits them to work within a one mile radius from their victim.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	191386
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The Attorney General and Solicitor General meet the director of Public Prosecutions regularly to discuss CPS priority areas which includes ensuring that the CPS continues to protect vulnerable victims of crime. However, the Law Officers do not intervene on individual cases; judges have discretion to make decisions based on the evidence before them.</p><p>Section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 enables courts to make restraining orders at the conclusion of a case. These are civil orders; however, breach of an order is a criminal offence. The Crown Prosecution Service takes domestic abuse seriously and in 2017 in England and Wales 19,216 restraining orders were issued on conviction and 1,932 were issued on acquittal. The Government sees the response to domestic abuse as a top priority and is committed to securing justice for all victims.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 27/11/2018 16:10:18 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1133329

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether he has had discussions with the CPS on removing reference to the merits-based approach from (a) guidance and (b) training materials on rape and sexual offences.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	266818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2019 answer text <p>Rape and serious sexual offences are horrific crimes and can have a devastating impact on victims, and the CPS will always seek to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence to do so. The Attorney General and I regularly discuss issues related to rape and sexual offences with the CPS; however, charging decisions are made independently by the CPS.</p><p> </p><p>There has been no change in policy in how the CPS makes charging decisions in rape cases. Prosecutors in the CPS follow a ‘Code’, which sets out a well-established two stage test that a case must pass before a charge can be made. The first stage of this test is the evidential stage, which considers whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against each suspect on each charge. That test has remained and continues to remain the same. It applies to every single offence no matter how minor or serious.</p><p> </p><p>The Code that prosecutors follow has never included any specific reference to a merits-based assessment of the realistic prospect of conviction because it is an integral part of the evidential test. The second stage of the test is whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution, this is considered after the evidential stage is fulfilled.</p><p> </p><p>From 2009, DPP guidance included reference to a merits based approach.</p><p> </p><p>Following an inspection by HMCPSI in 2016, it became clear that including a separate reference to the merits based approach in the guidance was causing confusion leading to the incorrect application of the code test. To avoid this confusion, changes were made to the guidance provided by the DPP to prosecutors, including removing a document on the merits based approach.</p><p> </p><p>Those changes should not have, and did not have any impact on the proper application of the Code test that prosecutors follow when making a decision on whether to charge.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 28/06/2019 12:06:30 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1145056

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Convictions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to improve the conviction rate for rape and sexual offences.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	287542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><em>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</em></p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 09/09/2019 16:42:25 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1145066

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase the number of reported rape and sexual offences that are brought to trial.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	287545
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><em>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</em></p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 09/09/2019 16:42:49 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1145080

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that more reports of rape, attempted rape and sexual offences end in prosecution.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	287549
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><em>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</em></p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox question first answered 09/09/2019 16:43:06 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1180106

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Attorney General: Civil Society
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) civil society and (b) campaigning bodies in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	19824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The Attorney General’s Office has not allocated any funding to civil society or<br>campaigning bodies in the last three years.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 03/03/2020 13:04:31 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1466112

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps she is taking to increase prosecution rates for (a) sexual assault and (b) rape offences.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	900270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2022 answer text <p>This Government is determined to increase the number of rape and sexual assault cases going to court.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS is undertaking extensive work to drive up and improve prosecutions through its Joint National RASSO Action Plan with the police, the Rape Strategy, and the Operation Soteria Path Finders, which are testing methods for best practice in six CPS Areas.</p><p> </p><p>Since publication of its strategy, the CPS has continued to see increases in the number of rape charges, prosecutions and convictions.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 26/05/2022 15:53:54 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1140761

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Homelessness: Families
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent representations he has received on the effect of the out-of-area placement of families by borough councils on receiving local authorities.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	912093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>I have received representation on this matter from a number of local authorities, including that of my Hon Friend, during my recent visit to Harlow. I was also delighted to meet Streets2Homes, a local homelessness organisation, and hear about the excellent work they are doing on homelessness and rough sleeping.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 22/07/2019 16:07:31 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1180078

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	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	Social Rented Housing: Harlow
	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 will take to reduce the number of out-of-area placements in permitted development rights buildings in Harlow.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	19823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that as far as possible local authorities should avoid placing households outside of their borough. However, where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, on occasion, it is necessary to place households outside of the local area. This should always be a last resort. Where it does happen, the council should place the household as near as possible to the original local authority. They also have a legal duty to notify the receiving local authority of any households placed into their area.</p><p>Collaboration between local authorities is key. The Government welcomes the initiative taken by the Local Government Association to bring together local authorities from London and around the country to try to address concerns about unsuitable out of area placements, including the use of blocks converted under permitted development rights.</p><p>I also recognise the particular challenges that London boroughs face in securing suitable temporary accommodation, which can affect surrounding areas such as Harlow. To tackle these issues, we have invested £37.8 million into a partnership of local authorities across London who have set up Capital Letters – a not-for-profit company which will support councils to reduce the use of expensive nightly-paid temporary accommodation and help to ensure properties are allocated more locally than they are currently. In total, in 2020/2021 the Government is providing £437 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This marks a £69 million increase in funding from the previous year.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 27/02/2020 17:17:50 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1180335

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	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	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Civil Society
	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 much funding he has allocated to civil society and campaigning bodies in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	20456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2020 answer text <p>Civil Society forms an essential part of our communities up and down the country. It includes large, national charities, social enterprises, volunteers and small grassroots organisations but what joins them all is the idea of creating social value to help build a better society. <br> <br> Government funding to civil society is ring-fenced for particular projects or programmes. Grant agreement terms and conditions prohibit grant funding being used for paid for lobbying and political campaigning</p><p><br> Each of the Department’s (MHCLG/DCLG) published Annual Report and Financial Accounts lists the charitable bodies and the amounts (Section 70 payments) that were funded by the Department. The Department does not record whether the body is a ‘campaigning body’. All grant payments over £25,000 are published as part of the Government Transparency routine.</p><p>Our published Annual Report and Financial Accounts (and lists the charitable body payments) can be found here <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fdclg-annual-reports-and-accounts&amp;data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cf36f2ba7a1d143b99bec08d7bf7aa58c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637188405786751314&amp;sdata=ydEwa%2BBnijQbEQAGNmY%2Fk0sQDM2ThjfdytQyfS1VgtU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-annual-reports-and-accounts</a>.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 04/03/2020 13:01:05 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1185780

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2020
	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	Private Rented Housing: 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 plans his Department has to provide support to private renters for the payment of rent as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	30746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2020 answer text <p>On 18 March, we announced a radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus. Emergency legislation will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period. As a result of these measures, no renters in private or social accommodation needs to be concerned about the threat of eviction.</p><p>More information on these plans can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters</a>.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 25/03/2020 17:22:07 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186427

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2020
	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	Refuges: Repairs and Maintenance
	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 guidance his Department has issued to women's refuge centres and charities on the maintenance of services during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	32139
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>My Department has been engaging with domestic abuse service providers on a daily basis to understand the additional challenges they are facing and the support needed to ensure essential provision is kept open and available to victims and their children.</p><p>Following these discussions, on 23 March we published guidance to assist domestic abuse service providers in service delivery at these unprecedented times. The guidance, in line with current Public Health England advice, sets out the advice for daily service operation within the context of domestic abuse safe accommodation provision</p><p><br>The guidance can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision/covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-settings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision/covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-settings</a></p><p><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/03/2020 16:39:19 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186428

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2020
	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	Refuges: Finance
	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 funding grants his Department is making available to women's refuge not-for-profit organisations during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	32140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>My Department will do everything we can to support domestic abuse service providers to keep these vital services up and running during the Coronavirus outbreak.</p><p>My officials are in daily contact with the domestic abuse sector to understand the additional challenges they are facing and how best to respond to help support services in these unprecedented times.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/03/2020 16:27:39 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1217983

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2020
	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	Multiple Occupation: 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 guidance his Department has issued on house movings in houses in multiple occupation during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	64894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>There is no prohibition on moving home and anyone in England who wishes to move home can do so, including into houses in multiple occupation. Guidance on moving home is available on the GOV.uk website at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak</a>.This guidance provides important public health information to ensure that the process of moving home and key activities around this, such as viewing property, can happen safely and the risk of spreading coronavirus is minimised.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 30/06/2020 15:55:29 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1224054

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2020
	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	Churches: 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, if he will publish the timeframe for people to be able to sing in churches as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	72873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises that singing is a key part of our cultural and religious life. We have published Guidance for the Safe Use of Places of Worship during COVID-19 which provides advice on singing within places of worship: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july&amp;data=02%7C01%7CKamalpreet.Rana%40communities.gov.uk%7C5177ef58c88c424912f808d828922f2c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637303955599823283&amp;sdata=fZXB2PfDODHTnzkFF6Qnbgfo4ttmJ3tqL9Kxbi7Dtsw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july</a> . The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has also published guidance for people who work in performing arts, including organisations, venue operators and participants: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fworking-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19%2Fperforming-arts&amp;data=02%7C01%7CKamalpreet.Rana%40communities.gov.uk%7C5177ef58c88c424912f808d828922f2c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637303955599823283&amp;sdata=SgggugFPOjxZ39nSRqDswO3q4tXah4aFA6GDP0jEiIw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts</a> . Singing is a central element of many religious practices but poses a particular risk of spreading the virus. The Government and medical and scientific communities are urgently engaged in research around transmission risk and how activities such as singing and chanting can be managed safely indoors, by congregations and by amateurs.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 16/07/2020 14:11:17 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1224996

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2020
	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	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Apprentices
	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 his Department is taking to reach the public sector apprenticeship target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	74516
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2020 answer text <p>Since the introduction of the public sector apprenticeship target in April 2017 my Department has offered a range of apprenticeships across 7 different standards and frameworks. We have participated in external recruitment campaigns to appoint apprentices, including the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme and cross-government Policy Apprenticeship campaigns. We also hold an annual Apprenticeship Week each year within the Department to promote the benefits of apprenticeships and have converted a number of existing Civil Servants to become apprentices, including within our HR Profession.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/07/2020 09:37:45 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1227323

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	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	Travellers: Caravan Sites
	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 policy is on unauthorised encampments.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	78620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that unauthorised encampments cause harm to the local environment and that the rights of settled residents must be respected.</p><p>Local authorities are best-placed to determine when it is appropriate to use their powers to evict unauthorised encampments under Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) during the Covid-19 pandemic, and should work with the police and magistrates’ courts in their local area.</p><p>On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on measures to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The consultation closed on the 5 March. We will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 01/09/2020 09:21:49 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1227324

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	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	Travellers: Caravan Sites
	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 powers are in place to prevent the development of unauthorised encampments.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	78621
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that unauthorised encampments cause harm to the local environment and that the rights of settled residents must be respected. Local authorities have powers available to them to prevent the development of unauthorised encampments in their area.</p><p>Councils can apply to the Courts for pre-emptive injunctions which prevent unauthorised camping in a defined geographical area. Councils are also able to take early and decisive action by issuing Temporary Stop Notices against unauthorised development and encampments. Councils can issue such a notice on both private and public sector land.</p><p>On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on measures to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The consultation closed on the 5 March. We will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 01/09/2020 12:48:03 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1232821

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	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	Religious Buildings: 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 the scientific basis is for the decision to require face masks to be worn in places of worship.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	87536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>Places of worship play an important role in providing spiritual leadership for many individuals, and in bringing communities and generations together. However, their communal nature also makes them places that are particularly vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).</p><ul><li>UK advice on face covering follows advice from SAGE.</li><li>SAGE advised that using cloth masks as a precautionary measure could be at least partially effective in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, creating a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet.</li><li>This advice does not replace or change existing advice on other measures – such as hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation – which remain more important (because of stronger evidence and larger effects).</li><li>The Government is committed to following the evidence and will keep reviewing evidence from around the world and update our position as and when needed.</li></ul><p>Guidance around using places of worship safely during the pandemic can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july</a></p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 12/10/2020 17:01:35 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1235562

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	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	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Apprentices
	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 progress his Department is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91622
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1 per cent of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3 per cent by March 2021. On 21 September 2020, the equivalent figure for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was 1.7 per cent. Given this target is a percentage of the total workforce the percentage changes in line with workforce fluctuations over time therefore making it challenging to predict when a Department will meet it. Data for 2018/19 can be found <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcivil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019&amp;data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cd591d5a6c9f043d1e3db08d8608969a6%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637365490580634889&amp;sdata=%2Beorcj0%2BQlmQLuvwraRyAp8f9pOytcDQnXSYZLQo8dU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on gov.uk by the end of September 2020. <br> <br>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3 per cent target. The impact of the current pandemic has slowed recruitment due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p><p>A multi-year approach on apprenticeships from FY 2021/22 will be developed by MHCLG’s Early Talent Team in the coming months, which will be aligned to the new apprenticeship strategy and any new targets included within.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 25/09/2020 13:41:32 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1248384

	registered interest
	date	03/11/2020
	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	Sleeping Rough: Harlow
	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 much funding has been allocated to support rough sleeping programmes in Harlow in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	110782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>In 2020/21, we are providing over £700 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across England.</p><p>Harlow has so far been allocated £411,718 through rough sleeping programmes in 2020/21:</p><ul><li>£328,435 through the Rough Sleeping Initiative;</li><li>£1,650 from the COVID-19 Emergency Rough Sleeping Fund; and</li><li>£81,633 from the short-term portion of the Next Steps Accommodation Programme.</li></ul><p>Harlow has also been allocated £460,902 in homelessness funding in 2020/21:</p><ul><li>£360,351 from the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant; and</li><li>£100,551 through the Homelessness Reduction Grant.</li></ul> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 10/11/2020 15:33:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1282577

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2021
	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	Harlow Council: 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, how much additional financial support the Government has provided to Harlow Council to support its response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	146846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government has allocated over £8 billion directly to councils since the start of the pandemic, and at the Spending Review the Chancellor announced that councils are expected to receive an estimated £3 billion of additional support for COVID-19 in 2021-22. This takes the total support committed to councils in England to tackle the impacts of COVID-19 to over £11 billion.</p><p>For Harlow Council, this means over £500k of additional unringfenced grant funding next year, on top of over £2 million of additional funding already allocated, of which over £1.5 million is unringfenced.</p><p>For Essex County Council, this means over £28.8 million of additional unringfenced grant funding next year on top of over £153 million of additional funding already allocated, of which over £84.5 million is unringfenced.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 04/02/2021 15:32:29 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1285214

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2021
	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	Harlow Council: Local Government Finance
	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 the uplift in core funding is for Harlow Council in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	151674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2021 answer text <p>Under the annual local government finance settlement, Harlow Council saw their Core Spending Power rise from £11.3 million in 2019/20 to £11.9 million in 2020/21, an increase of £0.6 million. Depending on local decisions, Harlow Council may see their Core Spending Power rise from £11.9 million in 2020/21 to £12.5 million in 2021/22, an increase of £0.5 million.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 17/02/2021 13:39:45 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

166952

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Affordable Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage the building of affordable housing; and how many affordable homes have been built in Essex since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	216636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p>Almost 217,000 affordable homes have been delivered in England since April 2010. Our Affordable Homes Programme is on track to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, with £19.5 billion of public and private funding. Over 144,000 homes have already been delivered</p><p> </p><p>This Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to the building of affordable housing. The Government’s National Infrastructure Plan announced an extension of affordable housing capital investment to 2018-19 and 2019-20, of £1.9 billion to ensure that an average 55,000 new affordable homes a year continue to be delivered. This will bring the delivery total to 275,000 across 2015-20. This means over the next Parliament we will build more new affordable homes than during any equivalent period in the last twenty years.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on additional affordable housing, including both newly built housing and acquisitions, provided in each local authority area in England are published in the Department’s live tables 1006, 1006a, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:</p><p><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply</a></p><p> </p><p>A table giving figures, by local authority, for affordable housing delivery in England between April 2010 and September 2014 is attached.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 08/12/2014 17:09:36 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis attachment 1 file name 216636 Halfon - Affordable Housing Delivery Table.xlsx title Affordable Housing Delivery Table
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon