Autumn Recess

Lord Pickles Excerpts

Tuesday 18th November 2014 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

I would like to update hon. Members on the main items of business undertaken by my Department since the House rose for the Autumn Recess.

Increasing house building and supporting the housing market

Official statistics of housing supply released on 13 November showed that the numbers of new homes in England has risen by 10% over the past year the highest percentage increase in 12 years. Since 2010, the Government have delivered a net increase in housing supply of over 530,000 additional homes across England.

New figures also showed the numbers of repossessions are now at their lowest since records began in 2008, thanks to the Government’s long-term economic plan; our deficit reduction programme is keeping interest rates down and making mortgages more affordable. Figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders anticipate repossessions falling further in 2015 and 2016.

On 18 November, my Department published a consultation paper on the next step to zero- carbon homes. New homes built today are saving people around £200 on average on their energy bills compared to homes built before the 2010 general election and cutting carbon emissions. From 2016, we are going even further by making all new build homes zero- carbon, and we are now consulting on how to apply this to small house builders to ensure they continue to play their part in building much needed new homes, without them being priced out of the market.

Creating jobs through Enterprise zone

Enterprise Zones are playing a vital role in driving forward England’s growing economy. On 12 November 2014, we announced that that the 24 Enterprise Zones have created an estimated 12,530 jobs, attracted 434 new businesses and generated over £2 billion worth of private investment since opening for business.

The Government-backed sites are providing top-class fiscal incentives and world-class infrastructure, promoting growth across a range of key industries, including the automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and renewable industry sectors––and also boosting the UK’s construction industry and wider supply chain.

Empowering local people with new community rights

On 11 November, we noted millions of people across England are now benefiting from the coalition Government’s community rights programme; local residents are coming together to protect pubs, libraries and leisure centres against sell off, creating neighbourhood plans to decide on new local development and deliver local jobs and improved local services. The total number of uses of the rights has now hit 3,000, with more than 1,500 much loved buildings, assets and green spaces listed and 1,200 neighbourhood plans well underway.

On 14 November, we announced grants to six schemes to help them reopen to the public or transform their existing use enabling them to provide leisure, cultural and care facilities, create local jobs, and help build a stronger economy. Each scheme will receive between £130,000 and £440,000 funding which will pay for repairs and refurbishment for the new community use, and will help provide practical case studies for other communities.

Promoting fire safety

On 17 November, we launched a number of measures to boost the safety of e-cigarettes in response to increasing concerns over the number of fires caused by faulty charging units.

This included new consumer guidance as part of the Fire Kills campaign and electrical fire safety week. In addition, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned a number of local authority trading standards departments to investigate whether current e-cigarette safety information is sufficient and widely available enough to consumers.

Commemorating the Great War

My Department continues to support events to commemorate the centenary of the First World War to help promote united communities. Across the country, community groups including schools, libraries, museums and places of worship to community centres, football clubs and pubs are active participants in commemoration events researching their own local First World War heritage and holding musical recitals, such as the Last Post. Ministers supported a series of events to mark Armistice day, which has a particular resonance this year given the great war commemorations.

I am placing in the Library of the House copies of the press notices and documents associated with these announcements.