Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of his Department’s (a) senior civil servants, (b) private office staff and (c) staff have received training on understanding and applying the Nolan principles in each of the last three years.
Answered by Luke Hall
The 7 principles of public life are referenced in Civil Service Learning’s online induction module, which all new civil servants, including those joining MHCLG, are encouraged to undertake.
In addition, new civil servants are familiarised with the Civil Service Code, which outlines that all Civil Servants are expected to commit to the Civil Service’s core values of Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity and Impartiality. Guidance on compliance and how to raise a concern if an individual feels they have been asked to act in a way that might contravene the code is provided on MHCLG’s intranet.
MHCLG also promotes awareness of the code through our induction checklist, relevant communications and has a senior level champion in place for the code and whistleblowing.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is providing local councils with direct funding to support incoming travellers without accommodation to meet the Government’s quarantine provisions.
Answered by Simon Clarke
All arrivals, bar a short list of exemptions, will be required to complete an online locator form to supply contact details, travel details and the address of where they will self-isolate for 14 days. Where international travellers are unable to safely self-isolate in their own accommodation, the Government will support them finding appropriate accommodation at their own expense.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
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 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
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 and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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
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