Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which legislative provisions from the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 have been commenced; which provisions have not been commenced; and whether she plans to commence the remaining provisions.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous Government, for example relating to pavement licensing. Since then, we have made clear in our recent consultation on national planning policy that we do not intend to take forward provisions that would cut across our commitments to streamlining the planning process and unlocking development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
We do, however, intend to implement a new Local Plan system; move to a universal strategic planning system; reform the compulsory purchase process and compensation rules; and replace authority-wide design codes with detailed codes for growth/priority areas. We are actively deciding how to implement these provisions, as well as which other provisions best support our growth objectives, and will provide updates in the coming months.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled, Retained Right to Buy receipts and their use for replacement supply, updated on 30 July 2024, if she will make a forecast of the total number of new build affordable houses set to be built during this Parliament.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We will update Parliament on our progress.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff (a) work in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Unit, at each grade, (b) have been recruited from outside the Civil Service, (c) were appointed through open competition, (d) positions have been publicly advertised and (e) are due to be further recruited.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit helps to ensure her key priorities are delivered across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister.
The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration, and the policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) remit and (b) responsibilities are of her Policy and Strategy Unit.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit helps to ensure her key priorities are delivered across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister.
The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration, and the policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of civil servants by (a) title and (b) pay band have been employed by her Department without open competition since the General Election.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
MHCLG made 35 appointments by exception to fair, open and merit-based recruitment principles from 1 July to 31 August 2024.
All appointments were at grades below the Senior Civil Service.
As a proportion, the exceptions appointed during this time equate to 0.89% of the workforce.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which religious leaders she has met as Secretary of State.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister has held introductory meetings with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE.
The Faith Minister, Lord Khan, chaired a roundtable with Muslim leaders on 8 August, and held a roundtable with interfaith practitioners on 9 August. He has met faith and community leaders following his visit to Southport and the North East on 21 August. Lord Khan has also met Pope Francis as part of an official visit to the Holy See. Visits to places of worship to meet the country’s faith communities will be carried out over the coming months.
On 10 September, Lord Khan chaired an introductory roundtable event with key faith and belief stakeholders to mark his appointment as Minister for Faith. The meeting was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister. The roundtable was attended by representatives from the following faiths and beliefs; Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, the Baháʼí Faith and Humanism. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement are committed to continuing to engage with Faith and Belief groups and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Mr Haydon Etherington was appointed to her Department following open competition; on what date he was appointed; what his pay band is; and for what reason he was appointed as a civil servant rather than a Departmental special adviser.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters. The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of affordable homes that are being delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2023 in London; what the original targets were; and what assessment (a) her Department and (b) Homes England have made of the effectiveness of the Greater London Authority at completing new affordable housing under this programme.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The previous government set a target for the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme to deliver around 250,000 affordable homes, including at least 116,000 homes in London. Around 244,000 new housing starts had been delivered by the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme by March 2023. In August 2023, the GLA reported that 116,782 homes were started in London from April 2015 to March 2023.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on build to rent; and what assessment she has made of the impact of her policies on private rented sector regulation on future investment in the build to rent sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government is supportive of the Build to Rent sector and wants it to grow further. We do not expect our forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market and will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme in England between 2016 and 2023.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The previous government set a target for the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme to deliver around 250,000 affordable homes, including at least 116,000 homes in London. Around 244,000 new housing starts had been delivered by the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme by March 2023. In August 2023, the GLA reported that 116,782 homes were started in London from April 2015 to March 2023.