Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights which closed on 7 June 2023.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We are currently considering the responses received and will make further announcements in due course.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to help ensure that people in rural communities can access affordable housing, in the context of high prices in the housing market and announcements on the abolition of affordable housing targets.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. Our Rural Exception Sites policy allows for the development of small affordable housing sites in rural areas, with the majority of housing on these sites being available to local people in perpetuity. We published planning practice guidance in 2020 to help local authorities and developers bring more of these sites forward.
We have not made any announcements of changes to affordable housing policy.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to simplify and homogenise across local authorities the process of applying for business rates relief under the Government’s new £1.5bn for businesses affected by covid-19 outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Department will ensure that local authorities have the guidance they need to deliver the additional £1.5 billion business rates support package once primary legislation is passed, in line with the announcement on 25 March. As with other business rates reliefs, officials will work closely with local government on the development of the relief scheme and guidance for local authorities will be published in due course.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to publish advice to local authorities on delaying billing of business rates until after a sustained period of trading has occurred.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The terms of business rates reliefs for 2021-22 were set out by the Chancellor at the Budget. Business rates billing is a matter for local authorities. They are best placed to make judgements about how best to pursue liabilities. If a ratepayer is experiencing difficulties in paying their bill, they should contact their local authority as soon as possible.
In addition to business rates measures, the Government has provided a package of support grants for businesses. Including the new Restart Grant scheme available from April, the Government will have provided a total of £25 billion to business grants throughout the course of the pandemic.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance will be provided to hospitality businesses on how to access full business rates relief under the allowance where they trade across different local authority areas.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Following the commitment made by the Chancellor at the Budget to extend the expanded retail discount into 2021-22, my Department published guidance on 4 March to help authorities implement their local schemes.
The guidance sets out how the eligibility criteria and cash cap (which applies from 1 July) operates and how authorities should determine the award of relief. Local authorities are responsible for implementing the discount having regard to the guidance. Any ratepayer who considers that they should have been eligible for relief that has been withheld should contact the relevant local authority.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on his Department's application of the Family Test.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
MHCLG follows the guidance set out by the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to application of the Family Test.
In addition, my Department has implemented its own measures to ensure policy officials are aware of their Family Test obligations, with training provided to raise awareness. There is a clear expectation and practice within MHCLG that the Family Test is applied to relevant policies at each stage of the policy making process.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to recognise the Cornish as a national minority.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The proud history, distinct culture and unique heritage of Cornwall is fully recognised by the Government, and the Cornish were recognised as a national minority in 2014. The Government will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture.
The Government has responded to the recommendations in the 2016 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) Advisory Committee report and provided additional funding for Cornish culture and language support. In February 2017, the Government committed £100,000 over two years directly to Cornwall Council to provide further impetus to this work, complementing the devolution deal already reached with local partners. The Government is currently reviewing options for further funding from 2019/20 onwards.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
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 in developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund(UKSPF); and when he plans to publish the public consultation on the UKSPF.
Answered by Jake Berry
We are continuing to work on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the composition of which will be decided at next year’s Spending Review. Decisions will be informed by a consultation and will be published in due course, which will give all interested parties an opportunity to convey their views directly to Government.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish his Department’s response to the consultation, Strengthening consumer redress in housing, which closed on 16 April 2018.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The recent consultation “Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market” sought views on how to ensure consumers have access to appropriate redress when things go wrong with their housing. This included considering whether bringing together redress schemes into a single housing ombudsman service could help simplify access.
We have been considering responses to the consultation and intend to publish our response later this year.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee on the scope of the review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Department is speaking with the Building Regulations Advisory committee and is looking to set out its plans to scope a review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2. The committee is expected to discuss this at a forthcoming meeting in the coming weeks.