Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop the application process, including the criteria and decision-making process for applications, for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and when they will publish these details.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Government has committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to succeed European structural funds and bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. The UK Government can cut out bureaucracy and create a fund which invests in UK priorities and is easier for local areas to access.
The government understands the importance of this investment for people, business and places and will set out further plans for the fund in due course. Final decisions on the design of the fund will need to be taken after a cross-Government Spending Review. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with interested parties whilst developing the fund.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they are making on plans to introduce mandatory electrical safety checks in the private rented sector.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
On 13 January 2020, the Government laid before Parliament new regulations that will require private landlords to make sure the electrical installations in their properties are safe.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require that:
The Regulations also set out enforcement powers for local authorities who will be able to tackle those rogue landlords who breach their new duties under the Regulations.
Subject to approval by parliament, these requirements will come into force for all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and for all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether surveyors are returning zero valuations on properties in high-rise buildings by citing the Government's Advice Note 14 Advice on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material, published on 18 December 2018; and what steps they intend to take in response.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to these questions in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with industry representatives about leaseholders in high-rise buildings being unable to sell their properties due to blanket zero valuations by surveyors citing the Government's Advice Note 14 Advice on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material, published on 18 December 2018.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to these questions in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing mortgage lenders with instruction that would prevent, and end, leaseholders in high-rise buildings being unable to sell their properties due to blanket zero valuations by surveyors citing the Government's Advice Note 14 Advice on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material, published on 18 December 2018.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to these questions in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to lay regulations to implement mandatory electrical safety checks for the private rented sector; and if so, when.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
In July 2018, Government committed to introducing mandatory five-yearly electrical safety inspections for electrical installations in privately rented properties. This will be achieved through secondary legislation, as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration is being given to the introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks in the social rented sector.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Government is committed to ensuring that everyone is safe, and feels safe, in their home.
We published our Green Paper, "A new deal for social housing", in August last year. It asked whether new safety measures in the private rented sector should apply to social housing, including the proposed mandatory requirement on private landlords to ensure electrical installations in their property are inspected every five years. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation and will publish our action plan for implementing social housing reform in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, when designing and implementing their proposed Shared Prosperity Fund, they intend to (1) match, or (2) exceed the current level of EU Structural Funds allocated to the UK.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The government has made great progress on the development of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), work is continuing across government on the design, priorities and quantum of the fund and final decisions will be made at Spending Review. The UKSPF will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind.
Over the past year we have held 25 engagement events across the UK with representatives from a breadth of sectors, in order to aid policy development. We intend to publish the public consultation on the UKSPF shortly, which will provide an opportunity for all interested parties to contribute their views.
We know that places require certainty of funding after we leave the European Union. The draft Withdrawal Agreement guarantees the UK will continue to take part in the 2014-2020 EU programmes until they end. Whilst the government remains committed to securing a good deal on exiting the European Union, we continue to plan for all scenarios, including a no deal. In a no deal scenario the government has guaranteed the full EU 2014-20 programme.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to implement their proposed Shared Prosperity Fund in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The government has made great progress on the development of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), work is continuing across government on the design, priorities and quantum of the fund and final decisions will be made at Spending Review. The UKSPF will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind.
Over the past year we have held 25 engagement events across the UK with representatives from a breadth of sectors, in order to aid policy development. We intend to publish the public consultation on the UKSPF shortly, which will provide an opportunity for all interested parties to contribute their views.
We know that places require certainty of funding after we leave the European Union. The draft Withdrawal Agreement guarantees the UK will continue to take part in the 2014-2020 EU programmes until they end. Whilst the government remains committed to securing a good deal on exiting the European Union, we continue to plan for all scenarios, including a no deal. In a no deal scenario the government has guaranteed the full EU 2014-20 programme.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the implementation of their proposed Shared Prosperity Fund will require primary legislation.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The government has made great progress on the development of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), work is continuing across government on the design, priorities and quantum of the fund and final decisions will be made at Spending Review. The UKSPF will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind.
Over the past year we have held 25 engagement events across the UK with representatives from a breadth of sectors, in order to aid policy development. We intend to publish the public consultation on the UKSPF shortly, which will provide an opportunity for all interested parties to contribute their views.
We know that places require certainty of funding after we leave the European Union. The draft Withdrawal Agreement guarantees the UK will continue to take part in the 2014-2020 EU programmes until they end. Whilst the government remains committed to securing a good deal on exiting the European Union, we continue to plan for all scenarios, including a no deal. In a no deal scenario the government has guaranteed the full EU 2014-20 programme.