Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of refusals by the Hong Kong Police Force to provide criminals records of British National (overseas) Visa holders on the ability of those people to gain employment in the UK.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
In April 2021, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) launched a new UK-wide Welcome Programme to support BN(O) status holders. In November 2022, DLUHC published a letter to BN(O)s and prospective employers on Certificates of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) from the Hong Kong Police. The letter outlines a revised guidance on how to obtain a CNCC. Where a CNCC cannot be obtained, sectoral examples on alternative methods are provided. The letter is available in English and Cantonese and is available on the GOV.UK landing page. We are working closely with FCDO officials to keep the guidance under review and monitor the impact to help BN(O)s overcome the barriers they face when seeking employment.
Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to ensure tenants in housing association properties are aware of what actions to take to reduce moisture and damp in their property.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
All tenants deserve to live in safe, warm homes that are free from damp and mould. It is social landlord's responsibility to ensure that their homes meet the Regulator of Social Housing's Home Standard, including meeting the requirements of the Decent Homes Standard. The Housing Ombudsman has been clear that damp and mould should not be considered 'lifestyle issues'.