Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many social housing properties have been recovered as a result of investigations conducted under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 in each year since its commencement, broken down by local authority.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many convictions have been secured under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 in each year since its commencement, broken down by local authority.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions have been brought under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 in each year since its commencement, broken down by local authority.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of social housing properties currently subject to unlawful subletting, broken down by local authority area.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to undertake a review of enforcement activity under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which local authorities are making use of the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where unlawful occupation of social housing properties occurs, the government expects landlords to take active steps to tackle fraud and ensure social housing is used fairly – this may include taking legal action.
The Department collects data on the number of properties recovered where there was evidence that the tenant had been illegally sub-letting the property in Section G of the Local Authority Housing Statistics, published here. The Department does not monitor how social housing landlords are using the powers available under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
The government has commissioned a review examining how effectively social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling issues such as fraud, under-occupation, overcrowding and empty homes. Findings will be published later this year.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of political knowledge among 16- and 17-year-olds in light of research published by the Electoral Commission on 3 March showing that around 30 per cent of young people aged 18 and under report having heard about politics at school or college in the past year; and what assessment they have made of the implications of those findings for young people’s understanding of how Parliament works.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that by extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds and building a strong foundation for democratic participation among young people, we can establish democratic participation habits which will continue as they grow older. We believe that young people should be much more involved in decisions that affect them. Decisions the Government makes now will not only affect young people today but will have an enduring impact on their entire lives.
The Government also recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to participate confidently in democratic life. The Government wants everyone to understand the value of their voice and the role they can play and we will promote a deeper understanding of why democracy matters. To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make it a legal requirement to teach citizenship at key stages 1 and 2 – focussed on the most essential content. This includes democracy and government, as well as media literacy, law and rights, financial literacy, and climate education. The second curriculum will build on primary content and fit with the content in other subjects to ensure that all pupils get an essential grounding in a range of topics.
A strong and value the democratic institutions and the democratic process. Citizenship education, reinforced across the curriculum, can play a vital role in making sure young people feel the democratic process is relevant to themcitizenship curriculum should include democratic institutions. The Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review response recognised this and highlighted that that it is vital to ensure that young people understand, and that they understand how constitutional principles such as the rule of law protect them and benefit their lives.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds without corresponding increases in civic education.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that by extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds and building a strong foundation for democratic participation among young people, we can establish democratic participation habits which will continue as they grow older. We believe that young people should be much more involved in decisions that affect them. Decisions the Government makes now will not only affect young people today but will have an enduring impact on their entire lives.
The Government also recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to participate confidently in democratic life. The Government wants everyone to understand the value of their voice and the role they can play and we will promote a deeper understanding of why democracy matters. To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make it a legal requirement to teach citizenship at key stages 1 and 2 – focussed on the most essential content. This includes democracy and government, as well as media literacy, law and rights, financial literacy, and climate education. The second curriculum will build on primary content and fit with the content in other subjects to ensure that all pupils get an essential grounding in a range of topics.
A strong and value the democratic institutions and the democratic process. Citizenship education, reinforced across the curriculum, can play a vital role in making sure young people feel the democratic process is relevant to themcitizenship curriculum should include democratic institutions. The Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review response recognised this and highlighted that that it is vital to ensure that young people understand, and that they understand how constitutional principles such as the rule of law protect them and benefit their lives.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to change the electoral qualification and disqualification provisions on whether Members of Parliament can (1) stand for election, and (2) continue to hold office, as (a) councillors, (b) council mayors, (c) Police and Crime Commissioners, and (d) combined authority mayors.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the noble Baroness to the response given to Question UIN 47703 on 30 April 2025. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Mayors who hold the PCC function are disqualified from standing for election or continuing to hold office if they become Members of Parliament. Government has laid out proposals to extend similar arrangements to Mayors of a combined authority, combined county authority or the Greater London Authority who do not hold the PCC function. There are no plans to similarly change disqualification criteria for other elected mayors or councillors.
Asked by: Baroness O'Neill of Bexley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the best value inspection of Tower Hamlets Council in 2024, what assessment was made by the Commissioners of the standards of behaviour in council meetings.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Best Value Inspection of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets report was published on 12th November 2024. Inspectors found that “[council] meetings have, at times, been fractious, the tone has been occasionally aggressive and sometimes there has been filibustering… it is our view that this has, unfortunately, over-shadowed and impaired the quality of debate in the chamber.” (paragraph 3.42)
The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has appointed three Ministerial Envoys to work with the Council to address the issues found in the Inspection Report, and intends to publish their first report on the Council’s progress this summer.