Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to include single-storey dwellings such as bungalows in the new housing targets for both urban and rural areas.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that Local Authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, and reflect this in Local Plan policies. Each Local Plan is subject to a public examination in front of an independent inspector, who plays an important role in examining plans to ensure they are consistent with national policy, supported by evidence and take the views of local people into account. The overall housing targets set by central government do not specify the proportion or type of dwelling that should be provided.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local planning authorities on the proximity of residential dwellings to areas zoned for industrial use.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the high-level issues that local planning authorities should consider when preparing plans and making decisions on planning applications. This includes development being appropriate for its location, taking into account matters such as pollution and the scope to mitigate such effects.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on delegated authority levels for land acquisitions and disposals in relation to the granting of leases between local authorities and third parties.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The delegation of authority between elected members and officers is a matter for local authorities in exercising their functions. The Government has not issued any guidance on this matter in relation to land acquisitions and disposals.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has commissioned into the (a) effects on businesses of the judgment in the Mazars v Woolway case and (b) options which exist to prevent such negative effects.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Government is aware of the change in the Valuation Office Agency’s approach to assessing units within buildings of multiple occupation, which follows the Supreme Court judgement in the Mazars v Woolway case. The Government is considering the implications of this judgement. Following Budget 2016, the Government announced a wide-ranging package of measures to support rate payers, that will be worth £9 billion over the next five years.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people are on the waiting list for council housing in West Bromwich East constituency.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Figures are not available at constituency level.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of tenants in West Bromwich East constituency live in private rented accommodation.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Department does not produce constituency level estimates.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the role of business rates in developing the digital economy.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Rateable values are set independently of ministers by the Valuation Office Agency. All telecom and technology properties are assessed for business rates in the normal way to the common standard of rateable value. At Spring Budget 2017 the Government announced a £435 million package to support businesses in England facing the steepest increases in business rates following the revaluation.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2017 to Question 67412, on licensed premises: non-domestic rates, when he plans to publish the consultation on the eligibility criteria for the discount for eligible pubs.
Answered by Marcus Jones
My Department will consult on guidance on the Pubs Relief Scheme shortly. The consultation will include proposals on the eligibility criteria and other aspects of the scheme.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will encourage local authorities to use the funds for discretionary relief on business rates to help music venues.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Government has put in place a £3.6 billion package of transitional relief to help businesses facing an increase in business rates. The Budget on 8 March set out a further package to support businesses that may have difficulty paying business rates, including a £1000 discount for eligible pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000. My Department will shortly publish a consultation setting out proposals for the eligibility criteria for this discount. Additionally, £110 million will be available to assist those ratepayers losing small business rates relief or rural rate relief as a result of revaluation.
The Government is also making available a £300 million discretionary relief fund over the next four years to enable local authorities to help individual businesses that are facing increased rates bills. Decisions on how this discretionary fund should be distributed will be for local authorities. A consultation on this scheme is available at:
All of these schemes can be applied to music venues, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to music venues whose business rates are increasing from 1 April 2017.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The Government has put in place a £3.6 billion package of transitional relief to help businesses facing an increase in business rates. The Budget on 8 March set out a further package to support businesses that may have difficulty paying business rates, including a £1000 discount for eligible pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000. My Department will shortly publish a consultation setting out proposals for the eligibility criteria for this discount. Additionally, £110 million will be available to assist those ratepayers losing small business rates relief or rural rate relief as a result of revaluation.
The Government is also making available a £300 million discretionary relief fund over the next four years to enable local authorities to help individual businesses that are facing increased rates bills. Decisions on how this discretionary fund should be distributed will be for local authorities. A consultation on this scheme is available at:
All of these schemes can be applied to music venues, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.