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1188195

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Public Health Funerals: 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 provided to local authorities on ensuring that relatives are able to attend paupers funerals conducted by councils during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	37599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Funerals should continue to be held to allow families and loved ones to say goodbye and respect the wishes, religion and beliefs of the deceased. Guidance for Managing a Funeral during the Coronavirus pandemic was issued by Government on 19 April to ensure the bereaved are treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect. <br> <br> The guidance permits funerals to take place and for physical attendance of mourners to continue as long as those attending adhere to this guidance, which details how the risk of Coronavirus transmission can be reduced. My Department also wrote to all councils in England <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F880108%2FLetter_from_Minister_Simon_Clarke.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJames.Hayes%40communities.gov.uk%7Cfb37f1368b614b55d80f08d7e5ef852c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637230689196434085&amp;sdata=v7vVYTyBx7%2BXHuef%2FvH0yF%2BTepuKvi1nwRvK1pqrMeU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">on 17 April</a> reiterating the need for the bereaved to have the opportunity to pay their final respects as a fundamental part of the grieving process.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 14:59:06 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1188213

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Business Improvement Districts: 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, whether he plans to grant Business Improvement Districts' levy payers 100 percent levy relief during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	37711
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and recognises the important role they play in allowing local businesses to work together to shape and improve their high streets and towns, and that they will be even more important in the recovery phase from the current crisis.</p><p>Through the Coronavirus Act 2020, the Government has also included new measures to support BIDs: we have introduced a delay to BID ballots due to take place between now and 31 December 2020 until March 2021. This will ensure that they are conducted in a safe and effective way.</p><p>We know that a number of BIDs and local authorities are currently in the process of issuing their bills to BID members, and we would hope that they can come to sensible arrangements on charging given the current circumstances.</p><p>At present, businesses within a BID will still need to pay into their BID to ensure the BID body can still provide vital support to their local business communities.</p><p>We are exploring other ways we can support BIDs directly and intend to bring forward further plans very soon. Businesses can also benefit from the substantial package of support announced by the Chancellor.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 14:58:00 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1188244

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Temporary Accommodation: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2020 to Question 29886, on Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	37518
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide accommodation for households that are homeless and defined as being in priority need, unintentionally homeless and eligible for assistance. They are obliged to secure temporary accommodation for the household in the first instance until suitable long-term accommodation can be secured. Housing authorities must ensure the accommodation is suitable for the applicant and their household until the duty ends.</p><p>The Government is clear that if an individual is experiencing the symptoms of coronavirus – a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, the current guidance is to self-isolate for 7 days from when their symptoms started. If the individual is not living alone, the whole household must also self-isolate for 14 days. People should not be travelling during this time unless they have an essential reason.</p><p>This guidance is being constantly reviewed as the situation changes. Please see here for the updated guidance: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-stay-at-home-guidance%2Fstay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection&amp;data=02%7C01%7CDavid.Barritt%40communities.gov.uk%7C2798e58b3f8e442df88308d7e76d19ab%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637232328071716847&amp;sdata=N9GsgWIHA%2BzuUfirRBcos%2F6kZAhqrzC5CwlpBtGWLUI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 37519 question first answered 27/04/2020 15:35:24 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1188245

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Temporary Accommodation: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2020 to Question 29886, on Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus, what guidance his Department has issued to visitors that do not have access to accommodation (a) that they had arranged for themselves upon arrival or (b) for other reasons.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	37519
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide accommodation for households that are homeless and defined as being in priority need, unintentionally homeless and eligible for assistance. They are obliged to secure temporary accommodation for the household in the first instance until suitable long-term accommodation can be secured. Housing authorities must ensure the accommodation is suitable for the applicant and their household until the duty ends.</p><p>The Government is clear that if an individual is experiencing the symptoms of coronavirus – a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, the current guidance is to self-isolate for 7 days from when their symptoms started. If the individual is not living alone, the whole household must also self-isolate for 14 days. People should not be travelling during this time unless they have an essential reason.</p><p>This guidance is being constantly reviewed as the situation changes. Please see here for the updated guidance: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-stay-at-home-guidance%2Fstay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection&amp;data=02%7C01%7CDavid.Barritt%40communities.gov.uk%7C2798e58b3f8e442df88308d7e76d19ab%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637232328071716847&amp;sdata=N9GsgWIHA%2BzuUfirRBcos%2F6kZAhqrzC5CwlpBtGWLUI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 37518 question first answered 27/04/2020 15:35:24 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1188249

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Local Government Services: 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 steps he is taking to support workers that have faced racial, verbal and physical abuse while providing local authority services during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	37523
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes hate crime and discrimination of any kind very seriously. We are a tolerant and welcoming multicultural society and we have one of the strongest legal frameworks in the world to report, record and prosecute hate crime. As such, I would encourage anyone who experiences hate crime or any other form of verbal or physical abuse to report it to the police.</p><p>While MHCLG does not performance manage local government, we do consider the service delivery of authorities as part of our oversight of local government. We continue to assess the risks affecting local government as part of the response to coronavirus. This will allow for us to compile the information needed to identify risks affecting councils and their workers, aiding us in assisting the Local Government Association and across Government to identify those local authorities which may need support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 28/04/2020 14:47:15 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1188336

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Retail Trade: 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 steps his Department is taking to ensure that all non-essential retail stores are closed in order to (a) encourage consumers to comply with social distancing measures and (b) help protect retail store employees during the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>My Department led the preparation of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 which enforces the closure of certain businesses and venues, including many retail premises. This is to minimise the risk of transmission of novel coronavirus by encouraging the public to stay at home wherever possible. Only categories of retail business which provide vital services to the public such as food and groceries, hardware for home repairs, and medicines remain physically open. These closures are enforceable by law. Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers within local authorities have the power to issue prohibition notices to non-compliant stores and potentially issue fixed penalty notices to store owners or managers and begin prosecutions where necessary.</p><p>The Government remains clear that online retail can continue to operate, supported by the postal and delivery services which enable it. The public are using online retail as well as the stores that do remain open to access the products they need to provide for daily needs, to remain connected and to support upkeep of the home.</p><p>Where stores do remain open, we strongly advise them to continue to follow specific Public Health England guidelines for customers and employees. To ensure retail workers are protected under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, these measures will be monitored by Health and Safety Executive Officers or Local Environmental Health Officers depending on the premise.</p><p>The British Retail Consortium has also developed sector specific guidance on social distancing in warehouses and distribution centres aligned with the Public Health England advice that supports safety of employees who are enabling the retail sector to continue.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 15:02:18 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188370

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Planning Permission: Judicial Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the reduction in the time limit for bringing a judicial review in planning cases to six weeks implemented by the Government on 1 July 2013, how many judicial reviews of planning decisions were successfully brought (a) prior to and (b) after the reduction of the time limit in each year since 2013.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	37814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not collect or hold statistics on this basis.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 27/04/2020 16:16:21 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1188374

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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: Reform
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 timescale is for the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill; what the Government's plans are for section 21 notices; and what plans he has to increase security for older private renters in that upcoming bill.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
tabling member printed	Janet Daby
uin	37818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>As announced in the Queen’s Speech, the Government plans to introduce a package of reforms to deliver a better deal for renters and a fairer and more effective rental market. The Renters’ Reform Bill will enhance renters’ security and improve protections for short-term tenants by abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions. This will include repealing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and represents a generational change in the law that governs private renting.</p><p>However, at the current time, our collective efforts are focused on protecting people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. That means supporting our communities as well as making sure measures to help renters and landlords over the next few months are effective.</p><p>Our recent consultation ‘ <em>A New Deal for Renting: Resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants’ </em> sought views from across the private and social rented sectors on how a new system should operate, in order to ensure that we get the details right and create a new framework which works for everyone. We received responses to our consultation which highlighted the experience of a range of people who rent their homes in the private rented sector, including older people. In total, almost 20,000 responses to the consultation were received and these are being carefully considered to help inform the Renters’ Reform Bill. We will respond fully to the consultation in due course.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 28/04/2020 15:15:43 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby

1188391

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Council Tax: 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 financial support to people in the process of selling property that have to pay council tax on two properties during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Council tax plays a vital role in funding the delivery of essential frontline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Where councils consider it appropriate, they have the discretion to offer council tax discounts of up to 100% on empty properties in their area. They also have powers to agree alternative payment arrangements with individual taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 28/04/2020 15:00:44 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188415

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Planning Permission: 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, with reference to the guidance on social distancing published by Public Health England and the covid-19 outbreak, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of proceeding with large scale planning applications that require public consultations and meetings to be held.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	37846
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government has made clear that local planning authorities should continue to prioritise decision-making during these challenging times to ensure that the planning system continues to function, especially when this when this will support the local economy.</p><p>Local planning authorities are still required to undertake a formal period of public consultation of no less than 21 days, prior to deciding a planning application.</p><p>Effective consultation allows local planning authorities to identify and consider all relevant planning issues associated with a proposed development. Where relevant considerations are raised by local residents, these must be taken into account by the local authority.</p><p>Most planning applications are determined by planning officers through a local authority’s scheme of delegation. Where decisions need to be made by committee, we have introduced legislation that allow council planning committee meetings to be held virtually.</p><p>Local planning authorities should take an innovative approach, using all options available to them including their use of technology and electronic communication, to ensure that planning decisions are made and sufficient public participation in the planning process is maintained. The Government is working with the Planning Advisory Service to publish further advice on ways this can be achieved.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher grouped question UIN 37512 37513 37847 question first answered 28/04/2020 15:21:49 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans