Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) small business rate relief since 2012, (b) Restart Grants in 2021 and (c) the Recovery Loan Scheme and (d) Covid Grants to eligible properties that are classified as Holiday Lets in the Non-Domestic Rating List in 2021 and 2022 for holiday home owners per local authority area.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold data on the amount of small business rates relief that has been granted to businesses that operate as holiday lets.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on Restart Grants, the Recovery Loan Scheme and Covid Grants.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to invite representatives of (a) Cornwall and (b) the Isles of Scilly to the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Council of Nations and Regions will bring together the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and the Mayors of Combined Authorities. On 16 July 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all areas that do not have a devolution deal to invite them to come forward with a proposal. New Mayors established through this process would be eligible to sit on the Council of Nations and Regions. The Government is committed to working productively with local government in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including as part of regular, sustained engagement with councils across England.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much public funding has been granted to provide subsidies to holiday homes which have applied for small business rate relief in each year since 2012, broken down by local authority area.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The department does not hold data on the amount of small business rates relief that has been granted to businesses that operate as holiday homes.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of (a) rural exceptions planning policies and permissions and (b) S106 agreements on the successful delivery of (i) secure and (ii) affordable homes which meet a registered or demonstrable need.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Our manifesto committed to increasing the supply of affordable, including social rented, housing. It is up to local planning authorities to identify and evidence their affordable housing need at the plan-making stage. The Government publishes affordable housing statistics annually. In 2022/23, 30,048 affordable homes (completions) were delivered in England through section 106 (nil grant) agreements, which is 47% of the total affordable homes delivered, compared to 44% in the previous year.
Local authorities that receive developer contributions are required to publish Infrastructure Funding Statements annually. These report on what the authority has received and spent through developer contributions, including section 106 agreements. This provides transparency for communities and allows for scrutiny on how councils have chosen to spend funding.
The National Planning Policy Framework states that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. This includes supporting housing developments that reflect local needs and going further with opportunities to bring forward small sites for affordable housing in rural areas, such as through rural exception sites. These sites should help meet the local housing needs of rural communities, enabling local people, those with a family connection or those with an employment connection, to live locally and help sustain thriving places.
We are working at pace on various revisions to the NPPF and will launch a public consultation on a new draft Framework, including those aspects that relate to rural housing.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reason he decided to amend section 106 agreements in respect of small and medium sized builders and rural areas not covered by section 157 of the Housing Act 1985.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of 12 February 2015 to Question 223176.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the (a) social and (b) environmental impacts of the housing opportunities for inadequately housed people arising from his decision to change section 106 agreements for (i) builders and (ii) rural areas not covered by section 157 of the Housing Act 1985; and what further steps he will take to monitor such impacts and opportunities in the future.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12 February 2015 to Questions 223173.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions in each year since it was set up the Ministerial Working Group on Gypsies and Travellers has met; which ministers attended each such meeting; and what steps have been taken by ministers in pursuance of the recommendations and commitments arising from the work of that group.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 11 November 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WA36.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which ministers are responsible for the implementation of the commitments arising from the work of the Ministerial Working Group on Gypsies and Travellers; and when he expects his Department to fully deliver each of those commitments.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 11 November 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WA36.