Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued a map similar to that shown in Figure 1 of her Department's English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024 for new English Devolution authorities.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has not published a map of England showing potential future devolution geographies.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to implement a statutory code of conduct for parking operators that includes appropriate levels for permissible charges within this Parliamentary session.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code in due course.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17651 on Parking: Regulation, what options her Department is reviewing to drive up standards in the private parking industry.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As referenced in the answer to Question UIN 17651 on 11 December 2024, the Government is required by the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 to publish a code of practice concerning guidance on the management of private parking facilities.
At this time the Government is not able to share any further details but hopes to announce its proposals for raising standards as soon as possible.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent parking regulator.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
The Government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking industry and is currently reviewing all options on how to achieve this.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with local authorities on the level of funding for care homes.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. This involves looking at a range of cost and demand data, as well as regular engagement with local authorities.
These engagements have informed the 2025-2026 Settlement, where the Government is providing over £10 billion in 2025-26 Settlement funding for social care through the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF), Better Care Fund (including discharge funding), Social Care Grant, Children’s Social Care Prevention Grant and Children and Families Grant.
Local authorities are responsible for deciding how they use available funding to fulfil their duties under the Care Act (2014). The Department recognises the significant pressures that councils are facing and will ensure that councils are able to continue to deliver the services their communities rely on.
We will set out allocations at the provisional Settlement in December, on which we will consult, and we will continue to work closely with local government to review specific demand and cost pressures to ensure councils are supported in delivering essential services.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Devon and Torbay devolution deal to include (a) Plymouth and (b) Cornwall.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has emphasised its commitment to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, handing power to those with local knowledge and who are incentivised to drive progress forward. The devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay represents an important first step for this area to see initial benefits from devolution in the short term as part of our drive to shift power away from Westminster.
These benefits include funding to drive place-based economic regeneration, increased local control over transport functions and devolution of the adult education budget. We encourage the authorities to continue working together and with their neighbours to explore the next steps towards deeper and wider devolution for their area, and stand ready to work with the area and consider any proposals they want to put forward.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the governance of non-mayoral combined county authorities to include district councils as constituent members.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Existing combined county authority legislation provides that only upper tier local authorities in the area of a combined county authority can be constituent members. District councils are an important part of local government, and as non-constituent members, can play an active role in any combined county authority in their area, should they wish.
It is important that all local authorities are engaged and actively involved in improving their areas, working across all levels of government for the interests of the local community.