In periods of severe weather, Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is triggered and local authorities work closely with charities to provide basic emergency accommodation to minimise the risk of harm to individuals who are sleeping rough. Local authorities take a common sense approach to activating SWEP, which may be triggered by extreme cold, heavy rain, high winds or extreme heat.<\/p>
We recognise the additional challenges that cold weather poses for local authorities in terms of rough sleeping. On 31 October 2018, we launched the Cold Weather Fund, of up to £5 million, for all local authorities to provide a robust, local response to support rough sleepers off the streets prior to the impending winter period. Over 160 local authorities were granted funding under this scheme and funding was made available for over 1,000 additional bed spaces.<\/p>
The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-09T10:02:01.47Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sleeping Rough"} , "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 recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of emergency cold weather accommodation for rough sleepers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "239863"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1104893", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1104893/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The National Planning Policy Framework expects local authorities to give substantial weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements for new homes and other uses. We ask them to prioritise brownfield wherever practicable, and have provided support in the form of loan funding for site preparation, infrastructure and land assembly; new permitted development rights to put existing buildings to good use as dwellings; and the redevelopment of brownfield sites in Green Belt to allow more affordable homes. Every local authority has published a register of brownfield land suitable for new homes, bringing thousands of hectares of developable land to the attention of house-builders and self-builders.<\/p>
Local authorities are also beginning to receive proposals regarding Permission in Principle for housing-led developments on land in brownfield registers. Brownfield sufficient for many hundreds of thousands of new homes is likely to be identified by local authorities, and it is they who must plan how and when to use available, viable and sustainable sites for the housing we so badly need.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-28T13:03:40.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Derelict Land"} , "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 assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of the use of brownfield sites as potential locations to build new homes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "236291"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1093473", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1093473/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is committed to supporting all victims of domestic abuse.<\/p>
My Department does not hold information on the availability of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands. However, I am pleased to confirm that Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council led the West Midlands in successful pan-regional bids for both the 2016-18 £20 million and the 2018-20 £22 million funds, building upon their regional partnership, increase refuge provision and remove barriers to accessing refuge. Through the 2016-18 fund the West Midlands was awarded £639,253 over the two years, including receiving a share of the £1.1 million top up funding. In the current 2018-20 fund the West Midlands has been awarded £638,849, with the first instalment being released December 2019 and the remaining to be released in the new financial year.<\/p>
My department has also carried out a review of how domestic abuse services are locally commissioned and funded across England. We have worked closely with sector partners, drawing on their data, expertise and knowledge and taken account of the findings of an independent audit of provision of domestic abuse services across England, led by Ipsos MORI. Following the review, we intend to consult on potential measures for sustainable delivery of support for victims and their children in accommodation-based services for domestic abuse across England shortly.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4053", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Derbyshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mrs Heather Wheeler"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-27T10:53:58.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refuges: Domestic Abuse"} , "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 assessment he has made of the availability of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "235740"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082616", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082616/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK (the scheme that runs the UK's ATM network) and is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4060", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Jake Berry"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rossendale and Darwen"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jake Berry"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-13T15:28:59.72Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Retail Trade: Urban Areas"} , "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 assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of falling usage of cash in retail transactions on the economic sustainability of high streets.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "229084"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055815", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055815/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The statutory 'reasonable preference\u2019 requirements ensure that priority for social housing is given to certain people, including those who need to move for medical or welfare reasons. Statutory guidance issued to local authorities in 2012 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allocation-of-accommodation-guidance-for-local-housing-authorities-in-england<\/a>) includes \u2018a mental illness or disorder\u2019 as one of the indicators of the medical and welfare reasonable preference category.<\/p> We are consulting on proposals for new statutory guidance for local authorities designed to improve how members of the Armed Forces community are allocated social housing (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-access-to-social-housing-for-members-of-the-armed-forces<\/a>). The proposals include setting out how local authorities can ensure that members of the Armed Forces and Veterans suffering from mental ill health are given appropriate priority.<\/p> In the Social Housing Green Paper we set out our intention to undertake an evidence collection exercise to help us understand how the allocations system is working and<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-11T17:04:15.42Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Rented Housing: Mental Illness"}
, "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 guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of social housing for people with mental health problems.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"}
], "uin" : "217456"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050082", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050082/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Local authorities are funded from a mixture of central and local resources, including grants, retained business rates and council tax. Local authorities\u2019 Revenue and Capital Account returns show the amounts from each source of income, and these are available online as follows:<\/p> i) in the 'RS', \u2018RSX\u2019 and 'RG' data tables on the 'individual local authority data - outturn' web page for each year at www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing<\/a>, and<\/p>