This Government is clear that all social landlords have a legal obligation to ensure their homes are decent and fit to live in under the Decent Homes Standard which we have committed to reviewing. We will also introduce a Renters Reform Bill in this Parliament and we will legislate to introduce a legally binding Decent Homes Standard for the first time. We have consulted on this proposal and are currently reviewing the responses. This is a key plank of our ambitious mission to halve the number of non-decent homes across all rented tenures by 2030, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas.<\/p>
Our Social Housing Regulation Bill will bring in a rigorous new regime where\u202fthe Regulator of Social Housing will proactively inspect landlords and will have the power to issue unlimited fines. It will be able to intervene cases where tenants' lives are being put at risk and, in the very worst cases, it will have the power to instruct that properties are brought under new management.<\/p>
The Secretary of State recently wrote to all local authority Chief Executives and council leaders, and all providers of social housing, on ensuring quality in social housing. The letters are available here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4737", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dehenna Davison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bishop Auckland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dehenna Davison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "100940"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-09T14:58:31.187Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing: Standards"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans the Government has to ensure housing providers provide accommodation in a habitable state.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100937"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547429", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547429/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This Government is committed to a vision of British society where people - whatever their background - live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities. Everyone in society has a role to play in ensuring that we live in a country where anyone can achieve anything, no matter where they live or come from.<\/p> Through its Levelling Up agenda the Government will help to bolster community empowerment and support local community spaces and relationships.<\/p> For example, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provides £2.6 billion of new taxpayer subsidy for local investment by March 2025, with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation from the Fund. One of the Fund's investment priorities is 'communities and place' which aims to strengthen the social fabric of communities.<\/p> The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a rural top up to the UKSPF, providing allocations for eligible local authorities in England to help address the additional needs and challenges facing rural areas. The REPF funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure. This will help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4652", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lee Rowley"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Derbyshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lee Rowley"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-12T16:07:08.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Community Relations: Rural 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 Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to increase community cohesion in rural communities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100938"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547430", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547430/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity, including in cancer services. In addition, the autumn statement provided an additional £3.3 billion in 2023/24 and 2024/25 to increase capacity in the National Health Service.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4527", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Whately"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Faversham and Mid Kent"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Helen Whately"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-13T14:25:29.267Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pancreatic Cancer"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to help decrease mortality rates for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100939"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547431", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547431/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This Government is clear that all social landlords have a legal obligation to ensure their homes are decent and fit to live in under the Decent Homes Standard which we have committed to reviewing. We will also introduce a Renters Reform Bill in this Parliament and we will legislate to introduce a legally binding Decent Homes Standard for the first time. We have consulted on this proposal and are currently reviewing the responses. This is a key plank of our ambitious mission to halve the number of non-decent homes across all rented tenures by 2030, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas.<\/p> Our Social Housing Regulation Bill will bring in a rigorous new regime where\u202fthe Regulator of Social Housing will proactively inspect landlords and will have the power to issue unlimited fines. It will be able to intervene cases where tenants' lives are being put at risk and, in the very worst cases, it will have the power to instruct that properties are brought under new management.<\/p> The Secretary of State recently wrote to all local authority Chief Executives and council leaders, and all providers of social housing, on ensuring quality in social housing. The letters are available here<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4737", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dehenna Davison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bishop Auckland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dehenna Davison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "100937"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-09T14:58:31.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing Associations: Standards"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if the Government will set up an independent review of the living standards maintained by housing associations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100940"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547432", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547432/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Internal drainage boards (IDBs) are independent, locally funded and operated, statutory public bodies, with responsibility for water level management and flood risk in their areas (predominately low-lying areas across England). There are currently 112 IDBs in England.<\/p> <\/p> Each IDB has a management board, overseeing operations, and ensuring good governance arrangements, including management of public finances. The management board is made up of members representing the beneficiaries of the IDBs\u2019 work. The majority of IDBs have their own websites and they are encouraged to make minutes of meetings, financial reports and programmes of their works available to the public.<\/p> <\/p> As independent public bodies, IDBs are accountable to the communities they serve, as well as coming under the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman, the new Office for Environmental Protection, and they must comply with other public body duties e.g. around financial audits and accountancy, under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. Each year these audits are published and we will explore any qualified opinions from an auditor with the Association of Drainage Authorities and the relevant IDBs.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rebecca Pow"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Taunton Deane"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rebecca Pow"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-09T14:16:09.11Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Internal Drainage Boards: Disclosure of Information"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the transparency of internal drainage boards.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100941"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547433", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1547433/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This Government is committed to providing the genuinely affordable homes the country needs. That is why, through our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, we will deliver tens of thousands of homes for both rent and sale.<\/p> We do not specifically allocate new supply for young people. However, increasing the supply of affordable home ownership and rental properties tends to benefit those in lower age brackets, making housing more accessible for those entering the market for the first time.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-09T14:09:25.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing: Graduates and Young People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans the Government has to make housing more (a) obtainable and (b) affordable for (i) graduates and (ii) young professionals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "100942"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546769", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546769/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are determined to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing as we transition to electric vehicles. As part of this, we continue to work with investors through the Automotive Transformation Fund to progress plans to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK. In 2021 the Net Zero Strategy announced £350 of funding in the Automotive Transformation Fund. This funding is additional to the £500m announced in 2020 for this programme as part of the 10 Point Plan.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4460", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wealden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ms Nusrat Ghani"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-08T17:02:16.93Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electric Vehicles: Batteries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing Government support for the (a) electric vehicle and (b) vehicle batteries manufacturing industries to help meet the Government's net zero targets.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "99816"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546840", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546840/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide a price reduction to ensure that all eligible businesses and other non-domestic customers, including swimming pools, are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Graham Stuart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beverley and Holderness"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Graham Stuart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-08T17:02:30.273Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Swimming Pools: Energy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support local swimming pools with the cost of energy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Sturdy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Julian Sturdy"}
], "uin" : "99817"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546841", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546841/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are clear that no one should be refused access to businesses or services, including shops or venues, because they legitimately have an assistance dog.<\/p> Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), businesses that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against people who meet the Act\u2019s definition of disability. The Act places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services.<\/p> This duty could include allowing access to guide dogs or assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers. Failure to comply with this duty could amount to unlawful disability discrimination.<\/p> The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on their duty towards disabled people who own assistance/guide dogs. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance is available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf<\/a> and makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.<\/p>
<\/p>