Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
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 protect the Tara Park Traveller site in Liverpool; if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the consultation with the residents of that site on the potential impact of the Ten Streets development; and whether she plans to redevelop that site in line with the surrounding redevelopment proposals.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I am unable to comment on individual planning cases because of the departments quasi-judicial role in the planning system.
However, planning policy is clear that, in respect of Traveller sites, it is for elected local authorities to make their own assessment of need to inform the preparation of local plans and make planning decisions. In assembling this evidence, local authorities should pay particular attention to early and effective community engagement with both settled and Traveller communities in their area.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, whether she plans to respond to the report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination entitled Concluding observations on the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 23 August 2024.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The UK condemns all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and related forms of intolerance and we remain steadfast in our commitment to combatting it, at home and abroad. This includes bringing forward new legislation to tackle persistent racial inequalities.
We recognise the important work of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and are committed to working with them to ensure that no one should have to endure racism. In accordance with the Convention and as per the process outlined in the Committee’s report, we will be considering the Committee’s recommendations and will provide an update to the Committee on specific recommendations by August 2025, followed by a full periodic report on our progress by April 2028.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
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 households living in social housing without essential pieces of furniture.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The department does not collect data on the number of households living in social housing without essential pieces of furniture. Social housing residents in need may be able to get help with essential items from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
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 support tenants with rising rents in the context of the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will consider the potential merits of introducing a cap on shared ownership rent increases in line with the forthcoming cap on social housing rent increases.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and that paying rent is likely to be a tenant's biggest monthly expense. Individuals who need help towards their rental payments may be eligible for a range of support through the welfare system, in addition to the Government’s support for energy bills.
In the social rented sector, the Government recently decided to cap rent increases at up to 7% for 2023-24. The Government is also pleased to note that housing associations responsible for over 90% of that sector's Shared Ownership homes have - through the National Housing Federation - voluntarily committed to limit annual Shared Ownership rent increases in 2023-24 to no more than 7%. The department is encouraging local authorities and for-profit providers to make the same voluntary commitment.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to introduce the second phase of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 to apply to existing leaseholders.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government is committed to creating a fair and just housing system that works for everyone and to delivering the second phase of our major two-part leasehold reform within this Parliament.
We have already taken action to end unfair practices in the leasehold market, beginning with the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 Act, which will come into force on 30 June. The Act makes homeownership fairer and more transparent for thousands of future leaseholders, by preventing landlords under new residential long leases from requiring a leaseholder to pay a financial ground rent.
We understand the difficulties some existing leaseholders face with high and escalating ground rents. Unfair practices have no place in the housing market. This is why we asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate potential mis-selling of homes and unfair terms in the leasehold sector. The Government has welcomed this action and wants to see homeowners who have been affected obtain the justice and redress they deserve.
The CMA has secured commitments from Aviva, Persimmon, Countryside Properties and Taylor Wimpey to amend their practices, including commitments to remove lease terms that led to doubling ground rents, houses sold as leasehold and to support leaseholders to buy the freehold at the original price quoted. This is a hugely important step and demonstrates our determination to support existing leaseholders affected by egregious ground rents. We urge other developers to follow suit.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
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 make an estimate of the potential gap between local authority funding requirements and budget allocations in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019, (f) 2020, (g) 2021 and (h) 2022.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
At a national level, local government funding is set through Spending Reviews, and is confirmed each year at the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Department assesses the level of funding required for Ministers’ assessment of the services that people need. When agreeing the Spending Review settlement, the Department considers increases in income and potential spending pressures, including inflation and wage growth, and local income growth.
It is for local authorities to decide on levels of service provision within their areas, operating within the national statutory framework. Authorities have flexibility to vary their income – for example by setting Council Tax levels. Local authorities are required to set a balanced budget each year.
The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2022/23 makes available an additional £3.7 billion to councils in England, including funding for adult social care reform. This is a cash-terms increase in local authority funding for 2022/23 of up to 7.4% compared to last year.
This follows year-on-year increases for local government since Spending Review 2019.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support his Department is making available to local authorities facing funding shortfalls.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Spending Review settlement for local government considered a wide range of unit cost pressures, including inflation and public sector pay. The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22. We are providing an additional £1.6 billion of grant funding to councils in each of the next 3 years, from 2022/23 inclusive. This new funding is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding for 10 years.
The Department continues to work closely with local councils to understand the impact of macro-economic changes.
We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to balance its budgets. We also work closely with CIPFA, who have encouraged local authorities to contact the Department in the first instance to discuss any immediate financial concerns.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of base budget pressures on local authority budgets.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Spending Review settlement for local government considered a wide range of unit cost pressures, including inflation and public sector pay. The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22. We are providing an additional £1.6 billion of grant funding to councils in each of the next 3 years, from 2022/23 inclusive. This new funding is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding for 10 years.
The Department continues to work closely with local councils to understand the impact of macro-economic changes.
We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to balance its budgets. We also work closely with CIPFA, who have encouraged local authorities to contact the Department in the first instance to discuss any immediate financial concerns.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rising energy prices on local authority budgets.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Spending Review settlement for local government considered a wide range of unit cost pressures, including inflation and public sector pay. The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22. We are providing an additional £1.6 billion of grant funding to councils in each of the next 3 years, from 2022/23 inclusive. This new funding is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding for 10 years.
The Department continues to work closely with local councils to understand the impact of macro-economic changes.
We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to balance its budgets. We also work closely with CIPFA, who have encouraged local authorities to contact the Department in the first instance to discuss any immediate financial concerns.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of inflation on local authority budgets.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Spending Review settlement for local government considered a wide range of unit cost pressures, including inflation and public sector pay. The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22. We are providing an additional £1.6 billion of grant funding to councils in each of the next 3 years, from 2022/23 inclusive. This new funding is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding for 10 years.
The Department continues to work closely with local councils to understand the impact of macro-economic changes.
We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to balance its budgets. We also work closely with CIPFA, who have encouraged local authorities to contact the Department in the first instance to discuss any immediate financial concerns.