Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether it is his policy to increase the level of funding local authorities receive for each person on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, in the context of the decision to extend payments to hosts to up to 12 months.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are overwhelmed by the response we have received to the Homes for Ukraine programme and thank sponsors for their support. Lead sponsors can receive monthly £350 ‘thank you’ payments for up to 12 months of Homes for Ukraine sponsorship per address. These payments are funded separately to the £10,500 of funding available to local authorities for 12 months per person.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many Homes for Ukraine placements have (a) broken down, (b) resulted in a rematching and the refugees being placed with a new host household, (c) resulted in refugees being placed in social housing, (d) resulted in refugees being placed in hotels and (e) resulted in refugees living in the private rented sector.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally. As of 19 September 2022, 90,351 guests have arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme (out of 134,190 visas granted) and 35,509 have arrived under the Ukraine Family Scheme (out of 51,832 visas granted). Over 17,000 are continuing to live in the UK under Ukraine Extension Scheme or domestic Ukraine Family Scheme applications.
We are helping Ukrainians to live independently, for example by supporting them in developing necessary language skills and finding jobs, while also ensuring that robust safeguarding measures are in place. There is ongoing work across Government to look at what more can be done on employment opportunities and wider support.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2022 to Question 155695 on Homes for Ukraine Scheme, whether Ukrainians who have fled Ukraine and been granted refugee status in another EU country are still eligible for the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme in the event that they were resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Yes. The eligibility guidance is set out at: www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme#eligibility .
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of Question 155695 on Homes for Ukraine Scheme, whether Ukrainians who have fled Ukraine and been granted refugee status in another EU country are still eligible for the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme if they were resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether Ukrainians who have fled Ukraine and been granted refugee status in another EU country are still eligible for the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme if they were resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Guidance on eligibility is set out at: www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent steps he has taken to strengthen renter security and improve protection for private renters.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Throughout the pandemic we have taken unprecedented action to help keep renters in their homes through banning bailiff evictions, extending notice periods and financial support.
We are currently preparing proposals to provide a fairer deal for renters which we will publish in a new White Paper this year.
These include ending Section 21 evictions, driving up the quality of private rented homes and supporting councils to tackle poor practice.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What recent steps his Department has taken to tackle regional inequality.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Government is tackling regional inequality through our commitment to level up all corners of the United Kingdom. Our actions include establishing the Levelling up Fund; the UK Community Renewal Fund; the Community Ownership Fund; creating Freeports whilst empowering our regions by devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster.
Alongside this, the Government has also committed over £35 billion to help councils support their communities and local businesses during the pandemic.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the extent of landlords and private letting agents refusing prospective tenants who are in receipt of support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department does not hold this information but there is no reason landlords or letting agents should be refusing tenants outright on the basis of being furloughed.
The Government has put in place an unprecedented financial package, which supports renters and helps them to afford their housing costs. This includes support for businesses to pay staff salaries through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has now been extended until the end of September 2021.
A letting agent is free to carry out any referencing checks within the law as they deem appropriate before accepting a new tenant. This may include income requirements or the need for a guarantor, depending on the decision of the individual landlord.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2020 to Question 105417 on Night Shelters: Coronavirus, what written advice he received from Public Health England during the production of the operating principles for night shelters or as part of the Night Shelter working group; and if he will publish that advice.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
I refer the Hon. Member to my previous answer to question 105417 on 5 November 2020.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2020 to Question 105417 on Night Shelters: Coronavirus, if will publish the membership of the Night Shelter Working Group; and how many times that group has met in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
We worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) to provide Operating Principles for the sector, to help them open shelters as safely as possible where necessary, when self-contained accommodation cannot be made available and when local partners agree that it’s the right thing to do.
The Night Shelter Working Group membership included representation from PHE, the Department of Health and Social Care, Housing Justice, and Homeless Link. This group has been meeting regularly during the pandemic.