Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that not-for-profit freeholders are held accountable for their management practices.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I have interpreted not-for-profit freeholders as referring to registered social landlords (RSLs).
All RSLs are required to meet the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. The Regulator holds private registered providers accountable for meeting the economic standards and both local authorities and private registered providers accountable on consumer standards. Appropriate action is taken when the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.
Since April 2024, the Regulator has begun proactively seeking assurance that registered providers are meeting the standards through routine regulatory inspections. Where social tenants are unhappy with the quality of homes or services provided by their landlord they can complain to the Housing Ombudsman Service.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government are taking to help support businesses transition to new trading arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market.
We continue to work closely with businesses to support a smooth and effective transition to the new arrangements under the Framework. In September, the Government announced that the Trader Support Service has been extended to the end of 2025 and that a competitive procurement exercise will begin in early 2025 to deliver ongoing support to traders from 2026.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to help attract foreign direct investment in (a) the Mid-South West and (b) Causeway Coast and Glens in Northern Ireland; and what steps his Department plans to take to promote Northern Ireland's dual market access to help attract investment into these regions.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government’s investment of £126 million into the Mid South West Growth Deal and £36 million into the Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deal will be focused on digital and innovation projects that take advantage of the opportunities of the future. The two Deals’ ambitious projects will create high-value jobs, increase skills and employability, and create exciting opportunities for foreign direct investment into the two regions.
Northern Ireland enjoys many advantages as a great place to invest and do business, including being part of the UK internal market and enjoying access to the EU single market for goods, and the Government takes every opportunity to make this case to investors.