Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what regulatory arrangements are in place for investigating reports of particulate contamination in domestic gas supplies where repeated boiler component failures are reported.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The quality and safety of gas supplied to homes is controlled by UK regulations. The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 set standards for gas entering the network to help protect pipelines and prevent leaks. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require gas fittings to be installed with suitable filters if installers consider foreign material may enter the fitting and affect their safe operation.
If dirt, dust, or other particles are present, filters or similar protection may be needed and should only be installed by a competent Gas Safe registered engineer. Some particle contamination can occur naturally through chemical reactions, and there is currently no formal process for reporting or investigating this.
The homeowner, or the landlord in rented properties, is responsible for the safety, repair, and maintenance of all gas pipework within the property.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing requirements for residential park-home site operators to provide residents with information about expenditure on communal facilities and site maintenance.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Under the implied terms of a written agreement, a resident has a right to request documentary evidence from a site operator in support and explanation of any pitch fee, utility charges and any other charges payable by the resident under their agreement.
If a site owner fails to provide the evidence, a resident can apply to the First-Tier Tribunal for a determination.
The government remains committed to protecting residents and continues to keep the legislation under review.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to registered providers of social housing on maintaining communal land, green spaces and trees.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has not issued specific guidance to registered providers of social housing on maintaining communal land, green spaces, and trees.
All registered providers are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people transitioning from self-funded to local authority-funded residential care are not financially disadvantaged by delays in assessments or funding decisions, including where substantial care home fee arrears accumulate during that period.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The issues raised by the Hon Member are all under consideration by Baroness Casey’s commission, as she develops her proposals for a National Care Service. The Government has brought Baroness Casey’s final report forward to summer next year, and we will set out next steps once that report is received.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on retrospectively meeting eligible care home costs where a resident's capital has fallen below the upper capital limit but delays in completing assessments or arranging funding have resulted in further charges being incurred.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The issues raised by the Hon Member are all under consideration by Baroness Casey’s commission, as she develops her proposals for a National Care Service. The Government has brought Baroness Casey’s final report forward to summer next year, and we will set out next steps once that report is received.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the financial impact on self-funding care home residents whose capital falls below the upper capital limit while they are awaiting a local authority needs or financial assessment.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The issues raised by the Hon Member are all under consideration by Baroness Casey’s commission, as she develops her proposals for a National Care Service. The Government has brought Baroness Casey’s final report forward to summer next year, and we will set out next steps once that report is received.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to registered providers of social housing on response times and case management for reports of antisocial behaviour.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of the effectiveness of registered providers of social housing in Runcorn and Helsby constituency in responding to reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB).
The Regulator of Social Housing’s Code of Practice, which can be found on gov.uk here, provides guidance on how registered providers should meet the required consumer standards, including having effective policies and processes for tackling ASB and keeping tenants informed of progress.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of registered providers of social housing in Runcorn and Helsby constituency in responding to reports of antisocial behaviour.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of the effectiveness of registered providers of social housing in Runcorn and Helsby constituency in responding to reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB).
The Regulator of Social Housing’s Code of Practice, which can be found on gov.uk here, provides guidance on how registered providers should meet the required consumer standards, including having effective policies and processes for tackling ASB and keeping tenants informed of progress.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the time taken by registered providers of social housing operating in Runcorn and Helsby constituency to respond to complaints from tenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of the adequacy of the time taken by registered providers of social housing operating in Runcorn and Helsby constituency to respond to complaints from tenants.
Registered providers of social housing are required to meet the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards, which require complaints to be addressed fairly, effectively, and promptly.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the timeliness of complaint handling by registered providers of social housing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of the adequacy of the time taken by registered providers of social housing operating in Runcorn and Helsby constituency to respond to complaints from tenants.
Registered providers of social housing are required to meet the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards, which require complaints to be addressed fairly, effectively, and promptly.