Dec. 24 2024
Source Page: I. Impact of the Vagrancy Act 1824 on the levelling up missions. 3p. II. Letter dated 17/12/2024 from Rushanara Ali MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the above report for deposit in the House Libraries. 1p.Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17553 on Housing: Ownership, if she will make an estimate of the number of replacement affordable housing units in each of the next five years.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As detailed in the review of the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012 published on 30 October 2024 alongside the Budget, during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2021 the replacement target was 62,485 but only 47,864 replacements were delivered, which means there were 14,621 fewer replacements than the target.
The changes this government has made to the Right to Buy, including reducing maximum cash discount levels, allowing local authorities to retain the share of receipts formerly paid to HM Treasury, and increasing the flexibilities on how councils can use their receipts, will improve the ratio of replacements to sales.
Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has taken recent steps to increase the construction of (a) social housing and (b) affordable homes in Aldershot constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
On 30 July we announced a number of changes in planning policy designed to support the delivery of affordable homes. We also confirmed a range of new flexibilities for councils and housing associations, both within the Affordable Homes Programme and in relation to how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts, and a further £450 million for councils through the Local Authority Housing Fund enabling councils to grow their housing stock.
At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor set out details of an immediate one-year cash injection of £500 million to top up the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 5,000 new social and affordable homes. This comes ahead of the multi-year Spending Review next spring, where the Government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.
The Chancellor also confirmed that we will reduce Right to Buy discounts to their pre-2012 regional levels and allow councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales.
In addition, the government will consult on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement to provide the sector with the certainty it needs to invest in new social housing.
Asked by: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Q53 of the evidence given by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on 20 November 2024, HC432, at what (a) geographical and (b) administrative level regional strategic plans will operate.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Detail about the government’s proposed approach to strategic planning can be found in the English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to promote the use of timber framing in construction.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes in this Parliament. Greater adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including timber frame, will be crucial to achieving this. We will set out further details as part of the Long-Term Housing Strategy.
Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an estimate of the number of unoccupied dwellings in (a) Hampshire and (b) Aldershot constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
According to the latest published statistics, excluding second homes, there are 719,470 vacant dwellings in England. 265,061 of these dwellings are classed as Long-Term Empty Homes, meaning they have been empty for more than 6 months. These statistics are published annually and can be found on gov.uk here. They include a breakdown of vacant dwellings by local authority district. We do not hold records on vacant homes on a constituency basis.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation, published on 12 December 2024, if she will publish the substantive responses to the consultation not sent by individuals.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not routinely publish responses received to public consultations. Many organisations, including councils, choose to publish their responses on their websites.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff are employed by Homes England.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As of 19 December 2024, no staff within Homes England are employed in full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion roles.
Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the average increase in private rents in Aldershot constituency in the last 12 months; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those increases on people in that constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the average increase in rent. Private rents across the UK increased by 9.1% in the 12 months to November 2024 (provisional estimate), up from 8.7% in the 12 months to October 2024.
While there is no data available on Aldershot specifically, Aldershot is located in Rushmoor. The ONS found that the average monthly rent in Rushmoor was £1,257 in November 2024, an annual increase of 6.9% from £1,176 in November 2023.
The government recognises that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense. The Renters’ Rights Bill will empower private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution in response to the question from the hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green and Mosely, of 27 November 2024, Official Report, column 768, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle the desecration of (a) all religious texts and (b) the prophets of the Abrahamic religions.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Desecration of religious texts and abusing or targeting people for their faith or belief is awful and should be condemned. The Government is working with partners to tackle all forms of prejudice, division and hatred experienced by religious and other communities.
To champion freedom of religion or belief abroad, my Hon Friend the Member for North Northumberland has been appointed Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, promoting tolerance and mutual respect through and alongside the UK’s diplomatic network.