Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of (a) removing the prohibition on drilling access rights for land between the surface and 300 metres and (b) using such land to produce geothermal energy.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Infrastructure Act 2015 established that a person has a right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting geothermal energy. These provisions were limited to deep-level land exceeding 300m.
In limiting this unrestricted right to depths below 300m, the Government sought to ensure that the right of use applied only at depths where it would not affect landowners' use of their land, but that would be shallow enough to enable the industries to develop in a responsible way.
Following Royal Assent of the Infrastructure Act 2015, no further assessment has been made of establishing an equivalent right for land between the surface and 300m.
Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will provide a timeline for plans to allow local authorities to charge a council tax premium on second homes.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is currently in its Committee stage in the House of Commons and contains a discretionary power for councils to apply a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. Subject to the conclusion of the passage of this bill, it will be for councils to decide whether to introduce a premium and, if so, when it should come into effect. In order to provide taxpayers with fair warning of increased liability, any determination to introduce a premium should be made at least one year prior to it coming into effect.
Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that change of use planning permission is required for properties changing from a residential to holiday let status.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The recent call for evidence on a tourist accommodation registration scheme by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sought views on a range of issues, including the impacts of the increase in short-term and holiday lettings. This closed on 21 September and further announcements will be made in due course. In the meantime we will keep the planning status of such properties under review.
Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to publish further details on the Faith New Deal Pilot Fund, including award decisions.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Faith New Deal Pilot Fund will provide £1,000,000 to support Faith groups deliver innovative partnership projects. We received a high number of applications following the launch of the scheme late last year. Once the assessment process has fully concluded, we will announce the outcome and inform successful applicants in due course.
Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government remains absolutely committed to delivering on our manifesto commitment to ending rough sleeping, and as part of that, complete our review of the Vagrancy Act 1824.
We agree that the Vagrancy Act 1824 is antiquated and no longer fit for purpose - that is why we have committed to repeal this outdated Act. However, we must balance our role in providing essential support for the vulnerable with ensuring that we do not weaken the ability of the police to protect communities.
Therefore, while we have tabled an amendment in lieu that provides for the 1824 Act to be repealed in full in England and Wales, we will ensure that the repeal is not commenced until appropriate replacement legislation is in place. In the meantime, we will deliver a bold, new strategy to end rough sleeping which will set out how we will build on recent success and ensure rough sleeping is prevented in the first instance and is effectively responded to in the rare cases where it does occur, but also that our police have the ability to intervene where needed and to keep people safe.