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Written Question
Private Rented Housing: Pets
Monday 3rd April 2023

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure pet owning tenants do not pay unreasonably higher rents for properties in the private rented sector.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Government has committed to making sure that private landlords in England do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home and we will give tenants the right to challenge unfair refusals.

We know that some landlords are concerned about the potential damage caused by pets, so we will also allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that the costs of any damage can be covered without any need to raise the rent.

A full Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation.


Written Question
Private Rented Housing: Pets
Monday 3rd April 2023

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to encourage landlords to permit tenants to have pets within the properties they let.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Government has committed to making sure that private landlords in England do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home and we will give tenants the right to challenge unfair refusals.

We know that some landlords are concerned about the potential damage caused by pets, so we will also allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that the costs of any damage can be covered without any need to raise the rent.

A full Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation.


Written Question
Private Rented Housing: Pets
Monday 3rd April 2023

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring tenants can have pets when privately renting.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Government has committed to making sure that private landlords in England do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home and we will give tenants the right to challenge unfair refusals.

We know that some landlords are concerned about the potential damage caused by pets, so we will also allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage. This will provide landlords with reassurance that the costs of any damage can be covered without any need to raise the rent.

A full Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation.


Written Question
Planning: Carbon Emissions
Friday 17th March 2023

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to include measures for meeting the Government's net zero targets within the planning regime.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Government has made clear in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that the planning system should support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate.


Written Question
Regional Planning and Development: Devolution
Monday 16th May 2022

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of delivering the levelling up agenda in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Michael Gove - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations

Our White Paper set out a comprehensive, UK-wide analysis of spatial disparities, and committed to publish annual progress reports.

Our commitment to levelling up the whole UK is illustrated by significant investments through the Levelling Up Fund, Community Renewal Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and partnerships with the devolved governments to deliver Freeports in Scotland and Wales.


Written Question

Question Link

Tuesday 18th May 2021

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with businesses which have applied for Additional Restrictions Grant funding; and if he will apply lessons learnt from the administration of that scheme to the new £1.5 billion Business Rates Relief Fund for businesses affected by covid-19 outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)

The Department will work closely with local government throughout the development of the £1.5 billion relief scheme and will ensure that experiences from the delivery of other support measures are taken on board. This includes experiences of administering the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which – as of 28 March 2021 – has delivered £816 million in support to over 400,000 businesses. The Government will continue to support local authorities in making further ARG payments throughout 2021/22.


Written Question

Question Link

Tuesday 18th May 2021

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to (a) simplify and (b) homogenise across local authorities the process of applying for business rates relief in respect of the Government's £1.5 billion business rates relief fund for businesses in England outside of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors which have been affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)

The Department will ensure that local authorities have the guidance they need to deliver the additional £1.5 billion business rates support package once primary legislation is passed, in line with the announcement on 25 March. As with other business rates reliefs, officials will work closely with local government on the development of the relief scheme and guidance for local authorities will be published in due course.


Written Question
Free Zones
Monday 29th March 2021

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of tariff-free arrangements for materials imported through a freeport on the competitiveness of domestic manufacturing.

Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)

Government is committed to supporting UK manufacturing and recognises the vital role it plays in the UK economy, by driving innovation, exports, job creation and productivity growth. Freeports give businesses increased choice for their customs facilitation which plays a significant role in attracting investment and jobs. Businesses will benefit from import duty suspension when goods are imported into the Freeport customs site, and when the goods exit the Freeport to enter the UK’s market the duty will apply. Within a Freeport customs site, businesses also have the option to bring in domestic goods which can then be processed alongside imported goods.


Written Question
Duchy of Cornwall: Leasehold
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on leasehold which will will apply to tenants of the Duchy of Cornwall.

Answered by Christopher Pincher

The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We are taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market, and last month we announced reforms to the valuation process and length of lease extensions, in response to Law Commission recommendations.

The Law Commission’s report on enfranchisement includes recommendations relating to the qualifying criteria for enfranchisement and lease extensions, including the applicability of these to leaseholders of the Crown. We will bring forward a response to these and the other remaining Law Commission recommendations.


Written Question
Housing: Refugees
Tuesday 20th October 2015

Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on their capacity to house refugees.

Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford

The Government is working closely with the Local Government Association and local authorities already supporting the expanded resettlement scheme to help identify and promote the range of housing options that can be used by local housing authorities to house vulnerable Syrian refugees.