Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the recommendations in the report entitled, Local Government Ethical Standards published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life on 30 January 2019.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment basis he has made of the potential effectiveness of implementing the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life report entitled Local Government Ethical Standards published on 30 January 2019.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The government is currently carefully considering the Committee's recommendations and will issue a response in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation on Domestic abuse services: future delivery of support to victims and their children in accommodation-based domestic abuse services, which closed on 2 August 2019, when the response to that consultation will be published.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
My Department will be publishing the government response to the consultation ‘Future delivery of support to victims and their children in accommodation-based domestic abuse services’ shortly.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce priority housing status for all homeless survivors of domestic abuse in the forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime that nobody should have to suffer. The Government is absolutely committed to protecting victims of domestic abuse and their families.
A victim of domestic abuse already has priority need under the homelessness legislation if they are vulnerable as a result of having to leave accommodation because of violence from another person, or threats of violence from another person that are likely to be carried out.
In addition, people who are homeless or owed a duty under the homelessness legislation must be given reasonable preference (priority) for social housing. Statutory guidance issued in 2012 goes further and makes it clear that local authorities should consider giving additional preference (high priority) to those who are homeless and require urgent rehousing as a result of domestic abuse.
The Department has no plans currently to change the definition of priority need or reasonable preference.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which other government departments were (a) consulted on and (b) involved in developing his Department’s independent external audit of domestic abuse services.
Answered by Nigel Adams
During the development of our independent external audit of domestic abuse services, we consulted with a number of Government departments which play a key role in domestic abuse and/or victims policy. We have worked with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Health, Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, all of which have been instrumental in helping us develop a robust and comprehensive audit. We also hope to work closely with departments which have an extended interest in the review, such as the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, as we progress with this work.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
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 29 May 2018 to Question 146873, on victim support schemes, which other government departments have been (a) consulted on and (b) involved in his Department’s full review of domestic abuse services.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has consulted with a number of Government Departments which play a key role in domestic abuse and/or victims policy. We have worked with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Health, Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, all of which have been instrumental in helping us develop a robust and comprehensive audit. We also hope to work closely with Departments which have an extended interest in the review, such as the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, as we progress with this work.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the independent, external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by his Department will specifically identify specialist domestic abuse services targeted at children and young people.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I can confirm that the independent, external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does ask local authorities to submit information on services that they provide to children and young people who have been affected by domestic violence and abuse. The audit, due to close mid June, will give us a comprehensive picture of provision across England and will inform decisions on future funding arrangements for domestic abuse services.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on the independent and external audit of domestic abuse services commissioned by his Department which is due to be completed in spring 2018.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We have appointed Ipsos MORI to run the audit of local authority commissioned domestic abuse services. Every local authority has been written to asking for their participation.
An online audit questionnaire for completion by local authorities has been developed in consultation with domestic abuse sector partners and a number of local authorities. The questionnaire responses will give us a picture of domestic abuse service provision across the country, enabling us to assess what impact services are having and to identify any gaps in provision.
We are continuing to work closely with domestic abuse sector partners, drawing on their data, expertise and knowledge as we explore all options for the future sustainable delivery of domestic abuse services in England.
The findings from the audit will help to inform our full review of domestic abuse services which will conclude in the summer.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps have been taken to work with faith leaders to increase the number of signatories to the declaration condemning female genital mutilation and to use that declaration to help drive cultural change against such mutilation since 2016.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
Since publication of the Female Genital Mutilation Faith Declaration in 2014, over 250 representatives of faith communities have added their signatures, sending a clear message to communities across the UK that the practice is an extreme form of violence against women and girls and is not supported by any religious doctrine. We call on all faith communities across the UK to condemn the unacceptable practice of Female Genital Mutilation.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how much has been paid to officials of his Department as an additional incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments, (b) how much has been offered to any individual staff member for a one-off occurrence, (c) how many staff received such incentivised additional payments, (d) from which budgets such payments were made and (e) at which Ministerial or official level the business cases or payment approval for such payments was made in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2016 to date.
Answered by Mark Francois
Officials in my Department do not receive additional incentives for working overtime on top of normal overtime payments.