Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve road safety.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Although by global standards, roads in the UK are very safe, every road death and injury is a tragedy for the families involved and we are working on a number of measures to keep our roads and road users safe. This Government has updated The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses, tightened up the law to target the most dangerous drivers and closed the loophole in the offence of driving while using a mobile.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department holds data on pilot schemes that have reduced water usage to 85 litres per person per day.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In Cambridge, we are allocating £9 million – including £5 million of new funding – to improve the barrier of water scarcity and accelerate the new Cambridge Delivery Group. The Government is working closely with Cambridge and North Sussex local authorities to learn from their experiences and has committed to developing water positive guidance, working with Ofwat on its environmental incentives and reviewing the building regulations to support developers to be water efficient.
The Building Regulations 2010 allow for tighter standards to be adopted through locally led voluntary agreements between the Lead Planning Authority and developers. Examples of these include individual developments, such as Eddington in Cambridge, which has been designed to a much tighter standard (80l/p/d). The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has not conducted any pilot schemes and does not hold any data. In the Environmental Improvement Plan roadmap on water efficiency in new developments and retrofits, Defra committed to reviewing the aspects of Building Regulations 2010 pertaining to water efficiency (regulation 36 and Part G2, H1, H2, H3 of Schedule 1).
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities take relevant environmental requirements into account when considering new housing developments.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear, local authorities should ensure that local planning policies and decisions, relating to all forms of development contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department provides on what (a) enforcement and (b) monitoring powers local authorities hold when they require target water utilisation rates to be met for properties that are retrofitted.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Under Building Regulations, requirements for water efficiency in new dwellings set maximum consumption rates of 125 litres per person per day. A more stringent optional technical standard for new dwellings sets a maximum consumption of 110 litres per person per day, which can be set out in local plans as a policy expectation (and secured by planning condition) where there is evidence this is needed. Data on the number of authorities which have utilised the provision allowing 110 litres per person per day for new homes in water-stressed areas is not held centrally. A variation, allowing the lower ceiling of 110l/p/d to be used, could be proposed by a Local Planning Authority as part of its local plan, which would then be tested during an Inspector’s examination of local plans. Local authorities can prosecute and fine a builder, installer and contractor for non-adherence to Building Regulations, at the point of delivery, including by removing the work or transferring it to the local authority.
The Government is aware of issues relating to the water efficiency standards required of new developments and the challenges posed to developers and local planning authorities. The Government has committed to a legally binding water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038. Defra wrote to local authorities last year to encourage them to implement the optional technical standard of 110 litres per person per day and published ‘water positive’ guidance for developers that supports tighter efficiency. We are working with Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 which include reviewing water efficiency, water reuse and drainage standards set out in Building Regulations and which will facilitate future housing delivery. We will consider a new standard for new homes in England of 105 litres per person per day and 100 litres per person per day where there is a clear local need, such as in areas of serious water stress.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's Written Statement entitled Planning Update, published on 25 March 2015, UIN HCWS488, whether it remains his Department's policy that local planning authorities should not set in their emerging Local Plans any additional technical standards or requirements relating to the construction, internal layout or performance of new dwellings.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Under Building Regulations, requirements for water efficiency in new dwellings set maximum consumption rates of 125 litres per person per day. A more stringent optional technical standard for new dwellings sets a maximum consumption of 110 litres per person per day, which can be set out in local plans as a policy expectation (and secured by planning condition) where there is evidence this is needed. Data on the number of authorities which have utilised the provision allowing 110 litres per person per day for new homes in water-stressed areas is not held centrally. A variation, allowing the lower ceiling of 110l/p/d to be used, could be proposed by a Local Planning Authority as part of its local plan, which would then be tested during an Inspector’s examination of local plans. Local authorities can prosecute and fine a builder, installer and contractor for non-adherence to Building Regulations, at the point of delivery, including by removing the work or transferring it to the local authority.
The Government is aware of issues relating to the water efficiency standards required of new developments and the challenges posed to developers and local planning authorities. The Government has committed to a legally binding water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038. Defra wrote to local authorities last year to encourage them to implement the optional technical standard of 110 litres per person per day and published ‘water positive’ guidance for developers that supports tighter efficiency. We are working with Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 which include reviewing water efficiency, water reuse and drainage standards set out in Building Regulations and which will facilitate future housing delivery. We will consider a new standard for new homes in England of 105 litres per person per day and 100 litres per person per day where there is a clear local need, such as in areas of serious water stress.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the mandatory national water standard of 125 litres per person per day for new homes, which local authorities have utilised the provision allowing 110 litres per person per day for new homes in water-stressed areas; and which body's authority is required for permission to be granted for that lower level of 110 litres to be used.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Under Building Regulations, requirements for water efficiency in new dwellings set maximum consumption rates of 125 litres per person per day. A more stringent optional technical standard for new dwellings sets a maximum consumption of 110 litres per person per day, which can be set out in local plans as a policy expectation (and secured by planning condition) where there is evidence this is needed. Data on the number of authorities which have utilised the provision allowing 110 litres per person per day for new homes in water-stressed areas is not held centrally. A variation, allowing the lower ceiling of 110l/p/d to be used, could be proposed by a Local Planning Authority as part of its local plan, which would then be tested during an Inspector’s examination of local plans. Local authorities can prosecute and fine a builder, installer and contractor for non-adherence to Building Regulations, at the point of delivery, including by removing the work or transferring it to the local authority.
The Government is aware of issues relating to the water efficiency standards required of new developments and the challenges posed to developers and local planning authorities. The Government has committed to a legally binding water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038. Defra wrote to local authorities last year to encourage them to implement the optional technical standard of 110 litres per person per day and published ‘water positive’ guidance for developers that supports tighter efficiency. We are working with Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 which include reviewing water efficiency, water reuse and drainage standards set out in Building Regulations and which will facilitate future housing delivery. We will consider a new standard for new homes in England of 105 litres per person per day and 100 litres per person per day where there is a clear local need, such as in areas of serious water stress.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on compliance of the recent reforms to off-payroll working in the public sector; and what recent assessment he has made of the level and effects of non-compliance relating to the recent reforms to off-payroll working in the private sector.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The off-payroll rules (commonly known as IR35) ensure that where an individual would be an employee if they were engaged directly rather than through their own company, they pay broadly the same taxes as employees. Since April 2017, public sector bodies have been responsible for deciding if these rules apply. Early analysis of tax receipts between April and June shows that around 90,000 additional new engagements occurred in the public sector above the level that would normally be expected. This indicates more individuals are being taxed as employees since the reforms, and is consistent with the government’s expectations that the reforms would increase tax compliance in the public sector.
The cost of non-compliance in the private sector is continuing to increase: the latest estimate is that tax losses to the Exchequer will grow to £1.2 billion a year by 2022/23. This is part of the wider increasing cost of incorporation highlighted by the OBR in their 2017 Fiscal Risks Report.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve the quality of primary education.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We have placed phonics at the heart of the early teaching of reading as we want all children to be fluent readers by the time they leave primary school. Results from this year’s phonics screening check show that, since its introduction in 2012, over 147,000 more six year olds are now on track to become excellent readers.
We are also investing £41m to enable primary schools to introduce highly effective south-east Asian mastery teaching methods, and we introduced a new more rigorous primary curriculum in 2014 raising standards in reading, writing and maths throughout the primary school phase.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with GTR-Southern on the adequacy of the number of on-board supervisors in their area of operation.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Southern has created a new on-board supervisor (OBS) role for guards. These crew members are passenger-focussed and trained to manage emergencies.
Although operational staffing requirements are for the train operator to manage, the Department is aware that Southern will roster an on-board supervisor (OBS) on all trains which previously had a conductor. In addition, Southern has hired around 90 additional on-board supervisors and those staff are already working to assist passengers on Southern trains.
Asked by: Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 4 December 2015 to Question 17715, on schools in West Sussex, what criteria was used to make the decision between fringe and non-fringe areas in West Sussex.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Within West Sussex, the Crawley district forms part of the London fringe, while the rest of the local authority area is outside the fringe. The distinction is a longstanding feature of the teachers’ pay system, dating back at least 30 years. Decisions on pay, including the current geographical criteria for designating fringe areas, are based on recommendations by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). This independent body was established in 1991 to examine and report on matters relating to the statutory conditions of pay and employment of school teachers in England and Wales. The STRB can review the boundaries for the fringe if requested to do so by the Secretary of State.
London fringe area arrangements have been part of the mainstream school funding system since financial year 2013 to 2014. Since the school funding reforms were introduced in that year, they have been a feature of the local funding formulae in the five local authorities who have some of their schools within the London fringe area (Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent, along with West Sussex), enabling an uplift to be applied to the affected schools’ budgets.