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

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports of stabilisation and growth in the housing market, what steps they are taking to ensure that this translates into an increased housing supply, particularly in areas facing housing shortages.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Housebuilding is a priority for this Government, and we are on track to meet our manifesto commitment to deliver one million homes over this Parliament. In December, the revised National Planning Policy Framework was published, making clear that a core purpose of the planning system is planning for the homes and other development that our communities need. With both the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the new Framework now in place, alongside the additional resources for planning departments the Government has recently announced, our planning reforms will accelerate the delivery of new homes.

We are spending billions to support housebuilding, including through our £1 billion Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund and our £1.5 billion Levelling Up Homebuilding Fund (LUHBF). We have scaled up the delivery of affordable housing by investing £11.5 billion through the Affordable Homes Programme, which will provide thousands of new homes for rent and sale across the country.

In February, we announced that we are consulting on a range of new measures to boost housebuilding while protecting the Green Belt, through strengthening planning support for brownfield housing development. Legislation was also laid to extend current permitted development rights to support the conversion of commercial buildings of any size into new homes, and we announced an expansion of the ENABLE Build scheme to increase availability of SME finance to the sector.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been spent to date on (1) road infrastructure, (2) active travel infrastructure, including pavements and cycle paths, and (3) other types of infrastructure.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The department does not break down Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) spending on types of infrastructure. £4 billion has been allocated for local authorities in England to support infrastructure projects, which will seek to unlock 324,000 homes. The Fund enables local authorities to deliver the infrastructure their communities need – including new roads, leisure and healthcare services, digital and power networks, and schools, to encourage more housebuilding without overstretching facilities.HIF schemes are often complex and deliver multiple items of infrastructure. Disaggregating these to determine exactly which infrastructure categories individual items were part of would require detailed analysis and therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish all aspects of the legal advice submitted to them on the formulation of a new definition of extremism, which was published on 14 March.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

In line with the practice of successive administrations, legal advice is not normally disclosed.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of which region will see the largest transfer of marriage value from freeholder to leaseholder under proposed leasehold reforms.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

An Impact Assessment for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was published on 11 December 2023 and is available on the Parliament website (attached) at: Leasehold and Freehold ReformBill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament. This includes an estimate of the impact of removing marriage value on different groups and regions.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed removal of marriage value under proposed leasehold reforms on (1) property investors and (2) foreign investors.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

An Impact Assessment for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was published on 11 December 2023 and is available on the Parliament website (attached) at: Leasehold and Freehold ReformBill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament. This includes an estimate of the impact of removing marriage value on different groups and regions.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how much in public funds has been awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project (1) up to March 2023, and (2) from April 2023 to March 2024; and what will be the award from April 2024 to March 2025.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the governance of the community interest company Faith Matters, which has been awarded more than £6 million in public funds for the Tell Mama project to monitor Islamophobia.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the average length of time taken was between (a) a leaseholder or building owner notifying his Department of a building under 11 metres with a fire risk appraisal of external wall construction assessment stating that building safety remediation work is required and (b) an audit being completed, in the latest period for which that information is available.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

Following the passing of the Building Safety Act, we sought representations from leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres who believed there were building safety concerns. Potential issues with 160 buildings have been raised with the department so far.

Having reviewed the cases raised with us, 31 required Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) audits, which we have commissioned and 27 of those audits have been completed. In many cases, the concerns raised with us were found either not to be building safety remediation issues or works were not actually proposed by the freeholder.

With regards to the average time taken for the audit to be completed by the department, this will depend upon how quickly the relevant information for the audit to proceed is received. Audits are dependent on the information from third parties like the resident, freeholder or managing agent. Where a FRAEW is provided, our assessor will usually complete an audit within two weeks.

To date, our audits have found that only three buildings under 11 metres require remediation.

We are in conversation with building owners and developers about funding solutions that protect leaseholders. We stress that the responsibility for the costs of fixing historical building safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what data his Department holds on how many under 11 metre buildings require building safety remediation work according to a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls audited by his Department; and of those buildings, how many have had confirmation that the fire-safety defects will be remediated and paid for by the developer.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

Following the passing of the Building Safety Act, we sought representations from leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres who believed there were building safety concerns. Potential issues with 160 buildings have been raised with the department so far.

Having reviewed the cases raised with us, 31 required Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) audits, which we have commissioned and 27 of those audits have been completed. In many cases, the concerns raised with us were found either not to be building safety remediation issues or works were not actually proposed by the freeholder.

With regards to the average time taken for the audit to be completed by the department, this will depend upon how quickly the relevant information for the audit to proceed is received. Audits are dependent on the information from third parties like the resident, freeholder or managing agent. Where a FRAEW is provided, our assessor will usually complete an audit within two weeks.

To date, our audits have found that only three buildings under 11 metres require remediation.

We are in conversation with building owners and developers about funding solutions that protect leaseholders. We stress that the responsibility for the costs of fixing historical building safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of fire risk appraisal of external wall construction assessments that stated that building safety remediation work is required for a building under 11 metres have had an audit by his Department (a) commissioned and (b) completed since June 2022.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

Following the passing of the Building Safety Act, we sought representations from leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres who believed there were building safety concerns. Potential issues with 160 buildings have been raised with the department so far.

Having reviewed the cases raised with us, 31 required Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) audits, which we have commissioned and 27 of those audits have been completed. In many cases, the concerns raised with us were found either not to be building safety remediation issues or works were not actually proposed by the freeholder.

With regards to the average time taken for the audit to be completed by the department, this will depend upon how quickly the relevant information for the audit to proceed is received. Audits are dependent on the information from third parties like the resident, freeholder or managing agent. Where a FRAEW is provided, our assessor will usually complete an audit within two weeks.

To date, our audits have found that only three buildings under 11 metres require remediation.

We are in conversation with building owners and developers about funding solutions that protect leaseholders. We stress that the responsibility for the costs of fixing historical building safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many local authority owned buildings under 11 metres are being considered for demolition as a result of the costs to remediate life-critical fire safety defects.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

Following the passing of the Building Safety Act, we sought representations from leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres who believed there were building safety concerns. Potential issues with 160 buildings have been raised with the department so far.

Having reviewed the cases raised with us, 31 required Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) audits, which we have commissioned and 27 of those audits have been completed. In many cases, the concerns raised with us were found either not to be building safety remediation issues or works were not actually proposed by the freeholder.

With regards to the average time taken for the audit to be completed by the department, this will depend upon how quickly the relevant information for the audit to proceed is received. Audits are dependent on the information from third parties like the resident, freeholder or managing agent. Where a FRAEW is provided, our assessor will usually complete an audit within two weeks.

To date, our audits have found that only three buildings under 11 metres require remediation.

We are in conversation with building owners and developers about funding solutions that protect leaseholders. We stress that the responsibility for the costs of fixing historical building safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the intended purpose of the most recent more than £1 million grant made to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project; and what is the breakdown of the expected expenditure according to the grant conditions that have been stipulated.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the recently awarded more than £1 million grant to the community interest company Faith Matters is for the Tell Mama project which monitors Islamophobia; what proportion is for other initiatives; and what is the purpose of those other initiatives.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the most recent more than £1 million grant awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project has been paid; and when, if any, are the remaining payments due to be made.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, what proportion, if any, of the more than £6 million grants awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project is from Prevent funds.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.

Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.

Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.

Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.

Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 21 March (HL3106), where the National Muslim War Memorial will be situated; and, if not in Westminster, for what reason.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Further information regarding the process for establishing a new Muslim War Memorial will be announced in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the implementation and application of the definition of extremism is consistent across all (1) Government departments, and (2) public bodies throughout England.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

As I set out in the debate of Tuesday 19 March, the updated definition, and accompanying set of engagement principles, apply to engagement undertaken in England, Scotland, and Wales by UK Government ministerial departments to ensure they are not inadvertently providing a platform, funding or legitimacy to groups, organisations or individuals who attempt to advance extremist ideologies. Further guidance on the definition and engagement principles will be published in the coming months.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of regional disparities in rental prices across the UK; and what steps they are taking to address affordability challenges for tenants.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The ONS publishes a number of regional datasets regarding the cost of private rented sector lettings, such as the monthly (attached) Price Index of Private Rents and an annual (attached) Housing affordability report, and DLUHC publishes its own annual (attached) English Housing Survey.

Individuals who need help to make their rent payments may be eligible for a range of support through the welfare system. From April 2024, the Government will raise Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment of £1.2 billion means 1.6 million low-income households will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need more support, Discretionary Housing Payments and Household Support Fund grants are also available from local authorities.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis they have conducted, if any, of the reasons behind rising numbers of landlords selling their properties.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The most recent English Private Landlord Survey from 2021 found that almost half of landlords (48%) planned to keep the number of rental properties the same. The English Private Landlord Survey does not include prospective landlords who may be considering entering the market.

The most frequently reported reasons for planning to decrease or sell their properties are set out in detailed analysis (attached) in the English Private Landlord Survey report. The next publication is expected later in 2024.

The most recent English Housing Survey from 2022-23 found that the proportion of households in the private rented sector has doubled since the early 2000s and remained a similar proportion (19%) since 2013-14. For more detailed analysis, please see (attached) the full English Housing Survey report.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 20 March showing an average increase in monthly rent paid by tenants in the UK of 9 per cent in the year ending in February, including an increase to 10.6 per cent in London to an average monthly rent of £2,035.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Government recognises the cost of living pressures that tenants are facing, and that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense.

Over the last two years, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable with one of the largest support packages in Europe. Taken together, total support between 2022 and 2025 to help households with the cost-of-living is worth £108 billion – an average of £3,800 per UK household.

Individuals who need help to make their rent payments may be eligible for a range of support through the welfare system. From April 2024, the Government will be spending £1.2 billion restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment means 1.6 million low-income households will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need more support, Discretionary Housing Payments and Household Support Fund grants are also available from local authorities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2024 to Question 17100 on Affordable Housing, how many thousands of affordable homes he expects the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver; and what large number of such homes will be for social rent..

Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 17100 on 13 March 2024. Further data will be published in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of programmes funded under (1) the Levelling Up Fund, (2) the Towns Fund, and (3) the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in addressing regional socio-economic divides across the UK.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The UK Government is committed to levelling up across the whole of the United Kingdom. As part of a wide range of policies and interventions, we are investing over £15 billion in a suite of complementary Levelling Up projects across the UK to help grow the economy, create jobs, redevelop local amenities, improve transport, provide skills training, and support local businesses.

The department plans to complete process, impact, and value for money evaluations on these funds. These evaluations will help improve effectiveness and efficiency of local growth funding.

271 bids have been awarded funding from our multi-billion-pound Levelling Up Fund, investing in infrastructure that improves everyday life for local residents across the UK. The published (attached) Levelling Up Fund Impact Evaluation Scoping Report sets out how the impact of the Fund will be estimated at the programme and project levels and at different geographies.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, worth £2.5 billion, is focused on overcoming deep-seated geographical inequalities, with investment in communities building pride in place, supporting high quality skills training, employment and productivity growth, and increasing life chances. Details of the UKSPF Evaluation Strategy (attached) are set out here: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: evaluation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The department has also committed £2.35 billion worth of Town Deals and £830 million of Future High Streets Funding across 170 high streets, town centres and local communities in England via the Towns Fund. Projects are now in delivery, and the funding has already provided a much-needed boost for town centres and local high streets. Details of the Towns Fund Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (attached) are set out here: Towns Fund monitoring and evaluation strategy.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, have they made of the cultural and economic welfare of the permanent residents of the Scilly Isles.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is committed to levelling up all parts of our country. We have also recognised the unique circumstances and needs of island communities and their residents, including by establishing the Islands Forum. The Forum is a mechanism for discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by island communities, and for considering how by working together local government and the UK Government (and where relevant the devolved administrations) can support the people of islands across the UK.

The Isles of Scilly has been awarded up to £6 million to fund a museum and cultural centre on St Mary’s. In addition, the final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £6.8 million to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £0.5 million or 8% in cash terms on 2023-24. This includes an additional £150,000 in funding in recognition of the unique circumstances facing our island authorities, and their physical separation from the mainland.

Found: Lords London SW1A 0PW Dear Lord Foster , I am writing to let you know that yesterday , the Department

Found: departments involved are the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), the Department

Found: the Committee by the end of February 2024 to explain how it is engaging at a senior level with the Department

Found: PAC recommendation: Defra should urgently work with DLUHC to identify the skills and resources local

Found: Q97 The Chair: Do all these pots sit with DLUHC, or do some sit with other departments of state?

Found: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has now confirmed eight pilot areas

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of their rough sleeping statistics on 29 February which showed a 965.91 per cent increase from July to December 2023 in people sleeping rough after leaving asylum support over the previous 85 days, what consideration they have given to extending the move-on period from 28 days to 56 days for refugees leaving asylum support; and what assessment they have made of the impact this extension would have on homelessness.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the third sector to jointly create a comprehensive and properly funded transition process for people whose asylum support is due to end, to enable information and support around housing and benefits to be given as far in advance as possible.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of staggering evictions of refugees from Home Office accommodation, particularly where the person is working with their local authority or a third sector organisation, to prevent their homelessness.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the Euston ministerial task force was created; what are its terms of reference; who are its members; on what dates has it met; and whether it intends to publish minutes of its meetings or other relevant papers.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The establishment of the Euston Quarter Ministerial Task Force was announced at Spring Budget on 6 March 2024. It will oversee the next stages of delivery at Euston, set strategic direction and facilitate decision making. Membership of the Task Force will include Ministers from the Department for Transport, HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Officials from these Government Departments and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority will also attend. Further details will be confirmed in due course.

Found: Memorandum from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - 9 February 2024

Found: Impact Number of permanent dwellings completed in the West Midlands Secondary Ministry of Housing, Communities

Found: • A series of fraud awareness training videos, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing

Found: From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Homes England Published 8 April 2024

Found: Published by the Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC), the review is part of the

Found: Family Entity Date of Payment Expense Type Expense Area Supplier Transaction number Item Text Amount DLUHC

Found: HP2 4XN 701.25 DLUHC PINS 23/02/2024 IT Maintenance Digital Services DLUHC Public Bodies 5106307800

Found: Central government, regulators and law enforcement •Home Office •Home Affairs Select Committee •Department

Found: Between September and November, my officials worked with the UKG Department for Levelling Up, Housing

Found: Trish Connolly, Scottish Borders Council Andy Corletto, Glasgow City Council Andrew Docherty, Department