Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the mental well-being of those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This Government remains fully committed to supporting the Grenfell community and working with them to build a lasting legacy in North Kensington. This must include ensuring that the physical, and mental health support they need is available for the long term.
Since 2017, the Government has committed over £158 million, including delivering a bespoke Grenfell Health and Wellbeing offer in partnership with NHS England and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council.
The Secretary of State and I continue to work closely with the NHS, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and other parts of the government on future services, to ensure there is effective long-term physical and mental health support for the community, including for children and young people.
NHS England is developing further proposals, following its initial commitment of £50 million to fund Grenfell Health services to 2024. RBKC has committed to providing additional resources for the next phase of its recovery programme for 2024-2028. Both programmes will be developed in partnership with the community to ensure services are reflective of the evolving needs of all those affected.
The Secretary of State and I will also continue to meet with the bereaved, survivors and residents of North Kensington to hear from them directly, and to ensure that my department continues to play a leading role in making sure that the right support is available to meet the community's needs.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure that the devolved administrations and His Majesty's Government learn from each other and, where appropriate, co-ordinate policy decisions.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The UK Government and the devolved administrations jointly agreed improved ways of working in January 2022. The new intergovernmental system ensures that ministers and officials are working together, across all areas, maintaining open channels of communication, discussing best practice and sharing learning from across the governments. Tackling our challenges is a shared endeavour and already this year there have been over 60 ministerial meetings between the Government and DAs on a wide range of issues
This collaboration has been vital in ensuring UK-wide join up, from tackling cost of living pressures to delivering the Homes for Ukraine which has helped over 117,000 people.
As set out in the Levelling Up White Paper, the UK Government is determined to do more to enable the sharing of evidence between the government and devolved administrations. The Concordat on Statistics provides a framework for statistical co-operation between the government and devolved administrations, and the UK Statistics Authority continues to lead on a suite of work to improve the UK-wide coherency of evidence in public policy-making.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect a decision to be reached about the delivery of a permanent fitting memorial to those who lost their lives in the Grenfell fire tragedy.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The government is unequivocally committed to supporting the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission and the community, in their creation of a lasting memorial to honour those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The Commission published its first report in May 2022, which can be found on its website. The Commission is continuing to engage with the community to develop a proposal for a memorial, and is working towards its final report, which is expected to be published in autumn 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to transfer additional powers to combined authorities in 2023; and if so, what powers to which authorities.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to see every part of England reap the benefits of devolution and have made significant progress with the six new deals announced in 2022. The Government is in discussions with places to identify potential candidates for new devolution deals in 2023 and we will set out more detail in due course.
This Government is committed to not just extending the benefits of devolution to new parts of England, but to deepening existing devolution settlements. As the Chancellor set out at the Autumn Statement, the government will deliver the Levelling Up White Paper commitment to sign new 'trailblazer' devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. The government is in discussion with the mayors of these areas to devolve powers to deliver levelling up in areas such as skills, transport and housing. These 'trailblazer' deals will act as a blueprint for other areas to follow.
This Government has set itself a mission that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. The Levelling Up White Paper made clear that devolution is essential for Levelling Up. For too long, decisions impacting many communities of England have been taken in Whitehall. Devolution is about giving local areas more flexibility, freedom and accountability to deliver. Before 2010 the only significant devolution in England had been in London. Now, strong mayors in our major cities are acting as agents of economic growth. Levelling up requires strong and dynamic local leadership, that can understand how complex issues come together in a place; tailor policy to local priorities; attract investment; and seize each area's opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further devolution deals they expect to conclude in 2023.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to see every part of England reap the benefits of devolution and have made significant progress with the six new deals announced in 2022. The Government is in discussions with places to identify potential candidates for new devolution deals in 2023 and we will set out more detail in due course.
This Government is committed to not just extending the benefits of devolution to new parts of England, but to deepening existing devolution settlements. As the Chancellor set out at the Autumn Statement, the government will deliver the Levelling Up White Paper commitment to sign new 'trailblazer' devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. The government is in discussion with the mayors of these areas to devolve powers to deliver levelling up in areas such as skills, transport and housing. These 'trailblazer' deals will act as a blueprint for other areas to follow.
This Government has set itself a mission that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. The Levelling Up White Paper made clear that devolution is essential for Levelling Up. For too long, decisions impacting many communities of England have been taken in Whitehall. Devolution is about giving local areas more flexibility, freedom and accountability to deliver. Before 2010 the only significant devolution in England had been in London. Now, strong mayors in our major cities are acting as agents of economic growth. Levelling up requires strong and dynamic local leadership, that can understand how complex issues come together in a place; tailor policy to local priorities; attract investment; and seize each area's opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat anti-Muslim behaviour and prejudice.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This Government will not tolerate Anti-Muslim hate crime in any form. We have supported Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) with nearly £5 million between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred and support Muslim victims of hate crime.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the state of devolution in England; and what plans they have to publish any such an assessment.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to see every part of England reap the benefits of devolution and have made significant progress with the six new deals announced in 2022. The Government is in discussions with places to identify potential candidates for new devolution deals in 2023 and we will set out more detail in due course.
This Government is committed to not just extending the benefits of devolution to new parts of England, but to deepening existing devolution settlements. As the Chancellor set out at the Autumn Statement, the government will deliver the Levelling Up White Paper commitment to sign new 'trailblazer' devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. The government is in discussion with the mayors of these areas to devolve powers to deliver levelling up in areas such as skills, transport and housing. These 'trailblazer' deals will act as a blueprint for other areas to follow.
This Government has set itself a mission that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. The Levelling Up White Paper made clear that devolution is essential for Levelling Up. For too long, decisions impacting many communities of England have been taken in Whitehall. Devolution is about giving local areas more flexibility, freedom and accountability to deliver. Before 2010 the only significant devolution in England had been in London. Now, strong mayors in our major cities are acting as agents of economic growth. Levelling up requires strong and dynamic local leadership, that can understand how complex issues come together in a place; tailor policy to local priorities; attract investment; and seize each area's opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to celebrate Windrush Day in 2023.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has committed £3.75 million in funding to date toward honouring the Windrush legacy. This includes £2.75 million across five years of the Windrush Day Grant Scheme, and £1 million allocated to the National Windrush Monument.
HM Government is fully committed to ensuring that National Windrush Day celebratory events in 2023 mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush at the Port of Tilbury.
We have already announced that the funding pot offered by the 2023 Windrush Day Grant Scheme has increased from £500,000 to £750,000. This is the largest sum yet to be offered by the scheme. For the first time, projects operating in Northern Ireland were also given the opportunity to apply for funding.
Details of this year's grant scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-75-windrush-day-grant-scheme-2023/windrush-75-windrush-day-grant-scheme-2023-guidance-for-applicants
DLUHC has also committed £50,000 toward developing educational materials, which will be made available via HM Government's National Windrush Monument website. These will ensure that the contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants are recognised across the UK.
I can also confirm that officials have been asked to explore further what else we can do ahead of the summer.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat antisemitism.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to Question (attached) UIN 117512 on 16 January 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in delivering a combined authority and metro mayor for Leicester and Leicestershire.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
In the Levelling Up White Paper the Government committed that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified, long-term funding settlement.
We thank Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland for their proposals and their work on this to date, which we are considering.