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Written Question
Local Housing Allowance
Tuesday 7th March 2023

Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance rates on expenditure by local authorities on temporary accommodation for those unable to sustain their private tenancies.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The causes of homelessness are complex, and it is driven by a range of factors including changes to household income. The Government is committed to preventing homelessness where possible. We have announced the allocation of £654 million in funding through the Homelessness Prevention Grant that will be made available to local authorities in 2023/24 and 2024/25. This investment builds on the £366 million in funding already available to local authorities through the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2022/23.

Written Question
Housing Market: Small Businesses
Wednesday 9th November 2022

Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support more small and medium sized building firms to enter the housing market; and what form any such support will take.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is supporting SME housebuilders through the Levelling Up Home Building Fund. The Fund provides development finance to SMEs to build new homes. This includes loans to SMEs as well as funding partnerships with banks and other investors to leverage private capital and support more SMEs. The Fund will enable new SMEs to enter the market and grow their businesses, supporting SMEs who can struggle to access commercial lending.

Written Question
Planning: Reform
Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that planning reforms are implemented with due regard for (1) the needs of employers, local economies and the skills system; and (2) the levelling up agenda.

Answered by Lord Greenhalgh

As we made clear through the Levelling-Up White Paper, reform of the planning system can play an important role in supporting local economies, spreading prosperity, and regenerating left-behind places. It made a number of specific commitments including reform of compulsory purchase, employment land policy and infrastructure planning. An announcement on planning reform more widely will be made in due course, including the timing and scope of any legislation required.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 08 Dec 2021
UK Community Renewal Fund

"My Lords, the Government have stated that they will ensure that the UK community renewal fund reaches those most in need. In applying checks and balances to that funding, when must that money be spent and how will it contribute towards the Government’s ambition to preserve and enhance the union?..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: UK Community Renewal Fund
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 15 Nov 2021
Levelling Up White Paper

"My Lords, with the much-awaited publishing of the White Paper on levelling up, growing the private sector is what we all want to see in progress. As we see businesses planning at record levels of digital investment, does the Minister agree that priority must be given to reforming the skills …..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Levelling Up White Paper
Speech in Grand Committee - Wed 13 Oct 2021
Building a Co-operative Union (Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee Report)

"My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, to welcome the Minister to his new role and to welcome the noble Lord, Lord Dunlop. I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond as a member of this Select Committee to the first report of …..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Building a Co-operative Union (Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee Report)
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 17 Jun 2021
Housing: New Developments

"How are the Government intending to ensure that there is full community involvement in planning and a strong focus not just on housing numbers and speed of delivery but on developing sustainable communities, with a much wider remit?..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Housing: New Developments
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 17 May 2021
Queen’s Speech

"My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak during this debate and to support Her Majesty’s gracious Speech, with today’s important focus on communities, welfare, transport and the environment. I also congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches.

I support the …..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Queen’s Speech
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 10 Sep 2020
Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

"My Lords, I support the instrument to create two new PDRs, which will help businesses reopen following the lifting of certain coronavirus restrictions.

As a former leader of a local authority with a busy planning department, I know how important it is for decisions to be made as quickly and …..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 27 Jul 2020
English Language Learning

"My Lords, the Government are committed to uniting and levelling up our country, and that means building a rich, vibrant and integrated society. With the announcement in March of the new £6.5 million English language programme for the 25 successful local authorities, will the Government request feedback at the end …..."
Baroness Redfern - View Speech

View all Baroness Redfern (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: English Language Learning