Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1308955

registered interest
date	14/04/2021
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	Leasehold: Ground Rent
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 any exclusions will apply to the proposed changes to enable leaseholders to have the right to extend their lease by a maximum of 990 years at zero ground rent.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	181151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We are taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market, in January we announced reforms to the valuation process and length of lease extensions, in response to Law Commission recommendations.</p><p>The Law Commission’s report on enfranchisement includes recommendations relating to the qualifying criteria for enfranchisement and lease extensions, including any potential exemptions. We will bring forward a response to these and the other remaining Law Commission recommendations in due course.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 19/04/2021 16:53:51 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1308957

registered interest
date	14/04/2021
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	Leasehold: Ground Rent
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an estimate of costs to leaseholders other than legal fees of extending their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero ground rent.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	181152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We are taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market.</p><p>Whilst the cost of a lease extension will vary depending on a number of factors including the time remaining on the existing lease, under the current system too many leaseholders find the process for extending their lease or buying their freehold (a process known as enfranchisement) too complex, lacking transparency and prohibitively expensive.</p><p>We will reform the process of enfranchisement valuation that leaseholders must follow to calculate the cost of extending their lease or buying their freehold. The Government will abolish marriage value, cap the treatment of ground rents at 0.1% of the freehold value, and prescribe rates for the calculations at market value. The Government will also introduce an online calculator, further simplifying the process for leaseholders and ensuring standardisation and fairness for all those looking to enfranchise. These changes to the enfranchisement valuation process will result in substantial savings for some leaseholders, particularly those with less than 80 years left on their lease. Our reforms to enfranchisement valuation also ensure that sufficient compensation is paid to landlords to reflect their legitimate property interests.</p><p>We will translate these measures into law as soon as possible, starting with legislation to set ground rents on newly created leases to zero in the upcoming session. This will be the first part of major two-part legislation to implement leasehold and Commonhold reforms in this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 19/04/2021 16:53:19 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1308462

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Housing: Young People
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 recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) accessibility of the private rental sector to young people moving on from supported accommodation and (b) barriers faced by young people trying to move on from supported accommodation into the private rental sector; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on that matter.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	180475
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>Whilst my Department has not made a formal assessment, we recognise the importance of supporting vulnerable young people, including those staying in supported accommodation, into independent living for example in the private rented sector and we keep this and similar issues under regular review. Ministers in my Department and in the Department for Work and Pensions meet regularly on a range of matters.</p><p>We are already undertaking a range of wider action that should also help vulnerable young people with their onward housing needs. We have also taken action to support people, including young people, with renting property in the private rented sector, and we will go further to bring in a better deal for renters.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 20/04/2021 13:53:32 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1308463

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Homelessness: Young People
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 estimate his Department has made of the number of local authorities that will act as a guarantor for young people who have experienced homelessness; and what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such schemes.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	180476
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. Local authorities must now work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. The support offered may involve financial support.</p><p>We are providing a £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities in 2021/22 to help them plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures. Amongst other things, local authorities may use this to support people into the private rented sector, for example through guarantor schemes or by providing deposits. Local authorities may use homelessness funding flexibility in line with local need.</p><p>In addition, this year there is £140 million available in Discretionary Housing Payments which can be used for those who may need additional support with housing costs.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 180477 question first answered 20/04/2021 13:55:06 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1308464

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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: Young People
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 assessment his Department has made of the number of local authorities that offer a deposit scheme to support young people in moving into the private rental sector; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such schemes.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	180477
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. Local authorities must now work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. The support offered may involve financial support.</p><p>We are providing a £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities in 2021/22 to help them plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures. Amongst other things, local authorities may use this to support people into the private rented sector, for example through guarantor schemes or by providing deposits. Local authorities may use homelessness funding flexibility in line with local need.</p><p>In addition, this year there is £140 million available in Discretionary Housing Payments which can be used for those who may need additional support with housing costs.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes grouped question UIN 180476 question first answered 20/04/2021 13:55:06 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1308512

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Litter
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 ensure that local authorities have adequate resources to tackle littering in their communities.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	180401
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to encouraging local solutions for local problems. This is particularly relevant in dealing with litter and fly-tipping problems, which require a local approach, tailored to the characteristics of the area and the community in which the problems occur. The role of central Government is to enable and support this local action: providing a clear legal framework of rights, responsibilities and powers, setting national standards and, where possible, making sure that the costs of dealing with litter issues are passed to those responsible for causing the problem. <br> <br> We published the Litter Strategy for England in April 2017, setting out our aim to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and littering within a generation. The Litter Strategy brings together communities, businesses, charities and schools to bring about real change by focusing on three key themes: education and awareness; improving enforcement; and better cleaning and access to bins. A copy of the Litter Strategy can be found at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Flitter-strategy-for-england&amp;data=04%7C01%7CArthur.Russell%40communities.gov.uk%7C5ec2acb72b7040f0a83d08d8ff30f145%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637539932949935925%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Xyq7YP6Zae%2BBdjDjuSFhZlA76lsx%2BiimQD7GFt9iPz8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/litter-strategy-for-england</a></p><p><br> Depending on local decisions, Core Spending Power in England may rise from £49 billion in 2020-21 to up to £51.3 billion in 2021-22, a 4.6% increase in cash terms. If councils do decide to take up the entirety of the increase on offer, they will see an increase in line with last years. This recognises the resources councils need to meet their pressures and maintain current service levels</p><p><br> The Settlement is unringfenced to ensure local areas can prioritise based on their own understanding of the needs of their local communities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 20/04/2021 16:02:32 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1308517

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Community Development: Regeneration
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 his press release, Right to Regenerate to turn derelict buildings into homes and community assets, published 16 January 2021, whether council-owned land designated as a nature reserve will be exempted from the right to regenerate.
tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
tabling member printed	Darren Jones
uin	180581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The Right to Regenerate is about making sure that people and communities can hold public bodies to account, and make sure that public land is put to the best use possible. Designated nature reserves exist to protect the natural environment: the land would clearly be in use, and is highly unlikely to be suitable for disposal. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation, and will publish a formal response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 21/04/2021 13:51:13 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1308532

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Hedgehogs
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 has made an assessment of the effect of new house building on the level of the hedgehog population.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	180425
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The implications of new homes for wildlife, including hedgehogs, will depend on the particular local circumstances of a new development. Our National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment.</p><p>Where there are effects on wildlife due to new development, our planning practice guidance acknowledges the value of incorporating wildlife into development, such as providing safe routes for hedgehogs to travel between sites. Planning conditions can be used to require that a planning permission provides for works that will measurably increase biodiversity and local authorities should take this into consideration when dealing with applications for new homes.</p><p>The Government is committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species, such as hedgehogs, red squirrels, water voles and dormice. Our Environment Bill includes measures that will help improve the status of threatened species, including mandating biodiversity net gain.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 21/04/2021 13:54:01 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1308533

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Hedgehogs
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 assessment he has made of the potential benefits for the hedgehog population of requiring construction companies to ensure that cement-based fence panels in new housing developments have ground level tunnels.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	180426
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>Our planning practice guidance acknowledges the importance of incorporating measures that accommodate wildlife, including hedgehogs, in new developments. The creation and maintenance of safe routes between different habitats is specifically identified as being very important to hedgehogs. The provision of safe routes between habitats could be done via gaps in fencing, tunnels or other methods.</p><p>Such measures may not be suitable for all types of site, and care needs to be taken to ensure that any benefits promised will lead to genuine and demonstrable gains for biodiversity. This is why in planning guidance we advise that planning authorities need to make sure that any evidence and rationale supplied by applicants are supported by the appropriate scientific expertise and local wildlife knowledge. Therefore, these measures are not mandatory in all developments and should be considered on case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 21/04/2021 13:58:22 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1308535

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
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	Buildings: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to introduce the Building Safety Bill.
tabling member constituency	Norwich South
tabling member printed	Clive Lewis
uin	180557
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The Building Safety Bill was published in draft on 20 July 2020 and has recently undergone pre-legislative scrutiny by the HCLG Select Committee. We are currently considering the Committee’s report and recommendations and will introduce the Bill in due course. We recognise that these are important public safety measures; that is why the Government is committed to progressing the Bill as quickly as possible, so that reforms can be implemented in a timely manner and residents can feel safe, and be safe, in their homes.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 21/04/2021 14:00:38 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4500 label Biography information for Clive Lewis