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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to support the work of the UK Men's Sheds Association.

We welcome the work done by organisations like the UK Men’s Shed Association which help people to keep active. This has significant benefits, which is reflected in the lottery funding which has been given to the Association. As well as the positive impact on the general well-being and health of the participating individuals, the work of the Association also actively supports community engagement and recycling and re-use of materials, both of which are Government priorities.

This Government believes strongly in the importance of allotments within local communities and wants local authorities to do all they can to ensure that allotments are maintained and used effectively. In this context, on 30 January the Department published new guidance, “Allotment Disposal Guidance: Safeguards and alternatives”, to clarify the legal and policy safeguards in place to ensure that disposal is transparent and handled properly and thoroughly.

This guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allotment-disposal-guidance-safeguards-and-alternatives.