Local councils already have necessary powers to give priority to local residents, and most are doing so. In March 2023, 89% of councils had a local connection test and/or a residency test in place.<\/p>
Responses to the recent consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests made it clear that mandating a local connection test would not add to existing powers that councils have in any meaningful way and would only serve to remove vital flexibility to design and operate qualification tests in a way that best meets the needs of individual local areas.<\/p>
The response is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:37:09.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her oral contribution of 30 July 2024, Official Report, column 1194, what steps she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to amend social housing allocation policy to give priority to local residents.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4874", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Griffith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arundel and South Downs"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Griffith"}
], "uin" : "4051"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725624", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725624/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "2988"}
, {"_value" : "2990"}
, {"_value" : "3255"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:52:52.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that British citizens are prioritised in social housing allocation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"}
], "uin" : "2772"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725806", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725806/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "2772"}
, {"_value" : "2990"}
, {"_value" : "3255"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:52:52.86Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2023 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, what assessment she made of the potential merits of implementing the proposed changes on requiring a (a) local and (b) UK connection for social housing.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kemi Badenoch"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Essex"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Kemi Badenoch"}
], "uin" : "2988"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725808", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1725808/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "2772"}
, {"_value" : "2988"}
, {"_value" : "3255"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:52:52.877Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 August 2023 to Question 1758, on Social Rented Housing, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of restricting access to social housing for people connected with (a) terrorism and (b) criminality.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kemi Badenoch"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Essex"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Kemi Badenoch"}
], "uin" : "2990"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726020", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726020/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "2772"}
, {"_value" : "2988"}
, {"_value" : "2990"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:52:52.797Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting social housing allocations for people convicted of (a) anti-social behaviour and (b) terrorism.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4872", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simmonds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Simmonds"}
], "uin" : "3255"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726310", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726310/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is committed to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. Our aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling.<\/p> Our proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework include setting a clear expectation that housing needs assessments must consider the needs of those requiring Social Rent homes, and that local authorities should specify their expectations on Social Rent delivery as part of broader affordable housing policies.<\/p> We have asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding. The Government has started to review the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012, on which we will bring forward more details and secondary legislation to implement changes in the autumn. We have also announced new flexibilities for how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts to deliver replacement homes; these flexibilities will be in place for an initial 24 months, subject to review.<\/p> We are committed to setting out details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matthew Pennycook"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Greenwich and Woolwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Pennycook"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T15:08:29.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the supply of social rented homes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5330", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Leicestershire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Peter Bedford"}
], "uin" : "3634"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1724356", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1724356/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "