Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many councils have indicated that they are in financial distress and may have to issue a section 114 notice within the next two years.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Individual councils are responsible for managing their budgets, and any decision to issue a Section 114 report is made locally. We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to manage its finances or faces pressures it has not planned for.
The Government monitors the financial health of local authorities on a regular basis using a wide range of data as well as through extensive direct engagement with councils.
The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £64.7 billion, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion or 7.5% in cash terms on 2023-24 – an above inflation increase. This Settlement includes additional measures worth £600 million announced on 24 January.
On the 29 February, the Government published details of financial flexibilities agreed with a small number of other councils that requested financial support on an exceptional basis, due to specific local issues that they are unable to manage themselves.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the findings of the independent review of the Teesworks Joint Venture, and at whose request and for what reasons publication has been delayed.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The timing of the review is dictated by the pace at which the independent panel are able to conduct their investigation. Ministers have not yet received the report. We understand that the report is of interest to parliament and the public alike and hope to be able to publish it shortly.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what grants they provided to the Church of England in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Information on all Government grants to the Church of England is not held centrally by the department. The Government does not routinely pay the Church of England, though it may provide grants to its constituent entities or affiliated organisations via a range of funding programmes, including to deliver on some of the Government's objectives.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 17 May (HL Deb col 251), what discussions they have had with the Tees Valley Mayor about the Redcar Steelworks sites and the Government implementing section 6(3)(d) of the National Audit Act 1983; and whether they plan to implement that section with the agreement of local authorities.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
On 24 May the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities wrote to the Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, confirming that he had taken the exceptional decision to support the commissioning of an independent review to consider the specific allegations made and Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks joint venture. A copy of his letter has been placed in the House of Commons Library and has also been published on Gov.uk. Furthermore, on 25 May, a Written Ministerial Statement from the Minister for Local Government, Lee Rowley, was made in the house detailing the exceptional decision taken by the Secretary of State and that the Terms of Reference and appointments to undertake the Review will be announced shortly.
The Tees Valley Mayor approached Government some time ago regarding the possibility of an independent review of STDC and Teesworks to address allegations which he was concerned could have a damaging effect on investment and job creation across Teesside.
The Secretary of State considered calls for such an investigation to be led by the National Audit Office. It is not the NAO’s role to audit or examine individual local government bodies and its powers would not normally be used for that purpose. As the letter to the Mayor confirms, the Secretary of State does not think it would be appropriate to expand so significantly the role of the NAO by asking them to lead an inquiry. The Secretary of State has stated that he would welcome the NAO updating its previous review of Government’s funding arrangements for the South Tees Development Corporation.
The Government intends to publish detailed terms of reference for the independent review shortly and confirm the appointments to the review Panel.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide an update on plans for the former Redcar Steelworks site, and (1) what recent assessment they have made of the terms of the original business case used to agree public funding, and (2) whether they have agreed any changes or amendments to that business case.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Further to the PNQ last week, the SSI steelworks in Redcar closed in September 2015, with the loss of more than 3100 jobs. The Government appointed Lord Heseltine to review how the economic fortunes of the area could be turned around, including through the redevelopment of the former SSI site. The Government accepted Lord Heseltine's recommendation in his report Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited that it should establish the first mayoral development corporation outside London, the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC).
In 2020, the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) submitted a full business case to Government. The business case was developed and then approved in line with Green Book principles. The funding is governed by a memorandum of understanding between Government and TVCA, including quarterly monitoring reports on spend, risks and delivery.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government which department took the decision to partner with South Tees Development Corporation for development of the former Redcar Steelworks site and, in making that decision, which procedures set out in 'The Green Book: Central Government Guidance on Appraisal and Evaluation' were not followed; and why.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Further to the PNQ last week, the SSI steelworks in Redcar closed in September 2015, with the loss of more than 3100 jobs. The Government appointed Lord Heseltine to review how the economic fortunes of the area could be turned around, including through the redevelopment of the former SSI site. The Government accepted Lord Heseltine's recommendation in his report Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited that it should establish the first mayoral development corporation outside London, the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC).
In 2020, the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) submitted a full business case to Government. The business case was developed and then approved in line with Green Book principles. The funding is governed by a memorandum of understanding between Government and TVCA, including quarterly monitoring reports on spend, risks and delivery.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many conflicts between local development plans and national development management policies have arisen in each of the last five years; and how many were resolved by the national development management policies taking precedence.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
National Development Management Policies are proposed to be introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which is before Parliament at present. Therefore no conflicts have arisen between National Development Management Policies as they have yet to be introduced. Further details of how National Development Management Policies would operate are set out in the consultation document 'Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy' published in December 2022.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total number of bids to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund, broken down by region; and how much was allocated in cash to each region from the second round of the Fund.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I draw the attention of the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL 4921 (attached) on 2 February 2023.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of bids submitted for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund were successful, broken down by region.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I draw the attention of the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL 4921 (attached) on 2 February 2023.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the total cash allocations for the second round of Levelling Up Funds, broken down by region.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I draw the attention of the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL 4921 (attached) on 2 February 2023.