Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 13192 on Homelessness, if she will publish her letter of 11 November 2024 addressed to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As set out in my answer to Question UIN 13192, on 11 November 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements, including temporary accommodation and housing offers to end a homelessness duty.
The letter referred to section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, reminding local authorities that they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of any out-of-area placement and that this should be happening in every case. It also highlighted the importance of considering safeguarding arrangements when placing households out of area, including relevant consultation with Children’s Services. The letter requested that Chief Executives personally assure themselves that these notifications are happening.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates courts closed in each year since 2010.
Answered by Heidi Alexander - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The table below shows the number of Magistrates’ Courts that have permanently closed in each financial year (FY) since 2010/11. The figures do not include integrations, where workload remained in the local area by transferring to a building in close proximity, or courts that are temporarily closed.
Financial Year | Magistrates' Courts closed |
2010/11 | 1 |
2011/12 | 84 |
2012/13 | 5 |
2013/14 | 4 |
2014/15 | 5 |
2015/16 | 6 |
2016/17 | 40 |
2017/18 | 12 |
2018/19 | 4 |
2019/20 | 4 |
2020/21 | 0 |
2021/22 | 0 |
2022/23 | 0 |
2023/24 | 0 |
2024/25 | 0 |
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on Network Rail's Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport took account of Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy which was previously used as guidance. However, with developments in the technology available, we are working with Network Rail, the Great British Railways Transition Team and rolling stock manufacturers and leasing companies to bring forward costed options for Government to carefully consider in terms of overall deliverability and affordability before any plan can be developed.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the Government's Rail freight Growth Strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has tasked Shadow Great British Railways leaders with producing a delivery plan for both passengers and freight users.
The Secretary of State for Transport will place a statutory duty on Great British Railways to promote the use of rail freight. There will also be targets set for growing rail freight.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on (a) the Folkestone to Wembley Rail Freight route and (b) adopting the gauge to W12 for cross-channel rail freight.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the growth of international rail freight through the Channel Tunnel, recognising its economic and environmental potential.
Under our plans to deliver the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation, Great British Railways will have a statutory duty to promote the use of rail freight, with an overall growth target set by the Transport Secretary.
Regarding gauge clearance, I am aware of industry proposals to enhance Kent routes to ‘W12’, in order to enable more containerised traffic from Europe. Alongside this, Network Rail has been considering more modest, incremental gauge clearance plans for it as a step towards W12. However, any investment decision will be subject to the usual business case process, working with industry, and will need to clearly demonstrate demand for enhanced infrastructure.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on Great British Railways Decarbonisation plan.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is working with the rail industry, notably Network Rail, the Great British Railways Transition Team, and rolling stock manufacturers and leasing companies to develop credible long-term plans for decarbonisation; whilst Network Rail and Train Operators continue to deliver their existing commitments. This includes both reducing rail’s direct contribution to carbon emissions and the role rail should play in supporting wider decarbonisation of transport and industry. Once established, GBR will be accountable for delivery of these measures as part of the Secretary of State’s Long Term Rail Strategy.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to create a statutory duty on fire and rescue services to respond to major flooding events.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. Fire Rescue Authorities also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their general powers in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the National Framework.
The Home Office is undertaking further work alongside Defra, the National Fire Chiefs Council and other relevant stakeholders to understand in more detail if there are gaps in the Fire and Rescue Services flooding response and resilience system.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with local authorities on their legal duties under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 11 November 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements, including temporary accommodation and housing offers to end a homelessness duty. This letter referred to section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, and reminded local authorities that they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of any out-of-area placement.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish an Access to Nature White Paper.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will make further announcements on plans to develop policy on access to nature in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether goals to improve (a) access to and (b) engagement with nature are part of the Rapid Review of the current Environmental Improvement Plan; and what plans he has to engage with stakeholders representing public access to the outdoors as part of this process.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On the 30 July the Government announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment and enjoyment of it.
The Government is committed to enhancing public access to nature, as evidenced by our manifesto commitment to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests. We are currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area and will be engaging with stakeholders as we do so.