Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
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 on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 12 June 2020 (UIN 54314).
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with private university accommodation providers on waiving rental fees for students during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department is actively engaging with stakeholders across the student accommodation sector, including private student accommodation providers, to understand the challenges posed by the current crisis and to establish the most effective means of supporting the whole of the sector.
During this period tenants, including student tenants, remain liable for rent. Some universities and private accommodation providers have chosen to release students from their contracts early and not charge rent for students returning home. The negotiation of rent waivers and early releases from contracts is a matter between the parties concerned. However, we expect universities to communicate clearly with residential students on rents for the summer term and administer accommodation provision in a fair manner.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
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 effect of the increase in multiple occupancy housing on the family housing stock in Luton.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
It is for a local authority to consider the suitability of the composition of housing in their area. An authority may wish to consider whether to have local plan policies in place in relation to the creation of housing in multiple occupation which they can use to inform planning decisions.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase council housing stock in Luton.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We have given councils, including Luton Borough Council, a range of tools to deliver a new generation of council housing. We have abolished the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap and given councils a longer-term rent deal for 5 years from 2020.
Additionally, councils can bid into the £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme to secure funding for new council homes.
Councils across the country are benefiting from these measures and we expect at least 10,000 council homes to be delivered per year by 2021/22.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that offices converted into flats through permitted development rights meet planning permission regulations.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
All new homes in England, whether granted permission through a national permitted development right or following a planning application, are required to meet Building Regulations.
Developments granted permission through permitted development rights are required to meet the conditions set out in the General Permitted Development Order.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
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 trends in the level of children living in temporary accommodation in Luton.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head. However, the Government is also committed to reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation and has already invested over £1.2 billion in tackling homelessness. This includes supporting Local Authorities in the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, increasing access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation and supporting London boroughs to procure temporary accommodation more efficiently.
In December 2019 the Government announced a further £263 million in funding to Local Authorities to support them to deliver services to tackle homelessness and help households into accommodation. This is an increase in overall funding for homelessness of £23 million on the previous financial year.
Nationally, the number of children living in?temporary accommodation?is down from its peak in June 2006 at 134,470, with 127,370 in?June 2019.
The figures for children living in temporary accommodation in Luton are in the published local authority level tables available here from 2018 onwards:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness
Prior to 2018, the figures for children living in temporary accommodation in Luton can be found in the individual LA level tables (listed under discontinued tables):
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness#discontinued-tables