Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has published recent guidance to local authorities on the provision of a sufficient number of allotments within local plans.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government recognises through our National Planning Policy Framework the important role that allotments can provide in enabling and supporting healthy lifestyles within our communities. The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space and opportunities for new provision, which can include allotments, and their plans should then seek to accommodate this.
Our National Model Design Code states that as part of open space design for large developments there should be the consideration of allotments and community growing projects for food production, learning and community engagement.
I refer the Hon Member to published guidance on the statutory and policy criteria councils must meet in order to obtain the Secretary of State's consent to dispose of allotment land.
Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on district and parish councils to provide allotments where they perceive there is a demand for them.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to consult with local communities before it signs a contract to use a hotel as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The record number of people that have crossed the Channel in small boats in recent years has placed the Home Office's asylum support infrastructure and accommodation services under immense pressure. Under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, with accommodation and support whilst their claim is under consideration. Eligible asylum seekers are ordinarily placed in housing accommodation; however, the unprecedented number of small boat arrivals has forced the Home Office to consider alternative accommodation options to ensure that we meet our statutory obligations, which has resulted in the temporary use of contingency accommodation.
The use of contingency accommodation is a short-term solution and we are working hard with Local Authorities and our accommodation providers to find more appropriate accommodation.
We have taken significant steps to improve levels of engagement with key stakeholders including district and parish councils, around hotel accommodation sites to ensure Local Authorities are kept updated and better informed and to ensure we understand and act on any concerns appropriately.
We work closely with Local Authorities on full asylum dispersal to create a fairer distribution across the UK. We do not routinely engage with members of the public regarding utilising contingency accommodation.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Office for Product Safety and Standards will be responsible for enforcing the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have not made an assessment of potential divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK resulting from the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation, though we continue to watch developments and listen to the issues raised. Any assessment will need to consider the final Regulation once agreed, as well as the outcome of Product Safety Review consultation as this will shape the Government’s approach for the rest of the UK.
Subject to the final EU Regulation we expect that, as is the case now, District Councils and other market surveillance authorities operating in Northern Ireland, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, will enforce the product safety rules applicable in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of potential effect of the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation on creating a divergence in product safety between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have not made an assessment of potential divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK resulting from the EU’s proposed General Product Safety Regulation, though we continue to watch developments and listen to the issues raised. Any assessment will need to consider the final Regulation once agreed, as well as the outcome of Product Safety Review consultation as this will shape the Government’s approach for the rest of the UK.
Subject to the final EU Regulation we expect that, as is the case now, District Councils and other market surveillance authorities operating in Northern Ireland, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, will enforce the product safety rules applicable in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leicester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are evaluating the impacts of the various household support schemes delivered by county councils and unitary authorities.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Local Authorities have the local ties and knowledge, making them best placed to identify and help those most in need. County Councils are expected to work together with District Councils to provide support and to ensure the funding meets its objectives by identifying those most in need.
Authorities provide management information to DWP which has been used for all the various household support schemes to evaluate how successful The Fund has been in providing support to households.
The published management information for the Household Support Fund covering the period 6 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 reports total grant allocation and spend, number of awards and the percentage spent on families with children, which relates to the condition that at least 50% of that grant be spent on families with children.
Management information for subsequent schemes will be published in due course.
Asked by: Brendan Clarke-Smith (Conservative - Bassetlaw)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to (a) mitigate the costs to (i) local councils and (ii) landowners of internal drainage boards and (b) ensure (A) Bassetlaw and (B) surrounding areas are protected from flooding.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is investing a record £5.2 billion between 2021 to 2027, in around 2,000 flood defences to better protect communities across England. Within the Bassetlaw area, from 2021/22 to the end of 2022/23 the Environment Agency will have spent over £2m of Government Grant in Aid. The Environment Agency works with internal drainage boards (IDBs), including the IDB facing the Bassetlaw District, to help ensure the Environment Agency spends both its flood asset maintenance funding allocation and the precept (raised from IDBs) in areas that provide the greatest flood risk benefit.
IDBs are independent locally funded and operated, statutory public bodies. They are mainly funded by the beneficiaries of their work receiving drainage rates from farmers/landowners and special levies from local authorities.
The Government recognises the ongoing pressure the public sector is experiencing due to high energy prices and has extended energy support for a further 12 months through the Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) which will succeed the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) on 1st April and for which IDBs and all other public bodies are eligible.
The Government has also written to Ofgem regarding unfair practice in the energy sector, including increases in standing charges, and Ofgem will continue to monitor this situation.
Defra will continue to work with the Environment Agency, IDBs and across Government to identify how collectively we can minimise the risks and continue to provide protection and resilience to our communities through this period.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation they undertake with (1) district councils, and (2) parish councils, in whose area it is proposed to house immigrants awaiting assessment on their right to enter and remain in the UK.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The record number of people that have crossed the Channel in small boats in recent years has placed the Home Office’s asylum support infrastructure and accommodation services under immense pressure. Under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, with accommodation and support whilst their claim is under consideration. Eligible asylum seekers are ordinarily placed in housing accommodation; however, the unprecedented number of small boat arrivals has forced the Home Office to consider alternative accommodation options to ensure that we meet our statutory obligations, which has resulted in the temporary use of hotels.
The use of hotels is a short term solution and we are working hard with Local Authorities and our accommodation providers to find more appropriate accommodation.
We have taken immediate steps to improve levels of engagement with key stakeholders including district and parish councils, around hotel accommodation sites to ensure colleagues are kept updated and better informed and to ensure we understand and act on any concerns appropriately and swiftly. These minimum standards will be reviewed regularly and, where possible, we will take steps to improve these standards.
We work closely with local authorities on full asylum dispersal to create a fairer distribution across the UK.
We do not routinely engage with members of the public regarding utilising hotels.
Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits of the Suffolk devolution deal for (a) Suffolk and (b) Ipswich.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Suffolk devolution deal will put Suffolk County Council, in partnership with Suffolk's district and borough councils, including Ipswich, in control of setting economic strategy locally. The deal will grant Suffolk County Council control of a 30-year investment fund worth £480 million, over £5.8 million to support the building of new homes on Brownfield land, and powers to improve local skills. This will help drive growth and take forward local priorities over the longer term, giving the directly elected leader and local constituent councils more flexibility to decide how best to spend money on key local priorities. Ipswich will be able to take advantage of the overarching benefits of the deal to the whole region and the new relationship between Suffolk and central government.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether (a) district councils and (b) other local authorities will be eligible for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
District councils and other local authorities on eligible contracts will be covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This scheme will provide a price reduction to ensure all businesses and other non-domestic energy users are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Wealden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what additional resources the Government is providing to Wealden District Council which is hosting the highest number of Ukrainian arrivals in East Sussex.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We are working closely with local authorities to identify support needs through multiple channels including Ministerial roundtables attended by local government representatives, official led working group meetings, and ongoing engagement with local authority Chief Executives and senior representatives. The most up to date guidance for local authorities can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils.
If the Hon Member has specific concerns I am happy to arrange for her to meet with the Minister for Refugees to discuss this further. I understand the Minister for Refugees has plans to visit the Hon Member’s constituency shortly.