Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4 of the Civil Service management code: November 2016, whether Homes England is required to comply with the obligation set out in that code on submitting to his Department proposals or arrangements that are contentious; that it should submit to the Cabinet Office proposals or arrangements which are contentious; and what assessment he has made of the equity of fire and rehire proposals for staff of Homes England.

On 3 March the Secretary of State approved Homes England's pay remit for 2020/21. This was a valuable award towards the maximum level allowable across the Public Sector. I am therefore confident that it will allow for the Agency to implement a new pay and grading structure which is based on the principle of ensuring pay equality for its staff. Homes England are at the early stages of what I am sure will be successful negotiations, conducted through normal process with staff and unions. Officials have been asked to support these negotiations to ensure that options for implementation are properly explored and that due process and guidance is followed.