Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of additional staffing, training and technology resources required to implement the changes to PIP.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review steering group is considering its recommendations ahead of the final report's publication in autumn.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will consider the findings before deciding any next steps.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department intends to implement changes to Personal Independence Payment before the next General Election.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review steering group is considering its recommendations ahead of the final report's publication in autumn.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will consider the findings before deciding any next steps.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much was paid to households to participate in the English Housing Survey in each of the last five years.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The English Housing Survey (EHS) is my Department’s main source of evidence for housing policies. We offer a £5 post office voucher to each household who participates in the EHS as a token of appreciation for their time and effort.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many railway stations in Fylde constituency are within scope of the new default yes planning policy.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The definition of ‘well-connected’ station is set out in the glossary at Annex B of the National Planning Policy Framework. It is for decision makers to determine whether any given station meets the definition of ‘well-connected’. My Department has not made an estimate of the impact of the policy around any specific station.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost per person per night was at (a) Wethersfield and (b) Crowborough in 2025/26, including policing costs met by her Department.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The previous Minister for Border Security and Asylum quoted £135 per person per night for Wethersfield at the Home Affairs Committee on 9 June 2026. The latest projection for use of Crowborough for 12 months is £138 per person per night. The latest estimate for Crowborough is £121 per person per night should occupation be extended to January 2030.
The Home Office provides financial support for additional local policing costs associated with large asylum accommodation sites, in line with its policy on Large Sites Funding. Details of funding provided in 2025/26 will be published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 publish the evidence, assessments and representations considered by Ministers prior to the decision to withdraw the previous minded-to decision for Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.
The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.
I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to announce a new minded-to decision on local government reorganisation in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.
The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.
I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncertainty surrounding local government reorganisation on the ability of Lancashire councils to undertake long-term financial and strategic planning.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.
The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.
I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will provide additional financial assistance to Lancashire councils if the costs of local government reorganisation exceed allocated transition funding.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.
The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.
I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much transition funding Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool councils will receive following the withdrawal of the previous minded-to decision.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In my statement to the House on 29 October 2026, I set out the latest position on local government reorganisation, including in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The previous decision for the area has been withdrawn to allow more time for consideration, and all proposals remain under consideration. We recognise the uncertainty this creates for councils and will inform them at the earliest practical opportunity once consideration is complete.
The Government has also committed to provide £450,000 per previously announced new unitary in transition funding, recognising the costs incurred by areas in good faith. These payments will be made in the coming weeks and are not dependent on the outcome of the review.
I will provide a further update on outcomes by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.