Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what was the outcome of applications to the Community Ownership Fund, Round 3.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Announcements were made on Round 3 Window 1 of the Community Ownership Fund on 25 September 2023, Window 2 on 22 December 2023 and Window 3 on 23 March 2024. A full list of successful bidders can be found here.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will undertake a review of the rules on voting eligibility to equalise voting rights between refugees from Commonwealth countries and those from other countries.
Answered by Simon Hoare
The entitlement of resident Commonwealth citizens to vote reflects our close historical ties with Commonwealth countries. The right to reside, whether under refugee status or any other status, does not confer the right to participate in democratic processes in the UK.
Accordingly, the Government has no plans to review such voting rights.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of voting rights on the integration of refugees; and if he will publish any such assessment.
Answered by Simon Hoare
The entitlement of resident Commonwealth citizens to vote reflects our close historical ties with Commonwealth countries. The right to reside, whether under refugee status or any other status, does not confer the right to participate in democratic processes in the UK.
Accordingly, the Government has no plans to review such voting rights.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he has taken to communicate information on voting rights to eligible commonwealth citizens resident in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Simon Hoare
The entitlement of resident Commonwealth citizens to vote reflects our close historical ties with Commonwealth countries. The right to reside, whether under refugee status or any other status, does not confer the right to participate in democratic processes in the UK.
Accordingly, the Government has no plans to review such voting rights.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the document entitled Afghan homelessness management information: 1 July 2023 to 31 August 2023, published on 19 September 2023, what data his Department has collected from local authorities since that publication; if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities provide that data at regular intervals; and when he plans to publish an update to that publication.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities continues to monitor homelessness amongst Afghan nationals previously housed in bridging accommodation, working closely to support local authorities in England so they are able to carry out their duties. As housing is devolved, the Devolved Administrations are responsible for working with councils to monitor homelessness for Afghan households in Wales or Scotland.
The vast majority of Afghans who were in bridging hotels have been supported to move into settled accommodation.
We will continue to support Afghans into settled housing, including through the Local Authority Housing Fund which helps to house Ukrainian and Afghan families in England.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made a recent assessment of levels of homelessness among Afghan nationals previously housed in bridging accommodation in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities continues to monitor homelessness amongst Afghan nationals previously housed in bridging accommodation, working closely to support local authorities in England so they are able to carry out their duties. As housing is devolved, the Devolved Administrations are responsible for working with councils to monitor homelessness for Afghan households in Wales or Scotland.
The vast majority of Afghans who were in bridging hotels have been supported to move into settled accommodation.
We will continue to support Afghans into settled housing, including through the Local Authority Housing Fund which helps to house Ukrainian and Afghan families in England.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2023 to Question 191889 on Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward secondary legislation under the Elections Act 2022 to implement his policies on overseas voting before the General Election.
Answered by Jacob Young
Details of legislation will be set out in the usual way.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found within their Department's estate.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Survey work is underway. For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member was not agreed to by (a) a Minister and (b) their office on behalf of a Minister in the last 12 months.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
This information is not centrally collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many sewage leaks have been recorded within their Department's estate in the last twelve months.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
None.