Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to reply to the letter dated 15 September 2023 from Lord Berkeley to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Leader of the House of Commons, regarding the governance of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I apologise for the delay in responding to my Noble Lords’ correspondence. The department attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence from Noble peers. A response issued on 27 February 2024.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, as currently drafted, will bind the Crown, and if not, why.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government is implementing the Law Commission’s recommendations in relation to the Crown.
The recommendation sets out that the Crown should remain exempt from statutory enfranchisement rights, provided it gives an undertaking to act by analogy with the new enfranchisement regime, except in certain special circumstances.
The effect will be that most leaseholders of the Crown will have the same opportunity to exercise enfranchisement rights as any other leaseholder.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government when if at all they intend to reply to the letter dated 15 September from Lord Berkeley to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Leader of the House of Commons, regarding the governance of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and similar bodies established by Royal Charter, which called for such bodies to publish and maintain their professional standards, monitor those members using them, and sanction those members who have failed to comply with them.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
Unfortunately, the department has no record of receiving the letter prior to 22 November. The department will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund the cost of air or rail travel for refugees from Ukraine who are allowed to enter the UK.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Once within Great Britain, Ukrainian beneficiaries will be eligible for free onward travel via national rail, light rail, bus and coach, to their final destinations across England, Scotland and Wales. Further information on the scheme is available at: www.nationalrail.co.uk/ukraine.
We would not want the cost of travel to the UK to be a barrier and understand there are a number of schemes and offers that people can make use of. Some commercial operators have also offered free travel to Ukrainians including Eurostar.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any grant from the Levelling Up fund (1) to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or (2) to any other body, for new vehicle transport ships will (a) require those vessels to have roll-on roll-off capability, (b) need to demonstrate best value for money in accordance with the Fund’s rules, and (c) require a full competitive tendering process for the operation of the vessels.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Bids for the first round of the Levelling Up Fund are currently being assessed in line with the published assessment process. Whilst we are not able to answer project-specific questions, or provide advice on potential projects during this period of competition, I can confirm that value for money forms part of the criteria used to assess all bids. More information on the full assessment process, including the assessment of value for money, can be found (attached) in the Levelling Up Fund technical note - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/992647/technical-note-for-application-form.pdf
Successful bidders will need to adhere to any legislation relevant to the delivery of the project, such as procurement. Outcomes from the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund will be announced later in the year and bidding authorities will be informed in due course.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in assessing applications to their Levelling Up Fund, they plan to take into account (1) the principles contained in their consultation Reforming Competition and Consumer Policy: Driving growth and delivering competitive markets that work for consumers, published on 20 July, in particular those about (a) levels of consumer harm, and (b) businesses blocking competition, (2) the availability of potential competition, and (3) value for money for taxpayers.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.
The Fund will operate UK-wide, extending the benefits of funding for priority local infrastructure across all regions and nations.
We published a technical note setting out further guidance for the first round of the Levelling Up Fund on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (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 1 June (HL255), whether they will provide a list of all meetings of the Oxford–Cambridge Arc since 2019; and whether they plan to place the minutes of (1) these meetings, and (2) any future ones in the Library of the House.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Inter-Ministerial Group for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc will be meeting shortly following re-establishment.
The Oxford-Cambridge Arc Portfolio Board is regularly convened, with senior representation from DEFRA, BEIS, DfT, DIT, HMT, No10, IPA and chaired by MHCLG.
The management and recording of these Groups and Boards will continue in accordance with Department requirements and procedures.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide in relation to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc (1) a list of members on the inter-ministerial group, (2) a list of members on the inter-departmental Board, (3) a list of all meeting dates since March 2019 of (a) the inter-ministerial group and (b) the inter-departmental Board; whether they plan to place the minutes of these meetings in the Library of the House and, if so, when.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Government is re-establishing the Inter-Ministerial Group for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and there will be a meeting of this shortly, to which Ministers across Government, from Environment and Transport to Business and Trade, will be invited to attend.
The Oxford-Cambridge Arc Portfolio Board, chaired by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, has senior representation from DEFRA, BEIS, DfT, DIT, HMT, No10 and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA).
We will continue to manage and record these Boards in line with Departmental requirements and procedures.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they used to allocate Cornwall to tier 2 for assistance from the Levelling Up Fund; and what plans they have, if any, to transfer Cornwall to tier 1.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
As set out in the prospectus published at Budget, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We have published the index and further details of the methodology used to calculate the index of places set out in the prospectus.
While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit. Bids from categories 2 and 3 will still be considered for funding on their merits of deliverability, value for money and strategic fit, and could still be successful if they are of sufficiently high quality.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (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 29 January (HL 12331), whether they have (1) consulted with local residents and others affected by any new Inland Border Facility at Dover, and (2) they have published any application documents.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
My Department has not received any submission seeking the Secretary of State’s approval to the development and use of a specific site in Dover as an Inland Border Facility.
Substantive engagement is a requirement on the relevant border department ahead of seeking approval for any site-specific proposal from my Department.
I understand that the Government’s border facing departments have provided a website with information on the Government’s plans for delivering inland border facilities. The website can be found at: https://inlandborderfacilities.uk/
As my Ministerial colleague will be taking decisions on any site-specific proposals it is not appropriate for me to comment on sites that are or may be the subject of a proposal; we will take decisions without pre-determination and on the basis of the evidence and advice in front of us.