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 introduce a national (a) framework and (b) funding stream to support local authorities in purchasing ex-council homes in areas of (i) high vacancy and (ii) visible decline.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has no plans to introduce a national framework and funding stream of the kind suggested.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of financial incentives requested by (a) landlords and (b) agencies on the ability of charities to house rough sleepers.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is the responsibility of Councils and their partners to develop a range of housing options that reflect local needs, including housing with support and making use of the private rented sector where is suitable for the needs of the individual.

Financial support including helping individuals with deposits, first month’s rent in advance, or one-off payments to landlords can be an effective means of securing private rented tenancies for people who have experienced rough sleeping.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to review the (a) necessity and (b) frequency of annual reviews within NHS Continuing Health Care; and whether he plans to adjust those requirements.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care outlines the necessity and frequency of NHS Continuing Healthcare reviews. A review should be undertaken within three months of the eligibility decision being made, and then on at least an annual basis. Reviews should primarily focus on whether the care plan or arrangements remain appropriate to meet the individual’s needs. It is expected that, in the majority of cases, there will be no need to reassess for eligibility. The frequency, format and attendance at reviews should be proportionate to the situation in question.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to introduce measures to ensure that (a) privacy and (b) data protection standards are maintained for the use of (i) CCTV and (ii) other video recording devices on domestic buildings.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The UK’s Data protection framework is technology-neutral, with its principles, namely, transparency, accountability and fairness, applying to all technology which uses personal data, including CCTV. There are also general rules on how personal data should be processed and safeguarded.

If domestic CCTV captures someone else's property or communal space, then the UK’s data protection legislation applies as the images and voices of other people will be captured and this is classified as personal information.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued guidance on domestic and commercial use of surveillance equipment, including CCTV.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulations governing the use of (a) CCTV and (b) other video recording devices on domestic buildings.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The UK’s Data protection framework is technology-neutral. If domestic CCTV or other video recording devices capture someone else's property or communal space, then the UK’s data protection legislation applies as the images and voices of other people will be captured and this is classified as personal information.

The UK’s Data protection legislation is monitored and enforced independently of Government. The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued guidance on domestic use of surveillance equipment, including CCTV.

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 an increase in the number of leasehold flat forfeitures due to leaseholders being unable to pay costs arising from building safety defects on the mortgage securitisation market; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30259 on 19 February 2025.

Government remains committed to removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of ensuring compliance with a lease agreement. Qualifying leaseholders are protected from costs of remedying specific historical safety defects under the Building Safety Act, while at the same time we ensure those who built defective buildings take responsibility for remedying them, and wider industry contributes to fixing the problem.

Looking specifically at mortgage securitisation, my officials speak to the mortgage lending sector who we would expect to raise if an issue.