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101533

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to promote environmental and sustainable housebuilding following the abolition of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	212394
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government’s policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing standards currently in operation. The Review will enable quality and sustainable housing developments to be brought forward more easily but without compromising essential safety and accessibility protections. The outcome of the Review also means that a number of the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be consolidated into the Building Regulations, which would require substantial changes to the content of the current Code, as well as reconsideration of its role. So in the light of this, the Government stated in the recent technical consultation that the current Code will be wound down to coincide with the changes incorporating the new standards coming into force, early in the new year. The consultation also set out proposals on the transitional arrangements, and for the handling of legacy developments being built out to current Code requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 212607 question first answered 06/11/2014 16:44:57 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

101536

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	Housing: Construction
	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 assist local authorities build more sustainable homes.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	212393
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has policies and programmes in place to assist local authorities to build more homes. This includes the £122 million additional borrowing allocated to 22 councils to help them build new affordable homes and support local growth. We will make further announcements of additional borrowing to local councils later in the year. This is only possible thanks to the decisive action we have taken to reduce the deficit left by the last Labour Government. Further details of the actions we have taken recently to support house building, amongst other departmental work, are set out in the written statement made on13 October 2014 (Official Report, Written Ministerial Statements, Column 2WS).</p><p> </p><p>All new homes have to meet Building Regulations’ requirements and in April strengthened energy performance standards came into effect. In the Housing Standards Review, the Government is streamlining the technical standards which apply to new housing development and consolidating as far as possible necessary requirements into Building Regulations to ensure new homes are sustainable. As part of the review, the Government intends to bring forward optional Building Regulations requirements in areas such as accessibility and water efficiency which will enable local authorities to apply higher standards than the Building Regulations national minimum standard where there is a local need, and viability is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development and local authorities should consider applications for housing development in that context.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 212608 question first answered 06/11/2014 16:40:58 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

101807

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2014
	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	Housing: Sustainable Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will prepare and publish a new draft code for sustainable homes.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	212607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government’s policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing standards currently in operation. The Review will enable quality and sustainable housing developments to be brought forward more easily but without compromising essential safety and accessibility protections. The outcome of the Review also means that a number of the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be consolidated into the Building Regulations, which would require substantial changes to the content of the current Code, as well as reconsideration of its role. So in the light of this, the Government stated in the recent technical consultation that the current Code will be wound down to coincide with the changes incorporating the new standards coming into force, early in the new year. The consultation also set out proposals on the transitional arrangements, and for the handling of legacy developments being built out to current Code requirements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 212394 question first answered 06/11/2014 16:44:57 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

101808

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2014
	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	Housing: Sustainable Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to enable local authorities to promote sustainable house building.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	212608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has policies and programmes in place to assist local authorities to build more homes. This includes the £122 million additional borrowing allocated to 22 councils to help them build new affordable homes and support local growth. We will make further announcements of additional borrowing to local councils later in the year. This is only possible thanks to the decisive action we have taken to reduce the deficit left by the last Labour Government. Further details of the actions we have taken recently to support house building, amongst other departmental work, are set out in the written statement made on13 October 2014 (Official Report, Written Ministerial Statements, Column 2WS).</p><p> </p><p>All new homes have to meet Building Regulations’ requirements and in April strengthened energy performance standards came into effect. In the Housing Standards Review, the Government is streamlining the technical standards which apply to new housing development and consolidating as far as possible necessary requirements into Building Regulations to ensure new homes are sustainable. As part of the review, the Government intends to bring forward optional Building Regulations requirements in areas such as accessibility and water efficiency which will enable local authorities to apply higher standards than the Building Regulations national minimum standard where there is a local need, and viability is not compromised.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development and local authorities should consider applications for housing development in that context.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams grouped question UIN 212393 question first answered 06/11/2014 16:40:58 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

142145

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the consequences on energy efficiency of housing of scrapping the Code for Sustainable Homes.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	213798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Housing Standards Review has clearly established the Government's policy to rationalise and simplify the many overlapping and confusing technical housing sandards currently in operation. The Review will enable quality and sustainable housing developments to be brought forward more easily but without compromising essential safety and accessibility protections.<br><br>The Government does not anticipate any negative impact on the energy efficiency of housing as a consequence of the Code for Sustainable Homes being wound down. The Code does not affect the existing housing stock, and only affects a proportion of new homes being constructed. The new Building Regulations Part L, brought in from April 2014, already requires an aggregate 6% energy performance above current Code 3 equivalent, and has introduced a mandatory energy efficiency requirement for all new homes. The Housing Standards Review consultation proposes that from the point when the proposals are implemented the energy efficiency requirements in the Regulations will be set at a level equivalent to Code level 4. This is equivalent to a further uplift of 20% on 2010 Part L, across the build mix. Finally, the Government has firmly committed to delivering zero carbon housing from 2016.</p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 11/11/2014 17:30:27 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

222446

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Shared Ownership Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that advance public notice is given to the planned changes to the income eligibility thresholds for shared ownership.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	224734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2015 answer text <p>There are no current planned changes to the income eligibility thresholds for shared ownership funded by the Homes and Communities Agency across England, excluding London. However, we do keep these matters under review. <br><br>The Greater London Authority has committed in the London Plan to update the income thresholds for London on an annual basis through the Annual Monitoring Report. The next Report is due to be published at the end of March 2015. Any changes to the income thresholds will apply from 1 April 2015. All partners will be informed on the updated income thresholds and all public information on shared ownership will be updated accordingly.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 25/02/2015 16:20:23 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

222454

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release Pickles cuts stealth taxes on new homes and boosts small builders, published on 28 November 2014, if he will publish the business cases for each element of the initiatives announced in that press release.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	224643
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 12 February 2015, Questions 223173 and 223176. We announced in December that we are setting aside £25 million of the Builders Finance Fund, specifically to provide loans to schemes of between 5 – 14 units in size to better support smaller builders.</p><p> </p><p>We published a revised prospectus in January which can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/builders-finance-fund-prospectus" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/builders-finance-fund-prospectus</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 04/03/2015 17:00:41 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis previous answer version 46559 answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

226592

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Lobbying
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 23 February 2015, Official Report, column 292WS, on Protecting Public Money, which are the (a) five local enterprise partnerships and (b) local authorities which have been paying for lobbyists in potential non-compliance with the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	227168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2015 answer text <p>There is clear evidence of lobbying by Local Enterprise Partnerships by examination of current registers from the Association of Professional Political Consultants and from the Public Relations Consultants Association for public affairs consultancy (not public relations contracts):</p><p> </p><p>Recent registers have listed the following:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Bellenden Public Affairs;</li><li>Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership – Edelman;</li><li>Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Instinctif;</li><li>Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Instinctif.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Previous editions of the registers have also recorded:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Burson-Marsteller;</li><li>Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership – Insight Public Affairs;</li><li>Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership – College Public Policy;</li><li>Sheffield Local Enterprise Partnership – Connect Public Affairs.</li></ul><p> </p><p>There may be further lobbying contracts which have not been declared. I am also aware that Northamptonshire Local Enterprise Partnership in 2014 published a lobbying contract tender.<br><br>On one level, the transparency by the public affairs companies themselves is to be welcomed. However, as outlined in the Written Miniterial Statement of 23 February (HCWS292), the Government deems this expenditure to be an inappropriate and wasteful use of taxpayers’ money.<br><br>The same registers also show that a number of local authorities have public affairs consultancies, which seems at odds with the provisions in the local government Publicity Code.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 18/03/2015 15:56:04 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

229085

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Public Expenditure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for which spending announcements made by him or his Ministers since 1 September 2014 the relevant business case has not been made public; and for what reason each such case has not been published.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	228812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>We do not routinely publish internal business cases; this has been the practice under current and previous Administrations. We do publish Impact Assessment where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 26/03/2015 08:39:30 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

229249

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research reports his Department has commissioned from external bodies between September 2010 and December 2014 has not been published; when each such report was commissioned; what the nature of the research commissioned for each such report was; from whom each such research report was commissioned; what the value of each such commission was; on what date each such report was received by his Department; for what reason each such research report has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish each such report.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	228840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 26/03/2015 08:34:13 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts