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Written Question
Radon Gas: Northern Ireland
Thursday 20th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the levels of radon in Northern Ireland; and what steps they are taking to protect the public's health.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely on radon matters with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. This includes coordination on the production of radon potential maps. These maps are produced from radon measurements in homes that have been combined with the underlying geology to estimate the probability that a property in a particular location will exceed the Action Level for homes. Radon potential is also a good indicator for most workplaces and informs health and safety and building regulations.

The radon measurements that contribute to radon potential maps are from those conducted by private householders and landlords through UKHSA’s radon measurement service. The most recent radon potential map for Northern Ireland was published in 2015. This indicated that 155,000 homes (about one in five in Northern Ireland) are now in ‘Affected Areas’. These are places where some households are exposed to radon at a level where we recommend protective action.

A revised radon potential map for Great Britain was published in December 2022. This was prompted by significant increases in the number of results available, a major revision of the geological data from British Geological Survey and an updated statistical method. The Northern Ireland map from 2015 already used the revised statistical method, the geological data have not changed and the increase in radon results in homes has not been sufficient to justify re-mapping.

Numerous Government organisations in Northern Ireland are closely involved in the production of the second edition of the National Radon Action Plan (NRAP). This ensures that any territorial differences in the arrangements for radon control, regulations and messaging are considered. The Environmental Public Health Protection Network also provides a forum for UKHSA and public health in Northern Ireland to ensure that radon is included in campaigns such as indoor air quality.


Written Question
Planning: Combined Authorities
Thursday 20th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the effectiveness of Combined Authorities in delivering strategic planning objectives.

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

Although the Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of how Combined Authorities are meeting their strategic planning objectives, officials from the Department work closely with the Combined Authorities. There is regular and ongoing engagement with those Combined Authorities that have specific planning powers and functions.


Written Question
Rapid Transit Systems and Trams
Wednesday 19th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) local authorities, (2) passenger transport authorities, and (3) Metro Mayors, to develop new light rail and trams to improve transport services.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Light rail is largely devolved. It is one of the most expensive mass transit interventions local authorities can make and a range of modal options should be assessed when looking to address the needs of local transport users effectively and efficiently. Typically light rail is suited to only the most densely populated transport corridors.

The City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) for eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities, in England, outside London, is the principal funding stream through which plans for new mass transit systems and enhancements to existing systems can be developed. CRSTS funding is worth £5.7 billion in the 5-year period between 2022/23 to 2026/27. CRSTS provides local leaders with a simple, integrated, and long-term funding model which allows them to address local need. West Yorkshire Combined Authority, for instance, has allocated £200m of HMG funding to develop a new mass transit system for the region.

The Transport for London settlement of 30 August 2022 provides just under £1.2 billion of upfront funding for transport in London, supporting almost £3.6 billion worth of projects, including light rail.


Written Question
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies
Tuesday 18th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the law covering cooperatives and community benefit societies.

Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)

On 19 June, the Government informed Parliament[1] that it has invited the Law Commission to conduct reviews of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and the Friendly Societies Act 1992.

The Treasury is now working with the Law Commission to formally agree a terms of reference and a timetable for each review once the projects are formally agreed. These reviews will aim to identify necessary updates to the legislation that will set co-operatives and friendly societies up for future growth and success. The Government expects that the reviews will start in the autumn.

[1] https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-06-19/hlws847


Written Question
Planning Permission: Fees and Charges
Tuesday 18th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to give planning authorities more flexibility to set fees for planning applications.

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

We have announced our intention to increase planning fees by 35% for major applications and 25% for all other applications by the Summer 2023. Local authorities have the flexibility to set their own fees for discretionary planning services such as pre-application advice and Planning Performance Agreements.


Written Question
Solar Power: Public Buildings
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to local authorities to install solar panels on public buildings in their control.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is making available £2.5 billion over the financial years 2020/21 to 2024/25 to support public sector organisations including local authorities, schools and hospitals to install heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures - including solar panels - on public sector buildings. As of June 2023, the scheme has awarded grants worth over £2 billion to fund such projects.


Written Question
Bicycles and Electric Scooters: Pedestrian Areas
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to take to deal with for hire bikes and scooters that are left in public areas such as pavements.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Rule 70 of The Highway Code advises, but does not require, people to park their cycle where it will not cause an obstruction or hazard to other road users. It is usually a requirement of hiring a cycle that users leave it in a place which does not obstruct the footway.

When parliamentary time allows, the Department intends to create a new licensing framework for rental micromobility operations, giving local transport authorities the additional powers they need to shape and manage both cycle and e-scooter rental schemes. This would include the ability to set rules about the management of rental cycles and e-scooters on the pavement.


Written Question
Heat Pumps: Housing
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the roll-out of ground source heat pumps in homes.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are putting in place a package of policies to drive the roll-out of ground- and air-source heat pumps, including targeted regulation, a new clean heat market-based mechanism and public funding measures, like the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Boiler Upgrade Scheme.


Written Question
Arms Length Management Organisations
Tuesday 11th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of Arm’s Length Management Organisations as providers of social housing.

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

It is for councils to decide the most effective mechanism for supplying and maintaining council homes, within the legal framework and in consultation with their residents.

Of the 162 local authorities that hold council homes in a Housing Revenue Account (HRA), 22 have those homes managed by an Arm's-Length Management Organisation (ALMO). Council homes managed by a ALMO are subject to the same standards on decency, safety and energy efficiency as other social homes, and will be covered by the same proactive regulation of consumer standards envisaged in the Social Housing Regulation Bill. Councils with ALMOs are also subject to the HRA ringfence, which prevents tenants' rents being spent on wider council services.


Written Question
Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
Tuesday 11th July 2023

Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of on street rapid electric car chargers.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

There are now over 43,000 public charging devices in the UK, including over 8,000 rapid chargers. The number of rapid chargers has increased by 42 per cent in the past year.

Going forward, the Government expects a market-led rollout for the majority of chargepoints, with Government support focused in two areas: high-powered chargers on the strategic road network and local on-street charging.

The Rapid Charging Fund will support the upgrade of the electricity network to facilitate the installation of rapid and ultra rapid chargers on the strategic road network, where they are best placed to enable longer journeys.

The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will support local authorities in England to work with industry to transform the availability of charging for drivers without off-street parking.