Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for establishing of Free Ports in Wales.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The UK and Welsh Governments are committed to delivering the benefits of Freeports in Wales, supporting the regeneration of communities in Wales by attracting new businesses, jobs, and investment, as well as growing the Welsh economy.
An announcement on the outcome of the Welsh Freeports competition will be made in Spring 2023.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the criteria for the administration of monies under the Levelling Up Funds.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We have used a range of criteria and approaches to ensure all Levelling Up funds are distributed fairly and equitably around the UK. We have been transparent throughout, publishing our criteria, assessment methodology and decisions on GOV.UK. Where unsuccessful, bidders receive feedback so they can refine bids and resubmit in the next funding round.
Our ambitious plans for levelling up will transform the economic geography of every corner of the UK, helping places reach their productivity potential and improving people’s lives.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money is earmarked for Levelling Up Funds for (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is committed to levelling up all areas of the UK. Since October 2021 the Government has allocated around £1.9 billion throughout the UK through the Levelling Up Fund, Community Renewal Fund and Community Ownership Fund. This equates to almost £1.48 billion in England, £191 million in Scotland, £169 million in Wales and £61 million in Northern Ireland. Over its lifetime, the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest at least £800 million across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further details of round two of the Levelling Up Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total amount of uncollected poll tax, post poll tax abolition.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Department no longer collects data on the amount of community charge that remains uncollected.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many starts on site were made by Housing Associations in (1) 2010, and (2) 2015.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Building more affordable homes is an absolute priority for this Government. On 4 October, the Prime Minister announced an extra £2 billion funding for affordable housing, on top of the £1.4 billion announced last year, increasing the affordable Homes Programme 2016-2021 budget to over £9 billion.
The Department does not hold figures for affordable housing starts before 2009/10, as information was previously only collected by completion.
The number of affordable housing starts on site in England, funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority for the requested years are as follows:
2010/11: 48,488 starts.
2012/13: 35,337 starts.
These figures do not include starts funded solely by local authorities and other sources.
For 2016/17 onwards, the total number of affordable starts also includes starts funded solely by local authorities and other sources. Under this criteria, the following figures are available:
2016/17: 49,420 starts.
Figures for the total number of starts on site made specifically by Housing Associations are available in DCLG live table 1000S. However, this live table only shows data from 2016/17 onwards.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many social housing starts on site were made in (1) 2008, (2) 2010, (3) 2012, and (4) 2016.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Building more affordable homes is an absolute priority for this Government. On 4 October, the Prime Minister announced an extra £2 billion funding for affordable housing, on top of the £1.4 billion announced last year, increasing the affordable Homes Programme 2016-2021 budget to over £9 billion.
The Department does not hold figures for affordable housing starts before 2009/10, as information was previously only collected by completion.
The number of affordable housing starts on site in England, funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority for the requested years are as follows:
2010/11: 48,488 starts.
2012/13: 35,337 starts.
These figures do not include starts funded solely by local authorities and other sources.
For 2016/17 onwards, the total number of affordable starts also includes starts funded solely by local authorities and other sources. Under this criteria, the following figures are available:
2016/17: 49,420 starts.
Figures for the total number of starts on site made specifically by Housing Associations are available in DCLG live table 1000S. However, this live table only shows data from 2016/17 onwards.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the amount of monies due under the Community Charge which remain unpaid.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The department does not hold this information.