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Written Question
Retail Trade: Coronavirus
Wednesday 3rd June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 5 May 2020 (HL3080), how many (1) premises have been visited, (2) fixed penalty notices issued, and (3) prohibition orders issued, under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020

Answered by Lord Greenhalgh

Everyone is required to comply with the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 issued by the Government, in order to protect both themselves and others.

The latest data published by the National Police Chiefs' Council shows that between 27 March and 11 May, a total of 13,445 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued in England. With businesses in particular, local authorities enforcement officers made 82,490 visits or interactions between 27 March and 16 May, issuing 655 prohibition notices and 48 fixed penalty notices to business premises.

On 13 May, the Government introduced higher fines for those who do not comply with the Regulations 2020, to reflect the increased risk to others of breaking the rules. Further information can be found (attached) online: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/500/made


Written Question
Retail Trade: Coronavirus
Tuesday 5th May 2020

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers are available to local authorities to take action if retail outlets (1) open outside of the Government's COVID-19 guidelines, or (2) persistently flout the rules on selling essential items.

Answered by Lord Greenhalgh

The government's Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 enforces the closure of certain businesses and venues in England, including many retail premises. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.

Businesses and venues that breach the Regulations may be subject to prohibition notices, and a person, who is 18 or over, carrying on a business in contravention of the Regulations may be issued with a fixed penalty. Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with these Regulations, with police support provided if appropriate. With the support of the police, prohibition notices can be used to require compliance with the Regulations including requiring that an activity ceases. It is also an offence, without reasonable excuse, to fail to comply with a prohibition notice. If prohibition notices are not complied with, or fixed penalty notice not paid, this can also be taken to court with magistrates able to impose potentially unlimited fines.


Written Question
Local Government: Assets
Thursday 28th February 2019

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the sale of a local council's assets at below market value has to be reported to (1) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and (2) the council’s auditors; and whether they would expect such sales to be included in a council’s annual accounts and report to residents.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

Public bodies should generally dispose of surplus land at the best possible price reasonably obtainable. However, the Government recognises that disposing of land at less than best consideration can sometimes create wider public benefits.

With regards to land held in the General Fund, a general consent issued under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows local authorities to dispose of land held for purposes other than housing or planning at an undervalue of less than £2 million without seeking a specific consent from the Secretary of State where they consider it will help secure improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the area. Specific Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of such land at an undervalue of more than £2 million. Specific Secretary of State consent is required for disposals of land held for planning purposes regardless of the sale value.

There are also specific rules for housing land. Under section 24 and 25 of the Local Government Act 1988, we expect local authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to dispose of housing assets at less than best value.

It is a matter for local authorities to decide whether to include disposals in their annual accounts and reports to residents, and to make appropriate audit arrangements.


Written Question
Local Government: Basildon
Thursday 28th February 2019

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Basildon Borough Council sought advice from ministers or officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding the sale of council-owned land at (1) a price below market value, and (2) a lower price than had previously been agreed with the vendor without reopening the offer of sale to previous bidders.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

Basildon Borough Council are not required to and have not sought advice from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government regarding the sale of general council owned land.

However the Council did submit an application under section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 in respect of housing land at Buckingham Green. The application was approved on 4 April 2018 in favour of the disposal to Swan Housing Association Limited, with the Council maintaining nomination rights over new homes delivered.


Written Question
Local Government: Basildon
Thursday 28th February 2019

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to appoint auditors to investigate the sale by Basildon Borough Council of a plot of land for development for £1, having purchased the land for £1 million two years earlier.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

There are no plans to appoint auditors to investigate the sale. Local authorities have a duty to manage their housing stock and have the statutory power to dispose of properties and land. They also have a fiduciary duty to their council tax payers.


Written Question
Local Government: Basildon
Tuesday 26th February 2019

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Basildon Borough Council regarding commercial decisions in the last two years.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

Officials from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government met with Basildon Council in April 2018 as part of their ongoing general engagement with local government. As part of a wide ranging discussion, Basildon Council made reference to its policy of commercial asset acquisition and plans for future housing development in the borough.


Written Question
Disabled Facilities Grants
Wednesday 24th October 2018

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the independent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant was commissioned; when it will report; when the report will be published; and when they expect to respond to that report.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

This Government welcomes the independent review and is carefully considering the recommendations it has made and will respond in due course. The independent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant was commissioned in January 2018 and reported back to Government on 12 July. We expect to publish the findings shortly.


Written Question
Sleeping Rough
Tuesday 14th March 2017

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many rough sleepers there are in the UK; how are figures that calculate the number of rough sleepers collated; and what methods have been adopted to improve the collation of that data.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

We are determined to face up to the problem of rough sleeping. The Department for Communities and Local Govt. overhauled the methodology for counting rough sleepers in 2010, requiring every council to report the number of rough sleepers in their area.

This year, we published demographic data on rough sleepers for the first time. This covers gender, age and nationality.

The annual rough sleeping statistics release contains a full explanation of the methodology of the counts and estimates in England, including the new demographic data. They can be found (attached) on gov.uk.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/585713/Rough_Sleeping_Autumn_2016_Statistical_Release.pdf

As housing is devolved, the Welsh Assembly Government, Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government publish homelessness statistics separately.

http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/?subtopic=Homelessness&lang=en

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/RefTables#Publications

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/homelessness_introduction/rough_sleeping.htm


Written Question
Social Rented Housing
Wednesday 21st December 2016

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 24 November (HL Deb, col 2050), what is the new information regarding pay to stay that led to a change of policy.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

I refer my noble friend to the Written Statement laid (attached) on the 21 November. The statement can be viewed on line at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2016-11-21/HLWS274/


Written Question
Housing: Construction
Wednesday 21st December 2016

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 23 November (HL Deb, col 1937), (1) what assessment they have made, and will make, of successfully bringing small builders back into the housing market, (2) how many small building companies have been involved in the project, and (3) where the small building firms are located.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

£1.7 billion of investment for Accelerated Construction was announced at the Autumn Statement. This will see up to 15,000 homes started on surplus public sector land this Parliament.

We are currently undertaking detailed project scoping. Further details about the programme will be made available on completion of this work.

Furthermore, the recently launched £3 billion Home Building Fund, running to 2020-21 provides development and infrastructure loan finance, with £1 billion of this targeted at small and custom builders which the Department intends to deliver 25,500 new homes by 2020.