Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of capping existing ground rents (a) to a peppercorn, (b) to £250 per annum and (c) in another way on the operation of (i) pension funds and (ii) financial markets.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government’s consultation on restricting ground rents for existing leases ran from 8 December to 17 January.
Whilst we will publish a full response shortly, we can confirm that the general response to the consultation has confirmed that ground rents represent, at most, a small percentage of total UK pension assets. In addition, no substantive evidence has been provided within the consultation that suggests that there is a systemic risk to the operation of pension funds or the financial markets. Even the sector itself, in its so-called “option 6” alternative, has recognised the necessity of reform in this policy area.
Having concluded the consultation and reviewed the responses provided, we intend to set out the future proposed approach in this policy area shortly.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of capping ground rent to (a) a peppercorn and (b) £250 on the returns of UK pension funds.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government’s consultation on restricting ground rents for existing leases ran from 8 December to 17 January.
Whilst we will publish a full response shortly, we can confirm that the general response to the consultation has confirmed that ground rents represent, at most, a small percentage of total UK pension assets. In addition, no substantive evidence has been provided within the consultation that suggests that there is a systemic risk to the operation of pension funds or the financial markets. Even the sector itself, in its so-called “option 6” alternative, has recognised the necessity of reform in this policy area.
Having concluded the consultation and reviewed the responses provided, we intend to set out the future proposed approach in this policy area shortly.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has provided funding to 50:50 Parliament in the last five years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office finance system does not show any transactions to 50:50 Parliament in the last five years, including grants issued by the department. The Cabinet Office does not hold financial data for other departments.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what clinical definition of anxiety his Department uses.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not use a specific clinical definition of anxiety as Work Capability Assessments and Personal Independence Payment assessments are functional assessments that focus on the impacts of a person’s health condition or disability on their daily life, rather than the diagnosis itself.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what proportion of the budget for social and affordable housing is spent on (a) Ukrainian and Afghan refugee and guests schemes, (b) asylum seekers, (c) migrant workers on the shortage occupation list, (d) dependents of such migrant workers, (e) workers on the health and social care visa scheme and (f) non-UK citizens.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not hold the information requested, but I have asked officials to consider how we may be able to offer this information in the future.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board has taken to (a) commission and (b) deliver services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for commissioning services for the local area. The services at Alexandra Hospital are delivered by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A wide range of services are delivered at Alexandra Hospital. The trust publishes information on services available at the Alexandra Hospital on its website. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB plans to increase the amount of planned elective activity carried out at the Alexandra Hospital, especially in orthopaedics.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure that Alexandra Hospital in Redditch publish updated information on the scope of its services.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for commissioning services for the local area. The services at Alexandra Hospital are delivered by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A wide range of services are delivered at Alexandra Hospital. The trust publishes information on services available at the Alexandra Hospital on its website. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB plans to increase the amount of planned elective activity carried out at the Alexandra Hospital, especially in orthopaedics.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much and what proportion of funding provided through the Local Authority Housing Fund was spent on housing allocated to (a) UK citizens, (b) people with a local connection and (c) veterans in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Based on homes delivered through rounds 1 and 2 of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), as of December 2023, around 40% were delivered through new housing supply (through a mix of new developments, new off-the-shelf supply, conversions and refurbishments) and 60% through acquiring existing stock. We do not currently hold data on the proportion of funding this equates to given local authorities are still delivering through LAHF. Following the conclusion of the first two rounds of the LAHF in 2024, an evaluation will be conducted and published. As part of this evaluation, we will seek information on the proportion of funding spent on new supply.
Housing acquired through the fund is allocated according to local allocations, lettings and homelessness policies. DLUHC does not collect demographic data on who the housing is allocated to.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much and what proportion of funding provided through the Local Authority Housing Fund was spent on (a) new housing supply and (b) acquiring existing stock in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Based on homes delivered through rounds 1 and 2 of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), as of December 2023, around 40% were delivered through new housing supply (through a mix of new developments, new off-the-shelf supply, conversions and refurbishments) and 60% through acquiring existing stock. We do not currently hold data on the proportion of funding this equates to given local authorities are still delivering through LAHF. Following the conclusion of the first two rounds of the LAHF in 2024, an evaluation will be conducted and published. As part of this evaluation, we will seek information on the proportion of funding spent on new supply.
Housing acquired through the fund is allocated according to local allocations, lettings and homelessness policies. DLUHC does not collect demographic data on who the housing is allocated to.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to help ensure the return of maternity and children’s services to the Alexandra hospital in Redditch.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
I know that my honourable friend has campaigned tirelessly on this issue on behalf of her constituents.
As a result, she will understand that the decisions about the reconfiguration of services are made locally, following appropriate engagement with people and communities.
However I am pleased to say that by working with the local NHS, we have invested £18 million in the hospital’s operating theatre and secured a long-term workforce pipeline through the Three Counties Medical School.