Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
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 9 September 2024 to Question 2991 on Devolution: East of England, whether mayoral or directly elected leader elections will take place in (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected mayor. We want every part of England to take their place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out on ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Regarding the decision taken by a council to change its’ governance arrangements for a directly elected local authority mayor, that is a decision which rests with the councils concerned.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Mr Haydon Etherington was appointed to her Department following open competition; on what date he was appointed; what his pay band is; and for what reason he was appointed as a civil servant rather than a Departmental special adviser.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters. The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with representatives of the London Borough of Havering on the adequacy of levels of development of new build homes in that borough.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
While the standard method is the basis for establishing total housing need in London, responsibility for its overall distribution lies with the Mayor rather than individual London boroughs.
The London Borough of Havering’s local development plan must be in general conformity with the London Plan. Havering adopted its Local Plan in 2021 with a housing target of 1,262 homes per year.
Average annual net additions in Havering were 830 between 2020/21 and 2022/23. The Housing Delivery Test 2022 shows that Havering scored 55%, meaning the borough is subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London and all London boroughs to significantly increase housing delivery across the capital.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
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 list the (a) local council and (b) council mayoral and (c) combined authority mayoral elections that will take place in May 2025.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected mayor. We want every part of England to take their place on the Council of Nations and Regions, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils and other partners to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out on ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
Regarding the decision taken by a council to change its’ governance arrangements for a directly elected local authority mayor, that is a decision which rests with the councils concerned.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether land allocated to (a) National Landscapes and (b) National Parks will be taken into consideration for housing requirements (i) generally and (ii) in Chichester District.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National planning policy makes clear that land designated as National Landscapes and National Parks should be taken into account by local authorities when establishing a housing requirement for their area. Local authorities are expected to evidence and justify their approach through local plan consultation and examination.
In our consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, we made clear that land safeguarded by existing environmental designations, including National Parks and National Landscapes, will maintain its current protections.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there are restrictions on Mr Haydon Etherington's activity as a member of the Labour Party whilst serving as Senior Policy Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters. The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which Department is responsible for Government policy on community pubs.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The policy for community assets, including community pubs, sits within MHCLG.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of increasing housing costs.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
While the pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders, we recognise that many home owners have been faced with higher mortgage rates in recent years. That is why we are committed to delivering economic stability to grow the economy and keep taxes, inflation and mortgage rates as low as possible.
Higher mortgage rates, along with the general increase in the cost of living have in particular created significant challenges for first-time buyers. In 2023 there were 235,000 first-time buyers, compared to 334,000 in 2021, a fall of nearly 30%. Too many people are now locked out of homeownership. Our aim to build 1.5m homes will help tackle this. We have also committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme and to giving first-time buyers the first chance to buy homes.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the application by China to situate its embassy in a new site in London is expected to be determined; and whether they anticipate any delay to that process, and if so, why.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The planning application for a proposed new Chinese Embassy is currently with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The timing of determining the application is a matter for them as the local planning authority. No further comment can be made in respect of this, or any prospective scheme, as to do so may prejudice any future decision the Deputy Prime Minister in her role as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government may need to make should this application come before her in the future.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage developers to use brownfield sites; and whether they plan to give tax breaks to developers of this land to reflect the added costs of making the land fit to be built on.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have been clear that development must look to brownfield first, prioritising previously used land wherever possible. To support this, we propose a set of targeted changes in our consultation on reforms to the NPPF, published 30 July. These changes include an expanded definition of previously developed land, and changes to make clear that the default answer to brownfield development should be ‘yes’.
National planning policy also expects local councils to support efforts to identify and bring back into residential use empty homes and other suitable buildings.