Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to eradicate rough sleeping in England; and what is their timescale for doing so.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Homelessness and rough sleeping levels in England are far too high. This has a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.
We must address this and deliver long-term solutions. The Government is considering these issues carefully and is committed to putting Britain back on track to ending homelessness. To do this we will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country.
Asked by: Lord Bach (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to reforming the planning system to examine the installation of solar panels on newly constructed industrial premises.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As part of our plans to triple solar capacity we are consulting on extra measures in the National Planning Policy Framework that highlight the importance of solar power to our clean energy ambitions.
Separately, future standards next year will set our new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and ensures they are fit for a net zero future.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff (a) work in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Unit, at each grade, (b) have been recruited from outside the Civil Service, (c) were appointed through open competition, (d) positions have been publicly advertised and (e) are due to be further recruited.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit helps to ensure her key priorities are delivered across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister.
The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration, and the policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of civil servants by (a) title and (b) pay band have been employed by her Department without open competition since the General Election.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
MHCLG made 35 appointments by exception to fair, open and merit-based recruitment principles from 1 July to 31 August 2024.
All appointments were at grades below the Senior Civil Service.
As a proportion, the exceptions appointed during this time equate to 0.89% of the workforce.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministerial severance payments are reported annually in the Annual Report and Accounts produced by the department.
Any severance payments post 31 March 2024 will be reported in the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024-25 when it is laid in Parliament next year.
Asked by: Damien Egan (Labour - Bristol North East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) quality and (b) adequacy of the regulation of houses in multiple occupation in the private rented sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are subject to mandatory licensing in properties where five or more persons in two or more households share facilities. Local authorities also have the power to introduce additional licensing for smaller HMOs which are home to three or four people from two or more households who share facilities. All HMOs, even those that do not require a licence, must also comply with HMO management regulations.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will improve standards in the private rented sector. In particular, it will introduce a Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time, which will set a minimum standard for all housing in the sector, including HMOs.
Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) remit and (b) responsibilities are of her Policy and Strategy Unit.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit helps to ensure her key priorities are delivered across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister.
The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration, and the policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.
There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. We do not comment on individual staffing matters.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the qualifications that private property managers must hold before taking on the management of (1) private residential buildings and (1) mixed-tenure residential buildings.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Managing agents perform a critical role in managing and maintaining buildings, so it is vital that they provide a good service and are accountable to leaseholders for their actions. Many agents do so and with a high level of professionalism. The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the qualifications that managing agents must hold but we welcome the work of the industry itself to drive up standards across the sector. This includes ongoing efforts to encourage greater take up of professional qualifications and the development of Codes of Practice.
The Government will act quickly to provide homeowners with greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes by implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, including those designed to increase service charge transparency.
Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will further reform the leasehold system. We will enact remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage, tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, reinvigorate commonhold through a comprehensive new legal framework, and ban the sale of new leasehold flats so commonhold becomes the default tenure.
Asked by: Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 5 September (HC2635), and further to the Written Statement by Baroness Swinburne on 14 March (HLWS336), whether they continue to maintain (1) the definition of extremism, and (2) the engagement principles, set out in that Statement; and what changes have been made to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (a) work in this area, and (b) funding of that work, since the general election.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government takes the threat of extremism very seriously and we will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism in all its forms. The rapid review ordered by the Home Secretary will consider the current understanding of extremism, including Islamist and far-right extremism. Following the conclusion of the rapid review, we will be setting out our strategic approach, which will ensure that we have the strongest possible response.
Asked by: Lord Goodman of Wycombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 9 September (HC2987), and further to the Written Statement by Baroness Swinburne on 14 March (HLWS336) , whether the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is continuing to fund and support the new counter-extremism centre of excellence.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government takes the threat of extremism very seriously and we will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism in all its forms. The rapid review ordered by the Home Secretary will consider the current understanding of extremism, including Islamist and far-right extremism. Following the conclusion of the rapid review, we will be setting out our strategic approach, which will ensure that we have the strongest possible response.