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 discussions his Department has had with trade unions on the decision to withdraw 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toward local concessions for health workers and other groups, it was agreed that the national pass guidance should be withdrawn.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, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on the discharge of statutory harbour authority duties in Tees Freeport.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
At present, we do not foresee impacts on discharge of statutory harbour authority duties. Should such an issue arise, my Department will work closely with colleagues in the Department for Transport, with whom there are close links on Freeports implementation.
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 assessment he has made of the potential effect of automation on (a) employment and (b) operations within the Tees Freeport over the next five years.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Government made clear in the Freeports Bidding Prospects that the lead policy objective for Freeports policy is to promote regeneration and job creation. In pursuit of this objective, we were clear that bidders would be assessed against two key outcomes: a) an increased number of jobs and average wages in deprived areas in and around the Freeport, and b) an increase in economic specialisation in activities high in Gross Value Added (GVA) relative to the current makeup of the local economy. In order to make the list of appointable bids, bids were, amongst other criteria, required to have scored at least a medium on the Regeneration and Levelling Up criterion demonstrating clearly how they will be a catalyst for job creation and regeneration in the wider area.
On automation specifically, Government believes there are many benefits, including job creation and improved productivity, but will continue to monitor its impact on the labour market.
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 recent discussions he has had on freeport policy with representatives from (a) PD Ports and (b) the Mubadala Investment Company since September 2020.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Ministerial meetings with external organisations are regularly published on Gov.uk.
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, with reference to the Department of International Trade's press release, UAE and UK launch sovereign investment partnership with initial £1 billion in life sciences , published on 24 March 2021, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Sovereign Investment Partnership between the UK and the United Arab Emirates on (a) ownership and (b) trade union recognition within the Teeside Freeport to 2026.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
We were clear in the Freeports Bidding Prospectus that the Government remains committed to ensuring its Freeport model maintains the UK’s high standards with respect to security, safety, workers’ rights, data protection, biosecurity and the environment, while ensuring fair and open competition between businesses.
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 make it his policy to allow singing in churches in step three of the covid-19 road map.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We understand the importance of singing to all of our faith communities but, due to the transmission of COVID-19 through droplets and airborne particles, it has been essential to limit this to control the spread of the virus. We have been working closely with the Places of Worship Taskforce and faith communities to facilitate this and are grateful for their support.
Currently singing can take place outdoors on the grounds of a place of worship and this can include the congregation taking part. Indoors it is currently only possible for small groups of singers to perform, and the congregation cannot join in. It is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions, so that we can see the impact of the steps we are taking before moving to the next step. For that reason, we will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. As soon as we are able, we will update our advice further. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to. This is in line with wider guidance for performing arts across all sectors.
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 publish the expected timescale for Phase 2 of the Levelling Up Fund; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The prospectus published at Budget provides guidance for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22. There will be future opportunities to bid in subsequent rounds. Further detail on how the Levelling Up Fund will operate from 2022-23 onwards will be set out later this year.
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 provisions of the Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meetings) (England) Regulations 2020 to allow local authorities to conduct meetings remotely beyond May 2021.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
To extend the facility for councils to continue to meet remotely, or in hybrid form after 7 May 2021 would require primary legislation.
There is no option to extend the current regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 as section 78 (2) contains the sunset date of 7 May 2021.
There is considerable pressure on the Government’s legislative programme, but the Government is carefully considering next steps in this area.
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, for what reason (a) humanist wedding ceremonies and (b) religious marriages are treated differently under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
One is not a ceremony that has legal force; the other does have legal force. Humanist weddings can take place with 15 people present under these Regulations, as is the case for religious ceremonies and civil ceremonies.
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 the Government will allow people to gather in groups of up to 15 when attending a humanist wedding ceremony during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Humanist wedding ceremonies can take place at this time with 15 people present.