Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much funding the Government has allocated to Disabled Facilities Grants in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Government funding allocated to the Disabled Facilities Grant in (a)2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022 can be found at the table below.
Disabled Facilities Grant Funding | |||
Financial year | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-23 |
Funding (millions) | £573* | £573 | £573 |
*£505 million annual grant plus an additional £68 million paid to local authorities in December 2020
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many recipients of the Disabled Facilities Grant there were in each local authority in (a) 2020 (b) 2021 (c) 2022.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Full, audited data on recipients of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in each local authority each year is not held centrally by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Data from voluntary local authority annual returns on their DFG delivery is analysed each year by Foundations, the National Body of Home Improvement Agencies. Their most recent report for 2020-21 can be found at the following link: https://www.foundations.uk.com/library/dfg-performance/.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps to ensure that each home sold under the Right to Buy scheme extension is replaced by equivalent social housing.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
This Government is committed to the Right to Buy, which has helped nearly two million council tenants to realise their dream of home ownership.
The Prime Minister announced on 9 June 2022 the intention to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants, and that homes sold under an extended Right to Buy scheme will be replaced on a one-for-one basis.
We will be working closely with the housing association sector as we develop the scheme and will announce more details in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether Ukrainian refugees with a close family member in the UK are eligible for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Further to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up on 14 March, guidance for local authorities has been published on Gov.uk at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils. There are also published FAQs available online at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions as well as information for sponsors. Information is available on safeguarding checks at these links, as well as on eligibility for the scheme. Phase One of the Homes for Ukraine scheme opened for applications on 18 March and is accessible via links from homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk . Those who had recorded their interest in the scheme were also contacted on that date. Details on future phases of the scheme will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether disabled refugees entering the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be able to claim disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payments and Disability Living Allowance.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
I refer the Hon Member to the guidance for local authorities available online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what requirements his Department is putting in place for people who are offering accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
I refer the Hon Member to the Secretary of State’s statement to Parliament of 14 March 2022.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the new sponsorship scheme for Ukrainians without family ties to the UK will open.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
I refer the Hon Member to the Secretary of State's statement to Parliament of 14 March 2022.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings from the Community Security Trust that anti-Jewish hate incidents have increased 34 per cent from 2020.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
Any amount of antisemitism is too much and the Government will continue tackling it in all its forms. We are providing £14 million this year, and provided over £65 million to date, for the Protective Security Grant to protect Jewish schools and community buildings. We also were the first country to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism and will continue to encourage organisations and councils to take this important step to combat antisemitism in their communities.