Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he intends to publish a relief scheme for the 2023 revaluation of business rates; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government is required by legislation to introduce a transitional arrangements scheme at each revaluation to help business to adjust to their new bills. The next revaluation will have effect from 1 April 2023 and regulations to implement the transitional arrangements will be in place by 31 December 2022.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2022 to Question 141196, on Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Vetting, what safeguarding checks will be undertaken on people providing accommodation under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Further to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up on 14 March, guidance for local authorities has been published on Gov.uk at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils . There are also published FAQs available online at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions as well as information for sponsors at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guidance . Information is available on safeguarding checks at these links, as well as on eligibility for the scheme. Phase One of the Homes for Ukraine scheme opened for applications on 18 March and is accessible via links from homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk . Those who had recorded their interest in the scheme were also contacted on that date. Details on future phases of the scheme will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what safeguarding mechanisms his Department has put in place for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Home Office will conduct checks as part of the visa issue process.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to launch the First Homes Scheme in the Tees Valley.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Homes England are currently awarding contracts for our First Homes pilot, which should see a small number of First Homes delivered in the Tees Valley area by the end of March 2023.
In addition, since 28 June 2021, national planning policy sets an expectation that new local plans should ensure 25% of all affordable homes delivered through developer contributions should be First Homes.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What steps he is taking to help ensure that homelessness levels do not increase as a result of the end of the covid-19 evictions moratorium.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government has put in place an unprecedented package of support for renters during the pandemic. As national restrictions continue to ease, it is appropriate that these emergency measures also lift but we are doing so gradually.
The pause on bailiff enforcement has ended; however, measures to protect renters and prevent homelessness are still in place.
Significant financial support remains, and the vast majority of renters are up to date with their rent.
We are also providing local authorities with £310 million through the Homelessness Prevention Grant, an uplift of £47 million on the previous years’ funding, which can be used to prevent homelessness or to provide temporary accommodation to ensure families have a roof over their head.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend the deadline for withdrawal of the health, care and volunteer workers parking pass in the event that the planned easing of covid-19 restrictions on 21 June 2021 is postponed.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At the end of March 2020, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reached an agreement with the Local Government Association that local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders during the emergency response period.
With the national lockdown drawing to a close, challenges in managing pass fraud and an increasing number of councils moving toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.
This is reflected in new joint parking enforcement advice provided in April to local authorities by the Local Government Association, British Parking Association and London Councils. In May, further updates were shared with NHS Trusts, the Royal Voluntary Service and local authorities, and the guidance page was updated on gov.uk.
Councils are responsible for setting their own local policy and are already acting on this advice, with some deciding to offer their own concessions. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils' website for further details of any local schemes.
NHS staff continue to be eligible for free parking in hospital car parks and funding for this has been provided to NHS Trusts by government.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussion he has had with local authorities to understand the impact of withdrawing the health, care and volunteer workers parking pass.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At the end of March 2020, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reached an agreement with the Local Government Association that local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders during the emergency response period.
With the national lockdown drawing to a close, challenges in managing pass fraud and an increasing number of councils moving toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.
This is reflected in new joint parking enforcement advice provided in April to local authorities by the Local Government Association, British Parking Association and London Councils. In May, further updates were shared with NHS Trusts, the Royal Voluntary Service and local authorities, and the guidance page was updated on gov.uk.
Councils are responsible for setting their own local policy and are already acting on this advice, with some deciding to offer their own concessions. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils' website for further details of any local schemes.
NHS staff continue to be eligible for free parking in hospital car parks and funding for this has been provided to NHS Trusts by government.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities offered emergency parking provision to NHS key workers following the issuing of health, care and volunteer workers parking pass guidance.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At the end of March 2020, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reached an agreement with the Local Government Association that local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders during the emergency response period.
With the national lockdown drawing to a close, challenges in managing pass fraud and an increasing number of councils moving toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.
This is reflected in new joint parking enforcement advice provided in April to local authorities by the Local Government Association, British Parking Association and London Councils. In May, further updates were shared with NHS Trusts, the Royal Voluntary Service and local authorities, and the guidance page was updated on gov.uk.
Councils are responsible for setting their own local policy and are already acting on this advice, with some deciding to offer their own concessions. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils' website for further details of any local schemes.
NHS staff continue to be eligible for free parking in hospital car parks and funding for this has been provided to NHS Trusts by government.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what communications his Department has issued to ensure that NHS staff members, health and social workers and NHS volunteer responders are aware of the withdrawal of the health, care and volunteer workers parking pass by 21 June 2021.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At the end of March 2020, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reached an agreement with the Local Government Association that local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders during the emergency response period.
With the national lockdown drawing to a close, challenges in managing pass fraud and an increasing number of councils moving toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.
This is reflected in new joint parking enforcement advice provided in April to local authorities by the Local Government Association, British Parking Association and London Councils. In May, further updates were shared with NHS Trusts, the Royal Voluntary Service and local authorities, and the guidance page was updated on gov.uk.
Councils are responsible for setting their own local policy and are already acting on this advice, with some deciding to offer their own concessions. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils' website for further details of any local schemes.
NHS staff continue to be eligible for free parking in hospital car parks and funding for this has been provided to NHS Trusts by government.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment on the financial effect of the withdrawal of the health, care and volunteer workers parking pass on those eligible for that pass.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At the end of March 2020, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reached an agreement with the Local Government Association that local councils in England would voluntarily offer free car parking to all NHS workers, social care staff and NHS volunteer responders during the emergency response period.
With the national lockdown drawing to a close, challenges in managing pass fraud and an increasing number of councils moving toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.
This is reflected in new joint parking enforcement advice provided in April to local authorities by the Local Government Association, British Parking Association and London Councils. In May, further updates were shared with NHS Trusts, the Royal Voluntary Service and local authorities, and the guidance page was updated on gov.uk.
Councils are responsible for setting their own local policy and are already acting on this advice, with some deciding to offer their own concessions. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils' website for further details of any local schemes.
NHS staff continue to be eligible for free parking in hospital car parks and funding for this has been provided to NHS Trusts by government.