Asked by: Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the temperature threshold requirement for triggering the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is a voluntary protocol which can be triggered for any adverse weather condition that poses a risk to people who are homeless or rough sleeping. In such circumstances, the local authority will work closely with local partners to provide emergency accommodation.
Extreme cold weather conditions can cause serious health problems or even death for those who are exposed overnight or for long periods of time. Historically, SWEP was triggered when the temperature forecast was zero degrees or below for three days. It is now best practice to take a common-sense approach; where the temperature forecast approaches zero, the impact of rain, snow and wind chill are considered, and the ‘feels like’ temperature is checked, along with conditions underfoot (e.g., ice).
Guidance on SWEP is published by Homeless Link and is available here: https://homeless.org.uk/knowledge-hub/guidance-on-cold-weather-provision-swep-and-heatwaves/
Asked by: Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent large vacant (a) retail and (b) leisure units in town centres from remaining empty.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is fully committed to tackling the issue of persistent vacancy in town centres and rejuvenating our high streets. High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) came into effect on 2 December 2024 and are a new permissive power for local authorities in England to auction the lease of commercial high street property (including retail and leisure units) that has been vacant for longer than 12 months in a 24-month period.
Furthermore, through the English Devolution Bill, we will introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets. This measure will empower local communities to reclaim and revitalise assets that are important to them such as empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to improve our high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premises.